Well, I was going to write a blog yesterday, but the news cycle was so grim I had to pass.
There was an incident. I don’t want to go to deep on it. But we need to talk about it.
Kids do stupid things. I could barely dress myself at 16. Thank the lord there was no Twitter during those formative years when I was trying to discover who the fuck I was. Even as a blogger in my twenties, some of my old work was unbelievably crass and embarrassing. We cannot hold kids to ridiculous standards, they are learning life in public, they will make mistakes. Sometimes HUGE mistakes. The more famous they are, the harder those mistakes land because we thread them through the needle of how we behave as grown adults. That’s not fair.
The most grim part about the whole thing is someone close to him leaked that video, not because it was in the public interest (it wasn’t), but to destroy the human in question. Once things like that leak, that’s it, it’s there forever… on every level, that sort of behaviour is grotesque. It’s cockroach behaviour. Pure scum. The intent is destruction, it should be treated like a subcategory of revenge porn. It’s digital assault, designed to inflict pain. I hate it.
What made the whole thing worse for me was reading all the homophobic commentary that followed it. Like, honestly, do we really need that nonsense in 2021? Are we not at the stage in society where it should be really fucking shameful to have a scummy opinion about LGBTQ? It’s so dated now, the comments ‘nearly’ make me feel sorry for the perpetrators. Like when everyone laughs at their weird uncle who says he doesn’t like foreign food and found that Sainsbury’s Christmas ad problematic. How can people be so pathetic? How can their lives be so fucking empty that they need to be mean like that?
The player in question does need to take some responsibility. The video wasn’t standard dressing room ‘banter’ and it certainly was not a case of ‘that’s just kids these days.’ It was VERY strange. The dressing room, however you cut it, is the workplace (lol, so HR here). BUT, let’s be honest, it was no weirder than the stuff that goes on at rugby parties at University… come on… you’ve seen weirder… Tarquin and Johannes showing off in the kitchen with an old sock and a pint of Tetley’s. Jokes aside, it was dumb to have his phone out in a dressing room. It was dumb to record the scene. It was dumb to post it to Snapchat when you’re on the verge of fame. But it happened, we need to move on.
The player needs to go into PR Airplane Mode.
The video was bad, but all that showed was poor judgement and shit friends. The bigger concern is that he’s whining in the French media for the 3rd time in a month about being given marching orders after 2.5 games. He seems to think the coaching staff missed all his training sessions and the loan games Arteta will have studied (because he’s a massive football nerd). We get it, it’s embarrassing to be sent home, everyone wants to play… but the truth is the best way to get back at the coaching staff is to keep your head down and let the fancy footwork, well-timed defensive actions, and line-breaking passes do the talking.
We all want him to thrive. Every single one of us wants him in the starting 11. He’s built for the league and exciting football. If he wants to achieve that, he’s going to have to prove himself like everyone else at Arsenal bar Willian.
Young players land minutes. ESR, Saka, MO, and Martinelli all speak to that. His career at Arsenal will be about what he does on and off the pitch, time to switch off the phone, reject the calls from the French media, and focus on becoming an Arsenal great.
Talking of great… Thomas Partey is going to be available at the weekend. That is HUGE news for the run-in. If we channel the first-half performance from Wolves, with the second from Villa, I can assure you, things will pick up. There will be a blow-out. We will start finding some of the sauce we need. Things will get better.
I am FASCINATED to see what the deal is for the Leeds game.
There are two big priorities for me.
How do we re-engage Auba?
He’s our superstar. Our captain. The biggest smile on the pitch. He’s having a very rough time at the moment, he’s had a poor season by his own standards, but we need to get him firing. Our biggest issue now is we can’t finish even though we’re creating chances. We need to have our best striker burying them. Does he play on the left where arguably we have more aggressive players? Or do we play him through the middle, where Lacazette has really owned that false nine position? BIG DECISIONS.
How do we have Odegaard on the pitch?
He’s quality, we can see that. He has that final ball that we’re missing. Where does he play? On the right in place of Pepe who has improved? In that #10 role after a quiet game from ESR? Or next to Partey where he can pull strings and offer mobility Xhaka doesn’t have? BIG DECISIONS.
What do we do about Tierney?
I think we need to bite the bullet and accept that Saka needs to deputise. There was a spell where his overlapping runs were really causing problems at the weekend. He can drop back and give us double the firepower. That’d be one scary team on the break. Remember, left-back is like, the new #10 position for coolness.
Arteta needs to end this year with an Arsenal on fire in a positive sense. If the fans are drooling over an exciting brand of football delivered by a youthful side of hungry terriers… he’ll be in good shape. If the football is shite, he’s in trouble. The next 4 weeks will determine how the fans will treat him next season. Fingers crossed he shows his very best, the fans certainly need it!
Ok, I am tired now… so you should just have it out in the comments. SEE YOU THERE. x
Soham @ 11:27:03 KT now suffering a knee issue along with a muscle probelm and Partey is said to be devastated with his hammy injury. Why is that prior to joining Arsenal players are less prone to injuries but after joining the club are more injury prone ? Is it because of the training methods ?” IMO I think Partey is bad luck, but KT had a lot of injury concerns at Celtic before joining us. We took chance on him. I think he will add to the list of ‘great’ players that never were because of injury (and that… Read more »
Val
Funny that some couldnt deal w yr description of arsenals financial issues and wengers key men clause but have no problem in changing their ideas of finance to celebrate spud financial ‘meltdown’
So i’ve just read that Fol B decides to sign somewhere else AFC is entitled to only ‘small compensation’
Granted the press cannot be trusted w/out independent verification…
Anyone understand why baloguns fee would be minimal while lpool are paying a record fee for H Elliott?
*if he decides
Zarchase
That is called a player development fee. I dont know how it works but liverpool paid 8 mil for Ings when they signed him from burnley. My guess would be we would be entitled to 5 mil+ because balogun is so good at the under 23 level.
then again the tribunal may feel he is worth a lot less.
Habesha
Wouldnt be surprised if another governing body tries to screw us but heres hopingbalogun stays
Also heres hoping pepe thrashes those headless chickens at the weekend (even though i’m still pissed about his stupid red)
Zacharse, The financial issue is just confirmation bias. Some people can’t accept that key man clauses and restrictive covenants are quite common for high value loans, because they can’t accept that Wenger was not the horrible, incompetent, dictatorial person they think he is. Look when you are a self build on a project less than £1 millions, the bank can dictate who you can use as main contractor or surveyor. Why be surprised than it has even more control on a £500 millions deal? The player development fee is decided by an independent tribunal. Usually it is more than what… Read more »
I don’t think that Partey injury is bad luck. I think that it was bad management. Arteta learning all the bad traits from his mentors. Wenger used to rushed player back and then act surprised when they broke down again soon after. The same thing just happened to Partey. Since he came back for a second time, he never looked physically OK. Complaining of niggling injuries, being gased out after 60 minutes. Simply put, He was rushed again not fully ready for the EPL, especially in the middle of winter when the risk of muscle injuries increases. With KT, we… Read more »
Their cheese room has been converted to a bread and dripping concession…
I’ve never thought AFC could “do a Leeds” and face financial ruin, but if it happens to the merry burghers of N17, then it’ll be another example of our overall historical superiority. I still remember their late 70s relegation with pleasure.
Anyone have any links to the Spurs financial chaos story?
Valentin
I stand corrected. Never knew that
“Also heres hoping pepe thrashes those headless chickens at the weekend (even though i’m still pissed about his stupid red)“
Apparently Alioski has been trash talking Pepe before tomorrow’s game ……you just couldn’t make this shit up.
I actually like our chances against them better on their shit pitch.
What a failure of matching the preferred style of play – a high tempo , one touch football- with the top quality surface to play it on, on the Leeds part.
Evening all. I have had that Covid thing and I’m just about over it, thank god. I inherited the legs of a 90-year-old man and was breathing like one of those guys who calls housewives in the middle of the night while holding a large sock. The noises inside my head were akin to listening to a bar full of Spurs fan chatting shit while hilariously trying to convince everyone they have won the trophies required to walk the talk. Watching them go out of the FA Cup for the thirty-first consecutive season cheered me up no end, as I… Read more »
Tom
let’s hope the PGMOL gives the order to give us a fucking break 🤣
Personally as much as I like him as a player I’d get KT fit, get him out on the grass and then get him sold. He will never be a player we can rely on with his fitness.
The baying mob
No way!! Tierney is the most consistently dependable player in our squad. He’s a snip at £25m
I’d never give him up
AFC Forever
Nice to hear from you again. It seems that you always bring good luck to our team.
Who in their right mind would want to sell KT?
What a load of tosh.
AFC
Glad you made it through
How do to I apply to join the progressive positives?
1987 Littlewoods Cup run, the semi’s at WHL (se one leg and replay) were something that will never be bettered and the final will live in my heart forever. I’m 50 now and being a 16 year old at those matches was life changing. Arsenal had quite frankly been pretty crap all my life until that point. The highlight had been watching Petrovic, he was some player, the disappointment those cup semi final losses in 83. 1987 changed everything for me, I saw what was possible. Who put the ball in the scousers net…Charlie, Charlie, who put the ball in… Read more »
Why does arteta keep lying in the press and pretending that Balogun will even remotely sign a contract under him?
Does arteta think we, and the player in question, are fools? He must think so m
Someone wants to sell Tierney?
Absolute madness.
you should first attempt to recruit an option better than him first. Then he can be the backup and provide real competition for that left back position.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-9253395/Nicolas-Pepes-Arsenal-career-danger-red-card-Leeds-72m-winger-reborn.html Worth a read Andy1886 You are right about the players back then bleeding for the shirt. The only player in our squad with similar characteristics today is Kieran Tierney; an old school defender with todays skill sets going forward. Should be our captain. If I were his manager I’d get him to spend some time talking with Tony Adams & Patrick Vieira even old Frank Mctinlock now what 80? could offer some advice. Perhaps take that even further with more of GG’s squad getting to chat with our current squad. No doubt some here will say it’s useless revisionism;… Read more »
AFC Forever “I have had that Covid thing and I’m just about over it, thank god. I inherited the legs of a 90-year-old man and was breathing like one of those guys who calls housewives in the middle of the night while holding a large sock.” Sock? Are you related to Pierre? Seriously, sorry to hear your C-19 news and hope you fully recover and your family stays clear. Pretty sure we’re not each other’s favourite poster, but at the end of the day we’re all Gooners with a common cause: see our Arsenal back up there truly competing for… Read more »
“I still remember their late 70s relegation with pleasure.” Made me happy, too. They had to be the dirtiest team if not close to it back then with real hooligan, neanderthal fans to boot. The type that would cheer an opponent breaking his leg. Fortunately, in Peter Risdale a forerunner of calamitous Types CEOs/MD/Directors we have had at Arsenal, who systematically caused Leeds top flight, financial demise. Much different club now, of course, and by the looks of it better run than we currently are with a manger playing honest and attractive high-energy attacking football. As much as I am… Read more »
Meant to add this link about Leeds:
https://taleoftwohalves.uk/featured/leeds-united-peter-ridsdale
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-9255259/WSL-Weir-nets-sensational-chip-Gareth-Taylors-bragging-rights-Manchester-Derby.html
Not a fan of woman’s football but this goal was sublime.
Shame our front 3 can’t score goals like that.
I don’t know if anyone was watching the other night when Patrick Bamford was being interviewed on Sky but what came across more than anything was just how thankful Bamford was for the expert tutelage of Bielsa. It was interesting to hear him say that he didn’t see himself as an attacker, more the first line of defence. He said that the way Bielsa sets the team up is to keep moving and not to stop for the entire 90 minutes. He also emphasised that not only was he a better player and better person now but also that he… Read more »
Nice little article on pepe
I like what Arteta has to say and appreciate that he’s willing to publicly praise the lad, particularly that he expects him to go the next level soon. That sort of thing will do the lad’s confidence the world of good.
I too expect him to take it to the next level
For me he’s got it all. The potential to be the best wide forward in the world if he gets his mentality straight.
100% confidence player.
Winthorpe
I’m with you on this.
A notable change has been his strength and ability to stay on his feet more..
He’s bulked up and.looks like he’s up for the fight. .
Got a feeling he’ll benefit from Leeds style of play tomorrow.
iF those near to Pepe in and around the opponents box create space for him, Pepe will score more further building his confidence. Wings are not for Pepe nor is receiving the ball with 2 defenders in close attention. For Pepe the head coach/manager is a very important cog in his self belief building. I believe Pepe’s got the skill and tricks to mesmerize, it’s his head that needs continual fine tuning. That and being played in the right areas with team mates on the same wavelength. Shouldn’t be too difficult for a generational manager dripping in Michelin sauce, should… Read more »
Winthorpe Yeah, Pepe has amazingly quick feet and needs to be encouraged to take players on His game/confidence had deteriorated to such an extent that he was afraid to even attempt a dribble.. The last couple of games has been a definite improvement, though I do think fans will have to accept that he can be very wasteful at times. We’re back to another Arteta conundrum in that Aubameyang being fit will mean that Arteta has a decision to be make. Saka is nailed in starter on the right. Smith Rowe as Cam. Will it be Pepe on the left… Read more »
we’re supposedly in for Tiago Tomas – an 18 year old wonderkid. Look at the photo – is this guy seriously only 18? he looks 40+
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/14031393/arsenal-tiago-tomas-sporting-transfer/
Using Saka at left back, or left wing back, isn’t totally ideal, but with Tierney out it could work. ESR could play out right as he has occasionally with Odegaard taking up the central attacking midfield position. Our left side would then be loaded with dangerous attacking options in Saka and Pepe. That provides a lot of creativity in the team.
Until Tierney is back it may be worth considering as it also enables us to get a real good look at Odegaard and see if it would be a good idea to try and bring him back next season.
I’d like to see Pepe legitimately put that spitting little gobshite Alioski on his arse throughout the game. Opening few minutes will set the tone so we should go at them like a train (a la Wolves). I see Leeds as being pretty fragile at the back – less than the sum of their parts.
Not sure Bamford is all that despite being a deeper thinking player than most. He drifts out for long periods. The bigger threat comes from those playing behind him.
It’ll never happen, but I’d love to see Balogun and Azeez given some time.
Auba has to be used as a CF as he has no purpose orherwise
Pierre Give me Pepe over Aubameyang on the left more often. He offers more all round to the team while contributing not only goals but the sort of goals nobody in our squad can score, left right, long range, nutmegs, dribbles. Doesn’t matter. He knows where the goal is. On the confidence front it looks to me from the outside that Arteta himself was directly responsible for his drop in confidence and had given instructions that went against his natural game. Maybe it was to provoke a reaction, if so then well played sir. I only hope he continues on… Read more »
Tony Pepe can take 2-3 out of the game all by himself. His double meg vs wolves and his run and goal agaisnt West Ham showed glimpses of what he can do. For me we need to feed him early in the final third so he can isolate defenders and get runners pulling marks off him to give him room to pop one of his lethal efforts off. And you’re right (IMO) about the coaching staff playing an integral role in his confidence. He’s a lad that clearly needs to feel the love. So give it to him and let’s… Read more »
Winthorpe
Exactly my sentiments if handled right, the best is to come from a Pepe with his head exuding self belief.
Hopefully MO can be Pepe’s provider along with Saka and ESR.
Also looking forward to seeing a Pepe, Balogun, MO, ESR and Azeez combination working together.
I’m positive about the future just not sure which Manager is going to be at the helm.
At least Edu is unearthing potential elite gems in need of polish.
AFC arsenal.
Hope you are ok mate!
Dissenter “AFC Glad you made it through How do to I apply to join the progressive positives?” Mate, some things just aren’t possible! Thanks, it was a bit rough. Working from home so not going out unless necessary but my wife works in a school. She didn’t catch it but she must have given it to me. Some people are carriers. The breathing was the problem, Doc told me that Covid tricks the respiratory system into working harder than it needs to. I reckon my positive outlook helped me fight it…….! (wink) Arsenal deserved more for their performances than two… Read more »
GooberGooner
Thanks, I appreciate that.
Thanks, Tony too!
Off topic for a minute I just read a black actress is playing Anne Boleyn and I am wondering how that is going to work.
On the flip side I asked myself how I would view a White actor playing Malcom X?
I guess it’s ok if the characters are well portrayed. My difficulty here is the historical facts.
However, I enjoy reading Bernard Cornwall, Conn Iggulden and similar, so maybe it’ll work with the masses.
Pedro,
It is now confirmed that Dayot Upamecano is joining Bayern Munich in a 5 years deal. Who does his current club buy as a replacement?
Mohammed Simakan, another 20 years old French CB who learned his trade in the farm league that is Ligue 1.
Maybe, Ligue 1 just produces better defenders…
Maybe, Ligue 1 is less entertaining than the EPL, because the average standard of defending is higher…
Tony –
Non-issue, imo. If Julia Roberts can play Harriet Tubman or Elizabeth Taylor can play Cleopatra, all bets are off.
AFC
Hope you fully recover and your family remain healthy.
🍺🍺
Tony
It’s called rewriting history.
Won’t get into all of that though.
Leicester v Liverpool and MC v Spuds.
Should be watchable.
“He’s bulked up”
Got to be the effect of fish and chips.
They ‘re just stories loosley based around limited historical information. Skin colour is probably just the tiniest detail, 95% of the rest is probably inaccurate so who cares. Incidently Cleopatra’s lineage wasn’t even Egyptian, the family line was Macedonian Greek (via Ptolemy), they spoke Greek and married within their own bloodline.
“On the flip side I asked myself how I would view a White actor playing Malcom X?“
Jim Carrey or Rowan Atkinson would be my pick.
Brian Blessed would knock it out of the park.
Some people will get upset no matter what.
Many got bent out of shape over Carey Mulligan playing much older Edith Pretty in a brilliant adaptation of “The Dig”.
Or even introducing characters in the movie not based in historical fact.
Graham 62.
Look at Jaime’s point re Cleopatra and how we have watched our own rewritten histories… it’s really not a big deal…personally I love a bit of opera (careful!) and I don’t need Otello to be blackened up…I can use my imagination to fill in the details.
It’s really only uncultured assholes who get upset about a black woman playing a white woman on TV.
If you want an accurate representation of historical facts, read a book about it. Don’t cry because your pint-sized 90 min Hollywood film telling a story that will sell isn’t true to life.
So, so dumb.
Chamberlain and Thiago on the bench for Milner and Jones.
Raheem knows and looks like Klopp has finally seen the light.
…then Milner gets injured
Lying llama’s bulllshit conferences , exposed chickens come home to roost , when facts emerge. On Metro Sports “ Gabriel Martinelli insists he is free of pain and ready to inject fresh life into Arsenal’s misfiring attack ahead of Sunday’s Premier League match against Leeds United. The Brazilian teenager burst onto the scene last season, but a serious knee injury has limited the impact he has been able to make under Unai Emery’s successor, Mikel Arteta. Martinelli ended a nine-month absence when he made his comeback appearance against Manchester City in the Carabao Cup back in December. He subsequently starred… Read more »
Graham62, thanks mate..!
I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s game, we are playing well but not much going our way. Pepe starting to look more confident perhaps he’s one of those that takes time to settle into the PL. We need to be more clinical though.
AFC
Lol, I was just messing with you
I didn’t expect you to write a lengthy defense. Of your Arsenal perspectives
You don’t owe me or anyone else a reason to view Arsenal or the world the way you do.
Another player contradicting the narrative that Arteta is trying to weave. Unless injuries and suspension force Arteta’s hand, Martinelli will get even less opportunities now.
Diss.
Lol, that wasn’t all for you mate!! I was just catching up as I hadn’t been here for a while.
Ps: At least Mike Dean proved me right. How on earth are these PGMOL clowns still getting away with making these appalling decisions?
Both the Pools and Leicester advance the ball very fast. While Leicester’s attack is to play Vardy in, Pools’s attack is balanced.
TomFebruary 13, 2021 12:23:31
“On the flip side I asked myself how I would view a White actor playing Malcom X?“Jim Carrey or Rowan Atkinson would be my pick
Ken Dodd or Jonah Hill would make a great malcom x
Steve Martin in the jerk
A classic example of a white man playing a black man’s part.
He was so bad in it that he couldn’t even get in time to the beat .😉
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://m.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DW4PBwOLJWT4&ved=2ahUKEwiL6-rl_ebuAhXSVsAKHWggD9MQ28sGMAR6BAgBEEA&usg=AOvVaw2-P2plck–277X1pbfYexG
Rocco Siffredi should play Malcom x.
ION, wasnt it obvious Martinellis style and diet Pep is like oil and water
Or Dan Akroyd in trading places, he played a Rasta
So Martinelli is the next one out the door
Has Pedro given up!?
This cureent Liverpool team they way they play reminds me of Arsenal. Predictable.
I don’t like Salah. Fucking smarmy cunt.
Lol and they score.
Absolute quality goal from liverpool…
Pedro busy with Valentines week.
Tomorrow is a full marathon of all Arteta pressers with a bottle of Vaseline
VAR is becoming a joke. It is clearly offside.
Liverpool imploding.
It seems as if the 27 handicap Welsh golf fan has had a contretemps with his shouty manager. They deserve each other.
Pools GK fucked up again!!!
Liverpool is imploding.
I don’t think the Liverpool GK mess up. The defender Kabak did. Trying to stop the ball reaching a Leicester just passed it to Vardy.
What a save from Pools’s GK.
Lol Liverpoo
Whys the keeper coming out though?
The GK didn’t need to come out.
Where was Trent on that 3rd goal?
Barnes I rate him had a poor game but still scores.
Liverpool rejected Mustafi in favour of Kabak. In the end Mustafi went to Schalke that then loaned Kabak to Liverpool. The loan fee helping them to pay for Mustafi.
I wonder if Klopp is regretting his move.
I’m no Leicester fan, but I hate the scousers more. Get in. Cunts.
Leicester City’s counter attack is one of the best in the RPL.
Kris,
The Liverpool defender he replaced was not much better.
He may have been cheap, but he cost them the game.
It just proves what I keep repeating. Cheap, crap players always end up costing more.
Liverpool loosing another within last 10 minutes, complete breakdown.
Can’t put a price on that, it’s too golden.
Looking more likely that Leicester will be in the CL next season
Liverpool are at risk of playing EL next season if they don’t snap out of this funk.
Valentin @ 14:28:48
It just proves what I keep repeating. Cheap, crap players always end up costing more.”
But cheap, buy twice! That phrase goes along with its sister phrase; measure twice, but once.
It’s an utter false economy. I remember when Hazard went to Chelsea, we were (supposedly) interested, there was a lot of talk that we couldn’t afford him (in terms of TOC), it was always bullshit. Chelsea ended up selling him for a huge profit to Real so it mattered little.
A bit like buying good houses in shit neighborhoods. False economy.
JC!!
Measure twice, cut once.
These software keyboards and predictive text drive me fucking insane sometimes …
Once again the Thiago effect.
Great player but doesn’t suit Liverpool’s style.
The baying mob
You didn’t expand on your claim you’d sell Tierney earlier. I’ve one question. How could you?
Graham62February 13, 2021 14:56:31
Once again the Thiago effect.Great player but doesn’t suit Liverpool’s style
Graham
He’d be perfect for us alongside Partey. Just what we need