REDZONE FEARS BUBBLING

by .

The year is 2021. The future is bleak, face masks and Purrell are the currency of the land. West Ham United are genuinely an excellent side.

Imagine these visions in 2018?

West Ham had a good run out against City, beating them for xG, but losing the game. It’s kind of brutal that TV isn’t aligned better between European football and the league. How can you have City playing the first game of the day after a Champions League run out? Truly brutal.

Arsenal and Leicester are in similar boats this Sunday. I mean, bar the fact Arsenal had to do two away legs in the Europa, with our home leg being further away. Again, why does it have to be the first game of the day? Every little helps. The competitions need better alignment.

The big watchword amongst Arsenal fans atm is ‘THE RED ZONE.’ This terminology was big on Le Grove in the early days. People didn’t think it existed when we were calling for Arsenal to get a S&C coach to fix the injuries (remember Wenger getting a witch doctor in to solve the issue?). Well, now people are very much accepting of sports science. The basic premise… when you are fatigued, you have a higher chance of soft tissue injury. The fancy GPS kit they use helps staff understand where a player is in terms of their limit. When you hit the RedZone, there’s a higher chance you could ping something.

The corollary that many of us are worried about is the breakthrough of Jack Wilshere, when Wenger played him 54 times and the player never recovered… and the breakthrough season of Bukayo Saka, with Arteta being unable to drop the teenager. This is Wilshere.

‘I remember having conversations with the physios in my first year in the Arsenal team. They were like: ‘Look, you’re playing a lot…’ I told them: ‘I want to play”

“I was living the dream. I was 19, playing for Arsenal. We were challenging for the league, in the Champions League. No one was going to tell me I needed a rest. That’s one of my biggest regrets – I wish I’d listened to physios a little more, learned more about my body”

It’s very worrying. Arteta is under pressure and playing for the short term. Keeping players fit and healthy during their development is a longterm thing. ‘The player said he wanted to play’ shouldn’t factor. If I child wants to eat a bonfire, you don’t let them, unless you are a weak leader.

This Sunday feels like one of those plotlines in a film.

‘Come on Bukayo, just one more time. Do it for the boys.’

The Leicester game is another Cup Final, not because we’re going to do anything in the league, but because this project needs a major scalp after a rough run of games. Killing Brendan Rodgers title run after he shithoused us earlier in the season would be totally dreamy. He needs Saka if he has a single hope of it.

The manager knows he’s tired, his response is that fatigue is part of the game. Wenger, Ferguson, Pep, and pretty much every manager out there would say the same… but there needs to be a balance. Unai Emery fucked his top 4 hopes when he overplayed Aaron Ramsey after he returned. That sort of marginal error can kill you.

The only temptation on offer is that after today, it’s a 5-day rest until we play Burnley, a game you’d hope we could rest him.

Then it’s straight back into the Europa mixer for a doubleheader against Olympiacos, which is conveniently wedged between Spurs and West Ham United. This next batch of games is where the money is made. 6 wins and the season is saved. If we have a horrendous run, pick up some injuries, and drop out of the Europa, it’ll be a bloodbath with the fans.

This is football. Glory or death. No in-between.

Loan watch is going well. William Saliba has managed 10 games in a row, he’s certainly answering fitness questions and his fanbase is growing. Also worth noting that Dino Mavrapanos is doing well. Lots of admiring glances for one of Sven’s bets. It’d be great if one of them slipped into the squad next season. Both young, both have high ceilings, both have resale value.

Short one today. Before I go. A couple of things.

This internet is a shithole. There are literally thousands of basement dwellers whose only power in life is being mean on the internet. These cowards sometimes pop up in my comments section. I’ve had people send me e-mails this year complaining about it. I am always happy to be alerted to bad actors. If I get the mail, I sort it, every time.

What I have to reiterate, over and over and over again, is this: I am just a part-time writer. I work a fulltime job dropping New York 70 hour weeks. Advertising is where I make my money, not this website. I make ZERO money from tweets, podcasts or blogs. I am also a left-leaning snowflake. If there is someone saying mean things in the comments, trust me, it’s not because I am down with those comments.

So when you email me. Please consider this is just a big hobby on a site that looks sleek, modern, and clean… built for a 2.0 world.

Finally, some exciting news. I’m going to be a contributor for The Gooner. Layth has kindly given me a little bit of space to drop thoughts. I’ve always loved the fanzine. The jokes, elite banter, gossip, and the sketch on the back of mag was always a treat when I’d go to the games with my dad and football fam back in the day. Fanzines were and are a massive part of the footballing experience, I’m glad it’s continuing, but it could always do with your support. Sign up here, it’s money well spent.

On that note, see you in the comments. I’ll be here with an On The Whistle Podcast tomorrow.

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bacaryisgod

Guns

Just ask Jack Wilshere.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-9305235/Jack-Wilshere-reveals-biggest-regret-career-living-dream-Arsenal.html

I think it’s insanity that Saka has played so much this month. I was banging on about this a couple of weeks ago and he’s played every minute since. I’m almost hoping he pulls a hamstring to keep him out for 3-4 weeks before he gets a more serious overuse injury.

Kroenkephobe

Pedro If you’re ever planning to monetise this site, I recommend that it be done carefully and in such a way that it doesn’t alienate readers. Create some employment opportunities for some other budding writers, techies and business minds to help you. The Gooner is now a mess thanks in part to numerous inane pop ups that have to be navigated. Moreover, Layth is not fit to lace Kevin Whicher’s boots when it comes to editing. Gooner articles these days are so poor and lightweight (save for Robert Exley’s excellent histories) that they almost deter btl action. Where’s Graham Perry… Read more »

bacaryisgod

Tony,

By the way, 70 hours in a marketing job is the equivalent to 25 hours of a regular job. The other 45 hours is lying on the sofa ‘brainstorming’.

Nelson

Brendan Rodgers benched Harvey Barnes and Ricardo Pereira in his Thursday’s loss. Also without James Maddison, that team was half power. It is clear that his priority is in the League.

Guns of Hackney

I couldn’t give a fuck about Wiltshire. Shit player.

So Arteta thinks we’re now seeing the best of Willian 😂😂🤣

S Asoa

After Williams shits over after his interview telling he badly wanted to stay on at Chelsea… ……a lover’s infatuation “ Mikel Arteta is hoping Arsenal fans will start to see the best of Willian in the coming weeks. The 32-year-old moved to the Emirates Stadium from London rivals Chelsea in the summer – he “really wanted to stay” – but has struggled to make an impact. The Brazil international has been criticised online for much of the campaign, having provided three Premier League assists and failed to open his goalscoring account for the Gunners. Arteta introduced Willian off the bench… Read more »

Nelson

There’s no Holding, Partey, Saka or Martinelli in the starting XI today. Pedro must be saying that Arteta is protecting Martinelli.

Buzzy

I dont care who else starts today but if Bellerin makes the 11 then we certainly have a manager who is totally clueless

Jamie

No other player has had his career propped up by a handful of decent performances more than Wilshere.

Talked about as though he was an elite midfielder, still under 30 and playing in the Championship (sent off yesterday for headbutting Tom Cleverley – elite mentality on display).

Tony

Bacaryisgod
Conjures up office scenes from Mad Men lol

Sid

Sakas bones are stronger than wilshere, a diet of fufu, jollof, banga, maafe is better than fish and chips

Kroenkephobe

GoH

Dad? Is that you?

That’s some going mate – big up yer self. Almost reads like my entire adventures of the 90s in North London and then Buenos Aires (although fewer pints and shed loads of “E”s). Arsenal and Racing Club de Avellaneda.

Buzzy

Blacks have more testosterone, stronger ligaments and more fast twitch fibres than other races.

Nelson

Pepe and Willian will start….

bacaryisgod

SpanishDave

You ask about Xhaka. It’s a pretty simple explanation. If you have a beaten up old pick-up, it’s ok to run it into the ground. You don’t do that with a Ferrari.

Emiratesstroller

I don’t get the argument posted on here that Arsenal need to rotate. Arteta made 4 changes from Man City game when we played against Benefica. I agree that there is an element of rotation, which should be made so that our players are being properly rested, but there is a limit to how and who these are. Hopefully we will be starting today’s game with Partey as replacement for Ceballos. I would be inclined also to bring in Mari or Holding into Central Defence to steady the ship there and play either Pepe or Lacazette so that we have… Read more »

Buzzy

*fiber

Nelson

Leno, Soares, Mari, Luiz, Tierney, Elneny, Xhaka, Willian, Smith Rowe, Pepe, Lacazette

Subs: Ryan, Bellerin, Saka, Ceballos, Odegaard, Aubameyang, Holding, Partey, Martinelli

Matt

Right. That’s me done then. Willian starting, no thanks.

Leftside

Arteta on Willian

“You can see that he is starting to produce what we think he can.”

I had my thoughts but this confirms he is a full on imbecile.

Berg10kamp

Ffs when will gabi play

bacaryisgod

Tony

Exactly! Although, I’m not sure Pedro could hang with Don Draper with the drinking.

Bob N16

7/8 of our strongest 11 on the bench today. Not at all hopeful of a result today.

I hate Green Bay

Willian ☹

andy1886

Willian back in the starting line up Loooool. Martinelli continues to fester on the bench. Smith-Rowe at #10.

China1

What are you talking about Pierre You said welbeck and I don’t know the rule then when I replied with ‘we’ you said ‘not we, you’. Tripping over your own feet dude, use your zimmerframe next time Also I don’t blame welbeck for making the mistake because a lot of strikers are going to instinctively shoot when they miss a penalty and the ball immediately arrives at their feet with an open goal. Credit to any strikers present enough to not instinctively tap that in, but most strikers would regardless of it being disallowed The funny part is not him… Read more »

Jim Lahey

Its pretty clear Arteta is trying to force Martinelli out of the club.

China1

Martinelli keeps leaving skid marks in the toilets before arteta uses the facilities it’s the only idea I have left for why he’s been binned off

Pedro once again I ask is Martinelli a priority for Mikel? Just because he signed a new contract last year? Really???

But I’m fine with us rotating heavily it’s a good call, so long as ESR gets dropped for the next game.

Leftside

Arsenal in 2021 content sitting in mid table

Jim Lahey

He has all the time in the world for a spent ex-Chelsea reject, but none for one of the best young prospects in the league. Very telling.

Buzzy

Surely this has to be the worst line up of last 20 years…even worse than the Eboue Denilson Diaby days

Le Sauce

Arteta never disappoints. He wants the Willian deal to work so bad it now smacks of desperation.

This is why Arteta deserves the sack. Willian has done nothing to suggest he should even be in first team squad, let alone to start a game. I’m sorry but if I was Balogun, Martinelli, saliba etc I’d fuck off. As for Saka, any other club comes in for him , he’ll be off. And rightly so. We are a mid table team and will be for years to come

China1

The only way Martinelli gets an extended run in a Mikel team is if we have 3 wingers out injured/suspended for 5 games in a row. Forget it happening otherwise

bacaryisgod

Buzzy,

I’m not an expert in twitch fibers but I don’t know how that’s relevant to likelihood of getting injured. I’m not in any way citing this as scientific proof but a look back at Arsenal players over the last 20 years would indicate that our black players are just as lucky to be sidelined with non-contact injuries.

Arteta is fucking lucky there are no fans allowed into the ground, as he’d be booed from start to finish

Leftside

“He has all the time in the world for a spent ex-Chelsea reject, but none for one of the best young prospects in the league. Very telling.“

Yep, it’s astounding.

Jim Lahey

Guendouzi, Balogun, Martinelli and Saliba all fantastic up and coming talent discarded by Arteta.

Foxy

Good to see Cedric at RB but why is Holding not playing instead of Luiz?

XHaka & Elneny 😢 means they are not confident re Partey’s fitness.

Pepe will need to pull off a big game, hopefully ESR and Cedric will help him find openings.

At least Saka will have his feet up on the sofa.

Globalgunner

A midfield of clunk and clunker AKA Xhaka and Elneny supported by Granny Willian. Surely our manager needs and eye check followed by a psychiatric evaluation.

Bertfish

Arteta has given up on the league with that line up. It’s all on the Europa!

Yes we have to rotate but why so many & why do it for Leicester when we have Burnley next.

Could come back to bite him big time if we end up totally out of Europe next season,

Jim Lahey

Not only has Arteta discarded some of the best young talent in the league he has destroyed any sort of resale value.

From Petite/ Viera axel in midfield or Viera/Gilberto axel, we now have Xhaka/El Neny ……..my how the mighty have fallen

China1

i would assume we’re going full strength vs Burnley next game and then again at Olympiacos

MilanøGunner

Smith Rowe loves playing with Laca, but he is surrounded by Willian, Pepe, Gran and Elneny.. Sad

Pierre

Ten out ten for a nice piece of backtracking there China, though i thought the zimmerframe comment was mildly amusing ..

To me, the comical element is Welbeck attempting to score from the rebound off the post, and the gormless look on his face when hearing the referee’s whistle.

Anyone who has ever taken a penalty would/should know that you get out of the way of the ball, allowing the possibility of a team mate to score from the rebound.

Victorious

Every manager ultimately decides the hill to die on! Emery for a time was ready to die for Xhaka so its no surprise really our rookie coach has it all for Willian

He’ll eventually get sacked for being a thick twat,just a matter of time, pray we still have Martinelli in the club when that time comes.

Victorious

Got to feel for Martinelli! Arteta is basically waiting for a negative reaction so he can justifiably bin him, I mean for fcking old past it Willian? This guy is crazy

Foxy

A high level of twitch muscle gives explosiveness but not endurance and can actually lead to more injuries as in sprinters hammies.
What seems to the case however is that Afrucan players seem to achieve adult strength at an earlier age Song being a good example.

Gonsterous

Martinelli on the bench, you can put money on him ending the Match on the bench.

#artetaOut

China

Sorry I couldn’t continue our convo, unfortunately the cons of being self employed is that you have to work on Sundays. I’m terrible with dates too but I do enjoy learning and re learning about the roman empire. It was definitely an adventurous period.

Matt

Arteta does himself no favours whatsoever. I am going to watch the game and try my best to judge Willians contribution through unbiased eyes and give him the benefit of the doubt and imagine he is any other player. Judging him purely on what he will bring today, I just know I am still going to massively underwhelmed. I think when you just know a player for a going to do nothing before a game, it is even more frustrating when they go on to prove you correct.

Jim Lahey

Arteta is an egomaniac.

Foxy

Just discovered game is on BT sport 😊

But I have to watch Xhaka, Elneny and Willian😕

Kroenkephobe

Squeaky sphincter time. Our CB pairing is not the most speedy/mobile given that we’re up against Vardy.

Gonsterous

Only reason martinelli is being pushed out is because he was a edu signing and arteta has to show edu, he’s the top dog.

Victorious

Literally fuming at that starting 11,Liecester will absolutely fcking dominate that lot from the go! WTF is actually wrong with Arteta?

Emiratesstroller

Jim Lahey

Martinelli should of course be offered playing time, but not necessarily as a starter. We are
playing already both Smith-Rowe and Saka on a regular basis.

There is a limit as to the number of young and inexperienced players who should be playing
in the team at any one time.

Saliba is an entirely different situation, because he is playing in Nice. The assessment earlier
in season was that he was not ready to play in first team and more importantly ahead of the
4 centre backs who are currently playing in team on a rotational basis.

roaaary

You cant defend that line up. Willian will be the death of arteta

China1

Gonsterous yeah that’s a really interesting time I want to learn more about. The ancient Greeks as well.

Also cheers for the recommendation tony

Enjoy the game lads and pray for our boy martinelli!!!

Matt

Some people will still try and defend that line up.

Leftside

Yeah, i’m fuming. I can’t stand when people refuse to learn from mistakes and try new things. Arteta’s career is too in its infancy for him to be so set in his ways.

bacaryisgod

I totally support prioritizing the Europa League at this point and it’s important to rest key players. However, in the case of Saka, you don’t put him on the bench. You give him complete physical and mental rest and he takes the full day off. Arteta will probably be unable to resist bringing him on anyway.

Also, if you’re going to rest heavily used players then why are ESR and Xhaka playing? You might as well go the whole way and tank the game properly with a Ceballos-Elneny axis and give some minutes to Martinelli.

China1

ET you’re right about Martinelli not needing to start every game, 100% agree – however ode has played almost every match recently. Not sure why arteta thinks his age is acceptable for Martinellis isn’t

Martinelli is even lower down the pecking order to accommodate ode’s regular inclusion

It’s ironic as well because it was saka esr and Martinelli who spearheaded artetas change in fortunes but something clicked since and he doesn’t want Gabriel anywhere near this team

China1

Even when arteta throws the game Martinelli is not deemed worthy 😂😂

Rich

Not ideal

But better than Saka picking up an injury, and losing him for a prolonged period.

Wonder if Rodgers will press Xhaka + Luiz, then stand off the rest of them, and look to release Vardy + Iheanacho early

Luiz + Mari aren’t the quickest, they could be in for a long afternoon

Foxy

Huge game for Leicester to cement a top 4 finish, West Ham having lost yesterday. Equals bad news for us with such a limp line up.

bacaryisgod

I’m going out on a limb here. Think it’s going to be a close one. We’ll cede most of the possession and could escape with a low-scoring draw.

Nelson

At least Arteta recognizes that ESR and Laca form a pair and Auba and Ødegaard the other. Reiss Nelson is completely gone, not even on the bench. There is no Eddie also.

Leftside

Luiz and Willian forced down our throats at all costs, and putting his weak ego before anything else. He would rather be right with Willian than play for an actual result.

Majesticgooner

How many goals in this team? What is arteta doing? Trying to suck more life out of us fans?

Chris

Is Nketiah injured? Arteta seems to have given up on him.

The Martinelli situation is a little puzzling. This does seem like the ideal opportunity to give him a start.

Rich

Martinelli is very raw in aspects of his game

Very few teenagers perform consistently in the PL

He’s young, he’s talented, his time will come

As we’ve seen with Saka + Smith-Rowe

6 months at that age is a long time, Saka didn’t start the FA Cup Semi, or Final last season, now he’s the first name on the team sheet

7 months ago Smith-Rowe was saving Huddersfield from relegation in the Championship

Throwing young players in before they’re ready, causes more harm than good

Patience is a virtue

Jamie

What are the chances of Willian making us all look stupid?

Bizarre selection, but whatever. Games are won and lost on the pitch. Let’s go.

underrated Coq

Looks like its all set up for a spanking. The Superfans will be cowering behind their sofas praying for a narrow loss so they can continue their ‘Harder to beat’ bullc*ap.

Tony

Guess we’ll have to trust in our saucy generational manager for as long as humanly possible.

Reckon most of us will loose all trust yet again after about 10 minutes. After that it’s just all hopes and prayers.

Nelson

China1

Martinelli and Ødegaard are not completing for the same position. Since Eddie is not on the bench, I expect Martinelli could be subbed for the #9 position.

Sid

Buzzy is right, diaby and gibbs seem to have mixed genetics

G8

Willian, Elneny, Xhaka, Lacazette
No pace whatsoever
Predictable slow backward and sideways passing and high balls to Evan & soynucu heads
Vardy would probably have a field day against the ever slow luiz and mari!
Terrible line up!

Mb

We are winning this, revenge time baby.

#COYG

JOPPARoad

Luiz, Willian (obsession), Elneny, Pepe, Soares and Xhaka in starting line up. What could possibly go wrong? The man clearly hates Martinelli.

Graham62

Why no Martinelli?

JHC, what the hell is going on?

It’s becoming more than a joke now.

Also, why Luiz?

Fact people still think we have a chance in the Europa league is hilarious

azed

William is at the tail end of his career.
Martinelli, Eddie and Balogun are just starting theirs. The more they play, the better they would be come but William will only get worse so I don’t understand why Arteta still starts him.

Next year when William is completely sh*t, Arteta would expect the likes of Martinelli to come in and be consistent but he hasn’t given them the chance to do that.

Sid

Todays line up is with park the bus in mind

Rich

Nelson

I think the same

Arteta has said he see’s Martinelli’s long term future centrally

If we get offers for Laca + Nketiah this summer, we’ll sell

And then go with an internal replacement of Martinelli as competition for Aubameyang next season

Arteta is a bum, a fraud of a manager and I genuinely hope this his last season in charge of us. He has proved time and time again he isn’t up for the job

Jim+furnell

I think it’s right to rest players, Saka, ESR, Bellerin, maybe Xhaka, and if he’s blowing the prem give some new kids a start, Auba just getting the flavour, Partey needs match fitness, Odegaard has hardly played, and Willian is just done. Martinelli needs to play. Don’t believe some of his thinking. But lets hope Willian has two assists, Pepe scores a screamer, Vardy pulls a hamstring and Laca bags a brace..

Rich

Sid

If we’re thinking of parking Luiz + Mari on the halfway line, up again Vardy + Ineanacho?

Then it’s going to be a long + painful afternoon.

Cheney10

I support the manager but my son just spotted Wilian and asked, ‘why he was playing’ 😂😂 I just hope he has a decent game because I have to admit, even as an Arteta supporter, that his selection is difficult to defend when he has been putting in insipid performances. See you all on the other side! COYG!

Sid

Only pepe will be allowed past the half way line Laca will basically be a midfielder today

Nelson

Lasr time Leicester defended until Vardy was on the field. Then they started the fast counter. This time Vardy is starting. I wonder what is their game plan. I have the feeling that Brendan Rodgers would give Arteta another coaching lesson.

MuddyGooner

Just saw the team line up.
WTF is wrong with this manager ?
Xhaka, El Neny is not a good combination against a quick passing team like Leicester.
Still no Martinelli ???????????

Dissenter

What about Lee Mason, eh.

Premier league referees are an embarrassment.

Dissenter

That midfield is not dynamic enough to cope with Leicester

Sid

That line up cannot string more than 4 passes without losing the ball

Matt

I think we can all see how this game is likely to end. Generational coach can’t. Some certainties for today Vardy will score. Elneny, Xhaka and Willian will break the record for most backward passes in a top flight football match.

Useroz

Arteta can’t wait to start HIS top signing from Chelski with any teeny, tiny excuses like a passing. For to be his downfall…

MuddyGooner

Willian too ?
SMH !

Gazzap

Only 3 things certain in life, taxes, death, and xhaka plays if he’s fit.