EXCITING PROGRESS HAPPENING AT ARSENAL

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Well, well, well… Klopp was the fraud all along. Arsenal win tomorrow, we’ll be 3 points off the Champions in the most nuts season on record.

It is quite incredible how a side can go from looking like the greatest footballing machine ever created, to total bums after one bad signing, a couple of injuries, and a global pandemic.

It’s a bit of a shame we’re playing Manchester City this weekend. They are one of the best teams in the world right now. Pep has managed the transition to a new vision with the same sort of deft innovation he always does.

The best manager in the world was pumping Arteta like he always does.

“All I can say is the last months show me that all managers need time and he is not an exception. What I see in the last two months every game Arsenal played is better than the opponent.

“Tomorrow we will have an incredible performance. They have an exceptional build-up, they have quality and they have energy. They have [Bukayo] Saka, [Pierre-Emerick] Aubameyang and all the players with the quality in the middle.

You might think this is patronising stuff. He’ll probably beat us tomorrow. But he’s not far from the truth if you are watching The Arsenal develop through the correct lens.

There are still mistakes in the system, we’re not perfect, but Pep is not wrong… we’ve been the better in all our games since the Chelsea game.

The key thing for me… we’re unpredictable now. Pep will recognise that looking at our games. We can press, we can sit back, we can go long, we can build from the back, and we can execute a well-crafted plan of shit-housery. Look at how we’re developing, versus the mess Jose is overseeing now his one-trick pony strategem is injured.

I’ve been saying for a while now, something is brewing at Arsenal, and it’s hard to deny it. We might lose tomorrow and we might lose on Thursday, but don’t take your eye off the ball. All the reports I’m hearing are that the coaching is phenomenal behind the scenes and things are building nicely. More importantly, you can see it on the pitch.

I thought a big show of our improving style was the game Auba had the other night. Sure, he missed some big chances, but did you pay attention to his game? Look at those runs he was making. That was a man that could smell the potential of a killer pass. Auba was running the channels. He was taking risks. He wasn’t doing that before Christmas. Arsenal has gone from a side that could barely progress the ball from the back, to a side that has options all over the park. Auba’s game sums us up… you don’t take chances on runs if you know the pass won’t come.

ESR, Odegaard, Partey, and Saka can all pass round corners. They can deliver from deep. They can beat an aggressive press. They dribble past players. When that clicks in this Arteta system, it’s really, really tough to play against.

Compare that to pre-Christmas when we had 2 power plays, that one on the left being the main one, well, it’s night and day. The passing is starting to look cognitive. Players are recognising the patterns, they know where to move, they know the triggers, they might not be the most aggressive pressers, but they are very intelligent at it now. There’s thought in every tactical setup these days.

We totally controlled Benfica. Whine about the result, but don’t snipe at the performance from a team that had just had to deal with Leeds before a plane journey. We controlled possession, we drew them out, made late runs in behind, and we delivered 8 quality chances that unfortunately didn’t have the finish.

We’re doing that regularly now. The xG might not always show it. But the positions we’re taking up in attack are good. The chance quality is way, way better, and the football is getting close to sexy.

The interesting thing is you can see the phases. Last year, we stopped being whipping boys. No more walking through the middle. This season, we started well defensively, we mopped up setpiece defending… then it went to hell for a bit. But part of that was down to not having the right players. Part of that was losing your best midfielder (he’s still out). If Liverpool can lose VVD and crash, why would anyone think Arsenal could lose their best midfielder and not suffer?

Now we’ve found some of the missing links. Big players are coming back into form (Auba/Laca/Gabriel). Troubled players are more settled because part of their usefulness was only going work playing with certain profiles of talent (Xhaka/Pepe/Hector/Cedric). Young players are shining (Saka/ESR). We also found an Odegaard who added more quality and confidence to the starting 11.

You should be excited as a fan. I’ve never felt more confident the path we chose was correct. We’re starting to see the fruits of the time we afforded the manager. We have to navigate this season with progress in mind, then Edu, Vinai and Arteta have to NOT make the same fuck ups as last summer.

We shouldn’t be signing David Luiz to a new deal. We should be ageing down in player profile. We need a top centre midfielder. Saliba should be integrated. We should sign Balogun down as our 3rd choice striker. We should sell the names that aren’t working or loan them for the year to shop window them.

Interestingly, I did hear that Willian is a top guy and an excellent trainer. No joke. What Arteta says about him is true, it’s not PR. He’s very well-liked behind the scenes. It’s not working out for him because he’s just not the player everyone thought he’d be. I get the sense the deal was rushed (can’t imagine why). It’s simple, never take a chance on the roulette of age. This was a mistake, Arteta has to accept that and never do it again.

I also don’t think you should read too much into the Gabriel M stuff. He’s not playing at the moment because the side is buzzing. It’s hard to change something that’s working, especially for a player that is raw power. He’ll get his chance though. There are also a number of kids coming through that everyone is very excited about as well, so expect the youth theme to continue into the Arteta tenure, there’s still a lot to come.

I don’t really have a lot to say about today. My hope is it’s a great afternoon of football. Key for us is to not concede early and see if we can grow into the game. It is going to be absolutely essential to take our chances. CIty’s defence has been immense this season, Auba won’t get 5 good chances tomorrow, he’ll be lucky to have two… so let’s see what we can do. Should be fun.

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andy1886

Luckily Pierre’s already helped Pedro with tomorrow’s headline should we be on the wrong end of the result. We were ‘runners up’.

Dissenter

“So many little bitches here”

Like you when you were relentlessly going after Auba on Thursday

Matt

Mr Serge

When you concede in the first two minutes it is absolutely fair to moan about the ‘coach’

LeMassiveCoq

Cant talk…

Seriously what the fuck was holding doing? Sterling = 4’3″, Holding = 7’6″. Watches ball instead of man. I tell my fucking u11s not to do that. Criminal defending. Plain awful.

R.S.P.C.Arsenal

Auba looks like he is running with out purpose…

Like he feels he has too.

Graham

Runners up on the pitch but winners on the training ground

That will be the full headline.

Camden gooner

Time Pedro stopped creaming his pants over Arteta, he’s an awful coach and even worse manager, fully expect us to go out of Europe on Thursday as well, sack him now

Anonymous Commentator

The whole city team playing like every one of them is droppable.
Energy for days coming from them.
Hopefully we can just shut up shop and not get embarrassed.

andy1886

Nice one Graham, Pedro should pay you for that one.

R.S.P.C.Arsenal

Bell should have followed the man in front of him

Guns of SF

I think adding El Neny showed Mikes plan for the game. 5 defenders basically but clearly did not work so far

Winthorpe

We are playing with 9 men with Aubameyang and bellerin
Every time they get the ball it goes to to opposition

Graham

Thanks andy1886 – it’s fairly easy though. As soon as you realise this blog is now just a spoof it’s easy to write for it.

Moray

“On the training pitch based on what I hear – our defenders do tackling and clearing really well based on some phenomenal coaching – so the goal does not count for Arteta (or Pedro). As far as they are concerned it’s 0-0.“
Haha. Training ground is where it’s at. If you’re good with the kids and go in for the flicks at Colney you’re definitely worth a couple of hundred grand a week

Mysticleaves

Serge, from the top of my head, Westbrom, Southampton, Leicester, man utd, Brighton? Gave City tough games. I think we aren’t stupid to atleast expect the same from our team?

Danny

Auba again gives it away……

Buzzy

Auba should not be anywhere near the pitch

Winthorpe

DissenterFebruary 21, 2021 16:41:56
“So many little bitches here”Like you when you were relentlessly going after Auba on Thursday

He says as Aubameyang gives the ball away, yet again

Dissenter

If this game with city was a given loss then why not use it to to rest your best players for Thursday

He should have given the likes of Martinelli a chance to play themselves back into reckoning

Radio Raheem

Not having this ‘the players are too bad to do better’ nonsense.

I watched Brighton put up a far better showing against City in Manchester.

Forget that we put up a better showing against City earlier this season before Luiz got sent off (or was that last season?).

Anyway, looks like we’re waking up now.

Graham

Thanks Moray.

I propose a new stat xTGg

Expected training ground goals.

We are currently in 2nd two points below Man City due to our top scorer Willian.

Zfree

Will auba have 5 touches today?

Winthorpe

3 times Aubameyang has given the ball away already
100% turnovers

Jamie

“I propose a new stat xTGg

Expected training ground goals.”

Bravo

Nelson

Both Bellerin and Holding didn’t mark Sterling. Last game vs Villa, Holding also didn’t mark the man resulting in the goal.

TheLegendaryDB10

AC

Hopefully we can just shut up shop and not get embarrassed.

We are only 15 mins into the 1st half!!!!!

I mean, isn’t a generational coach supposed to come up with a plan to counter such a team???

Guns of SF

Mike should have gone all out attack.
The only real chance we have is to attack them and try to push them back.
By playing El neny we are inviting them, and hoping for counter but I dont think this will work as whenever they attack us its hands on head moments!

Moray

In Leicester and City I see great “teams”, as much as the individual brilliance.

Arsenal is a great few talents.

That’s on the coach. If he can’t make us a better team his time will be limited.

Nelson

Auba is offside anyway.

TheBayingMob

Auba, City’s best defender!! Ridiculous

Graham

Thanks Jamie.

Guns of SF

Diss I agree

Martinelli would at least push them back more

Matt

Tierney was so poor for letting Mahrez get the cross in. He should know he only has a left foot but he lets him come inside so easily.

Samesong

Saka looks unplayable at times.

Anonymous Commentator

DB10 I’m being as optimistic as I can, there is such a gulf in quality between us and them that there’s just no point to me in getting my hopes up

Gazzap

Was that going in only for Auba to stop the ball??

Winthorpe

Another piece of great play from our esteemed captain
Blocks the shot in an offside position
The gift that keeps on giving

Moray

I was loving your posts, Graham, until I realised you were Arsenals new head of PR…

JJ

Auber playing for City so far. Passing back to them after we work so hard to pass him the ball and now blocking our shots. He needs to pull his head out.

DUIFG

We can score here, I font really care about the result but I want to score in this game

Matt

Auba hasn’t pulled his head out since he got his new contract.

Winthorpe

JJFebruary 21, 2021 16:50:10
Auber playing for City so far. Passing back to them after we work so hard to pass him the ball and now blocking our shots. He needs to pull his head out.

I don’t know why it’s taken so long for you all to realise how useless he is
Take his tap ins away and he’s nothing

The Godfather

Why the Fcuk did we play Xhaka in this game

Soham

Auba is shit

TheLegendaryDB10

Back passing pointlessly to then lose possession…. lolz….

We really are a very poor man’s version of City. 😂

Nelson

The game has a feel of a friendly game. MC is not fouling our players at all.

LeMassiveCoq

Crikey, it’s like full on mutiny on here.

Pedro is looking at the big picture. We’ll be alright under him in a year or two. Restructuring doesn’t happen overnight.

For all of you wetting your pants about being bossed by Citeh… everyone in the Prem is getting bossed by them at the moment. I personally have faith in Arteta, so I’m not in the Pedro out camp. There I said it.

This season is a bit mental. West Ham are looking like top 4 candidates, enough said.

Be patient bitches.

Guns of SF

Zinchecnko and DeBruyne look like the same

MidwestGun

Saka is our best hope so far.. Ode is basically being marked out of the game and has Pepe touched the ball?

Matt

Just fuck off aubamayang.

Gazzap

Has anything other than giving possession back to city happened after an Auba touch??

JJ

Auber needs to turn and run at the defense. He keeps giving it away cheaply. When will he learn?

Winthorpe

5/5 for Aubameyang now
Every involvement results in city having the ball. One even blocking our goal bound shot
Nice work
Quarter of the game gone
I prefer when he’s anonymous

Zfree

Yea lol bellerin and auba are terrorists

Zfree

No ideas what to do with the ball when it gets to them.

Winthorpe

The GodfatherFebruary 21, 2021 16:51:46
Why the Fcuk did we play Xhaka in this game

Tell us all how much better Aubameyang is up front godfather you comic genius

Dissenter

Chasing the ball for 90 minutes against city is going to fry these players It’s going to be a long afternoon chasing shadows.
It just portends a poor result on Thursday.

Laca is fit
Gabi is free
Why not start those two so that you can press and defend from the front.

TheLegendaryDB10

Nelson

Pep has never liked turning the screw on us. He somehow still respects the club.

God I wish we had the true Pep and not the “made in China diet pep” that we have now.

What is making me laugh is that MA’s style is around possession and here we are trying to replicate this vs the kings of the style.

Winthorpe

Bellerin well out of position
Should have started Lacazette and Cedric

Zacharse

Has auba completed a pass yet? Mist be artetas fault

Leftside

Imagine having all this intel on City and not being able to set your team up to at least make games against them competitive.

R.S.P.C.Arsenal

Saka below par…today

Moray

As Man City’s ex assistant coach, surely Arteta should have known of Sterling’s ability to sneak in between two 6 foot + defenders and score a diving header?

At least Spuds lost.

Guns of SF

Diss, agreed
Laca and Martin would press their defense much better than we have now,
martin is like a mosquito, all over the place… we need that energy unleashed

The Godfather

Arghhhhh this passing is so poor … Cmon Saka

Winthorpe

Fuck me
Aubameyang found a team mate
👏 👏 👏
1/6
Well worth the money

Mr Serge

Wow this is so one sided

G8

Wrong pass saka

Davedale

City just walking around and are opening us up at will……. We panic every time we get the ball and give it straight back to them……

The Godfather

These guys are so spooked.
Never seen passing so bad

MidwestGun

Mahrez is making us his bitch.. ugh…

JOEL

After 25 minutes both Aubamayang and Bellerin have managed to get into double figures with their passes to City players.

It seems that during his time at City…Arteta failed to find out how to implement an effective press.Sitting deep and inviting City to just attack them can only have one result!!

Jim+furnell

City might be good but our passing is atrocious, first touch awful, movement non existent. We’re better than this

Batistuta

Lesser teams with lesser quality players give City a much tougher game. We’d probably look inferior to an out of form Pool too

Benjamin

Has auba completed a pass yet? Mist be artetas fault

He is the one who plays him!! So yes, it is Artetas fault!!!

Crabregas

Auba is City’s playmaker. Starting their attacks very well

Dissenter

Every time Elneny makes a forward pass, he gets vertigo for one. minute
That’s why he never tries it

Zacharse

Imagine if auba came off and gabi came on

Winthorpe

The GodfatherFebruary 21, 2021 16:58:13
These guys are so spooked.
Never seen passing so bad

Yeah
Look no further than your boy auba. Elneny and bellerin nearly as bad. Nearly

Zfree

Saka is going to be shattered. If city score a second before the 50th minute, we should take Saka off.

Buzzy

How is this any different from a Wenger or Emery performance?

Zero tactics
Being lucky
Relying on last ditch defending
Hopeless going forward

Nothing has changed

Davedale

Haha bellerins just passed it straight out of play…….

Benjamin

They all look scared to play1

TheBayingMob

Tactics, setup and mental approach to the game all wrong IMO. City are easily controlling this even without many clear cut chances. Needs a step change in the second half.

Muppetman

But we expect Arsenal to compete for longer than 30 seconds. We are not a tiny club in an fa cup tie, is a draw really that unrealistic at home against city? If it is we should shut up shop and turn the Emirates into flats.

Danny

Bellerin with a classic there!

Zfree

I can’t watch bellerin and auba much longer though. Might have to turn it off

azed

The good thing is we’ve managed to slow them down.

Let’s keep the ball at the back for a while to get confidence.

G8

Lol Bellend!

Nelson

Bellerin is becoming a joke of a player.

Matt

No words…

Batistuta

Whole team looks flat but it’s Auba everyone’s jumping on like Xhaka doesn’t look like he’s about to crap his pants each time he’s pressed

underrated Coq

I’m sure Saka and ESR can’t wait to change Red and white for City’s Blue. But hey, by then Arteta will be done with the Internship and we’ll be on our way to CL glory. We can sign Willian to an extension.

TheBayingMob

So Pepe on the right was just to cover KTs absence? Now he’s back it’s automatically back to shitty ineffective Pepe down the right? Pointless.

Moray

Bellerin just tackled himself. And much more effectively that I’ve seen him do to An opponent.

Winthorpe

And right on cue Hector shows auba he’s not the only hopelessly incapable football player in this team

karim

Hector’s been more awful than he usually is.

S Asoa

Bit worried about Saka. Looks tired or something. Hope Arteta will not destroy his hospital pass.
Pepe looks off on his off side of the pitch. But then does not click with Tierney

John Munoz

Team is playing scared. Some really bad touches and slightly misplaced passes.

I’d sub Dani for Elneny.

vickingz

Fraud coach, fraud players, how auba is a player is beyond me, he doesn’t nothing than tap ins.

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