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.
Get in
2-1
Some bloody luck for a change hey!!
Pepe has been at the heart of all the best stuff today
Ok now… Good pk.. Laca… Sweet!!!! We really deserve to be ahead.. LC are average.
Opposition got away for too fucking often and long….
Definitely pen … refresh did the right thing
Players kept at it also helped
Thank fuck it was given to us, been stitched up before
Willian has come alive from his coma
His hand was high.
So good to see pepe really giving it some today despite being dropped for a few games. Could have gone hiding very easily.
So people moaning Arteta makes so many changes then people moan ESR is injured and should’ve been rested. Dammed if you do, dammed if you don’t
Why did the ref ignore an obvious penalty claim ?
Leicester have been poor today I think they’re missing Maddison
*ref*
I’m Willians biggest critic, that was the best piece of football he’s played for us. Lets have more
Good penalty
You have to say Leicester don’t look anything special at all
We have dropped half our best players and have loads of dumb management and decisions and we’re still the better team
So it is….
Well done Laca!!!!!
Pepe wins both set pieces.
Clear as day didn’t even need VAR.
YESS!!!
Just need to keep this going to the end.
Serge, if rumours are to be believed, we are doing exactly that in the summer….looks like his last season..he should be nowhere near this team
Actually have to say that willian is playing well pains me to say it
Got out of jail. I’d like to see Saka come on and build on this lead.
Nearly got caught out with our high line
Buzzy psg want him we may get 25m for him I would get Aaron’s from Norwhich he is very dynamic
Laca working like s beast. Looks quite fast today too.👍
That was totally unexpectwd
“Why did the ref ignore an obvious penalty claim ?”
He didn’t. He can’t give what didn’t see. He waited for VAR.
the system worked so stop whining
Wonthorpe correct they need to play
Luiz kicked the ball forward instead of passing it behind. Thats what you do in the closing moments of the first half when you are ahead. Not passing it like a retard and have the Wolves mistake happen again. Details but really important that show Luiz’ experience and quality compared to our other CBs.
We need pace in defence to protect our lead in 2nd half
Arsenal playing well might have something to do with Laca leading the line?
One thing I can’t criticize Arteta on… Is the players don’t give up on him.. always fight back..
Although if the process is to get behind every match.. we need a new process.
I’d like to see Saka not have to come on
Var has been good today it’s been right both times
How hasn’t Pepe been playing week in week out. The lad is on form and has been since Christmas.
We need to wrap Bellerin in bubble wrap
He has to be ready to the summer transfer
If only we could cut out conceding in the 10 mins. Like we’re not fully alert, switched on.
We always make things hard for ourselves.
Pepe is striking fear into the heart of that young lad at left back for them. If Rodgers doesn’t switch anything at half time, we must feed Pepe the ball so he can keep terrorising him, draw the second yellow.
It’s a deserved lead, we have even the better side.
Cedric > >>>> Bellerin
Lacazette > Auba
I don’t care how many tap ins Auba score, i’d always go with laca over him any day, anytime. He offers more than just goals, his presence brings our wingers to play, he offers them the flair, they look up to him, even the commentator said it
Midwest the one thing I do believe I’d better players better results look at West ham this season. Moyes has not changed just the playing personel
If we replace 4 of the first team with better players we will be superior
It won’t be that hard to replace luiz. Xhaka bellerin at least
Ndidi in an Arsenal shirt would be on 2 yellows now.. First for the almost pen and 2nd for the handball..
Really hope Martinelli gets some minutes
Good fight back to take the lead but fuck me how do we conceded so many goals in the first 10 mins?
If we replace bellerin with an aggressive full back in the mould of the Leicester FBs we instantly become a different beast.
Our inability to progress the ball down the right wipes out any ability we have to throw a surprise
Bellerin is God awful
Good team performance so far. We do have a tendency to start cold but it’s been all us so far after that.
Leicester look off their game. Maybe the absence of Maddison, maybe off the back of their European buttfucking.
We could get three much needed points here.
.
Laca has been good today. His form has been good all year tbf
My man pepe causing scenes, lb on toast, keep feeding him early, him and credric look a lot better.
Let’s not mange this, we need to score again and we will of we can continue combos and runners in behind
Good half from the team dare we say it even Willian seems switched on . Pepe has been fantastic , Thomas can’t handle him whatsoever
Pepe doing bits on the right even. Keeps baiting this young Leicester fullback to get too tight, probably won 6 or 7 fouls that half. Great work.
Nice to watch our right flank without bellerin clogging it all up
Bellerin is a limited guy, credric can hold and feet at the right time.
Pepe can’t have 3 man to beat give him 1 and he will do it.
How has it taken fucking 2 years to learn that, so annoying
Willian has been ok, pepe has been a star, Willian has 1 good free kick, the rest of the game, not so much
Pepe should be playing a lot more I got to say he’s played himself to first choice the last two months arteta needs to only pick one of ESR or odergard in the 10 . Either will do just rotate them
Mr Serge_ yep.. room for improvement with better personnel … whether we have the cash for it, is my biggest concern about this summer. That and Arteta’s judgement on players is questionable. Hopefully Edu earns his money.
Just Heard on TV that our set piece coach is holding cards out anytime we have a set piece…
Innovative coaching
Our offensive unit should be
Saka esr Pepe and laca with Martinelli, auba and Ode all rotating in frequently
Fair play from the team and Arteta. What a comeback. I thought we were gonna get spanked.
Can we just go back to mari though, that was appalling defending, amateur hour stuff.
I knew he didn’t have pace but I thought he had at least a decent head on him
Winthorpe
Being saying since day one of the season Pepe should’ve had willians chances
ESR might be a little like a young Gerrard. Still growing into his body and picking up a lot of muscle injuries.
He’s also been played too much. This is his 7th match this month and only one of them was a sub appearance (about 20 mins vs. Man City)
Lol. People creaming Iver laca, he’s scored a pen let’s not get carried away, he wasnt landing 2 goals midweek to keep the season alive
I hope we dont wait till 80 min to get fresher legs in. Partey has to come in earlier on to make sure we dont srart resorting to the sideway passing. Though to be frank Liecester do look knackered and out of ideas.
Coq game hasn’t finished yet let’s not speak too soon!!
Winthorpe
Yup, said that last summer even after he’d scored all those goals and his contract was up for renewal.
He’d score 20+ goals a season but the team won’t quite reach their potential. Saw this a long time ago…hey ho.
We should look into getting the chap from human centipede to stick Auba and Laca to the one player we need. That’s a solution!
Great turnaround and hope we can maintain the scoreline.
Pepe vs Castagne now
“Glad to see everyone is finally getting it about auba and Pepe
Jamie noticeably quiet
Boohoo”
What is everyone finally getting?
As far as I am concerned its 2 – 2.
Vardy hasn’t scored his mandatory goal against us yet.
Think its a contractual obligation.
Pepe plays well with a superior RB behind him.
Take note Arteta.
Guns no thanks on another vardy goal lol
Apart from the early goal, Leicester have been really poor, and we were in control
Iheanacho is no substitute for Madison
Pepe and soars having a good game at the right side
Our midfield still very limited and very slow to release the ball forward
Arteta game management is the test now!
Alright.. let’s go! Comeback is great and all but finish it off this half.
Sick of back passes once Tierney lay it off to wilkian on the RW… ball ends up in our own half
I just got Barnes in my fantasy team wtf
“ Chris Exactly. Also, you see the difference between Lacazette vs auba up top? Much more active in the opposition half with laca. The ball sticks, he brings others into the game and we work openings. With auba it comes straight back” I do appreciate what Lacazette gives us in that regard, however in some other aspects of his play he is lacking. I think ultimately it comes down to what we said a little while back, long term we need a striker offering both Aubameyang and Lacazette’s respective qualities. Easier said than done though! It’s a shame Rodgers has… Read more »
Good little through ball from Ode… to Pepe.
If they have to make a second sub well it’s well and truly advantage arsenal
Yeah great ball from ode
Pepe looks like he’s gonna get a penalty every time it comes near him. Very very good performance
Laca is better centrally whereas Auba does score some crucial goals. I would say both are equally average.
Kola and Mustafi MAKIN MOVES in Germany
Looks bad for Harvey Barnes
Pepe 3
LETS GOOOO
Pepe has been a real handful today! Looking like a 50M player.
Willian with another assist …
Willian is a star. Arteta knows best. I am an AKB!
Lovely play, quick feet and thinking from Odegaard, a deserved goal for Pepe!
Yes get in lads love it
What a fucking pass by Odegaard
Get the fuck in!!!
Willian with another assist 🥶
Superb work by Laca and Odegaard in the build up.
Pepe with his Lille striker instinct type goals.
Pepeeee
Willian having a fantastic game
SAUCE
Pepe started the assault plus anOde great flick
My boy Pepe on the scoresheet. Love it.
Beautiful goal.
Hahaha my feed about 5 secs behind… Get in there Pepe!!!
It’s that 2 assists for Willian?!?!
Willian 2 assist wow what’s going on lol
New contracts for Arteta and Willian anyone?
Fucking excellent attack
Really great work from laca at the start to make that start and Pepe and has done great again