The manager finally came clean on Gabriel Martinelli.
‘If anything it’s my fault. He trains incredibly, and his attitude couldn’t be better. He’s really disappointed he’s not playing more obviously, and I have spoke to him, but he needs to be a little bit patient’
Soooooo, it’s not that he hates aggressive players. It’s not about being vindictive. It’s not about disagreements on the future of blockchain art. It’s a patience thing.
This story is the Pepe thing all over again. Everyone thought the Ivorian was being treated unfairly and deserved a run, then suddenly, he lands some games, and he’s looked much improved from where he was before.
Gabriel is a raw talent. He’s had big injury issues. He’s a teenager, and all bar the freaks come with consistency challenges, especially those playing tough positions.
At the moment, it’s hard to argue he starts in front of anyone. Auba and Lacazette have been doing very specific jobs in the #9 role. Pepe and Willian have come into form and are delivering when called upon. Then you have cogs in the system like Saka, ESR, and Odegaard who can work effectively against top-quality deep blocks dropping high ball retention numbers in the process.
More importantly, if you are on the one hand arguing that the only thing that matters is the table, but on the other, shouting that we should be playing inconsistent teenagers week in week out, I’d questions your story here.
Gabriel is a bang-bang striker. Raw power and place. A press demon. My suspicion is that his future with us is as a #9. Imagine him leading the charge? It’d be dreamy. Trouble is, right now, when every game feels like we’re on the edge of an #ArtetaOut campaign, it’s hard to give him minutes. Our team requires control, it needs consistency, and we’re finding more of that in other players. Our club is already battling errors on a mega scale, adding less control doesn’t feel right. However, no doubt when he’s brought in, it’ll be in an environment that works for his game… and hopefully at a time when it works.
Look at this like the Phil Foden case. Everyone was complaining about the lack of chances he was getting, now he’s being decisive in big games, dealing out killer blows in the Champions League. In December, Pep was a disgrace to young players, a little bit of patience later, and we have one of the most exciting kids in Europe rocking it at new levels.
Part of this constant drip-drip of fans caring about things that didn’t happen comes from the Saliba/Guendo issues. I think the Saliba thing has now been settled, he was never landing minutes in this defence playing the way it is, and there are very few cases of teenagers smashing it in the Premier League. He’s building himself out with hard experience and good minutes in France. He’s getting game fitness and he’s going to transition to a player hopefully worthy of first-team action this season. Same for Mavrapanos who is building out resilience at Stuttgart. Then you have Matteo G, an all-action midfielder that couldn’t behave. Far too many fans mistake being a dickhead with caring. It’s the opposite. If you can’t behave in a fast-paced system, you are a burden. The player knows his career at Arsenal is dead, but he’ll also be very aware that his manager Dardai has grown tired of him, calling him an ‘animal’ when it comes to learning, starting him once since the start of Feb. Matteo is on the charm offensive now.
“I belong to Arsenal for another year (until June 2022). I am here [at Hertha Berlin] to improve. From the moment that I am playing for Arsenal, I will give everything for this club, for the fans, for the team, for the staff. I will work hard for the shirt as I have always done.”
“There are huge players who came to England early and didn’t make it,” he said. “Even more in a very large club. If I hadn’t had this character, I would never have played so many matches at Arsenal.”
He’s telling the world that 1) I play for Arsenal 2) I made it in England as a teenager. The hope is that another club will take a chance on a player that is fast developing a rep as feckless as Italian enigma Mario Ballotelli.
Let’s hope the charm offensive works. I’d love to sell him for a good fee. We won’t do that if he’s perceived as a bad boy, we also won’t manage that if he’s kept out of a Hertha midfield frequented by Sammy Khedira, a player we said was busted for an Arsenal move 5 years ago. Matteo G is his own worst enemy. ‘Why always me’ feels like the playbook he’s working off and it’s such a huge waste of time for everyone.
The big question on everyone’s lips this week is WHAT IS AUBA GONNA DO? Arteta said this in his prezzer.
“We talked, everything has been resolved in a really positive way so we move forward”
It hurts to be called out, but given the circumstances, it’d be tough for Auba to carry through any sort of animosity. His team just spanked Spurs. The vibes would be too good to take a mood into the week.
Hopefully, the response comes with goals. His insta had him picking up an award from his bro, Lacazette. He seemed to be smiling and happy. Which is where we want him to be.
More positives? Bukayo Saka is apparently in good shape. No doubt the medical team will see that as a bit of a warning. Hopefully he’s in the right condition for the game at the weekend. Let’s see where that goes. I’d be happy to shithouse a 0-0 this Thursday and preserve legs for West Ham. Arteta is 100% focused on the win, then I guess he’s hoping international break can be a cottonwool cocoon for a lot of the kids.
‘It’s true that we have some players with some significant loads there, but our priority now is to win these next two games and then whatever happens with international duty. If anything, they will have to adapt to what we want. We’re not going to do it the opposite way around because we are the ones that have to look after our players here every day. But at the end, we’re the ones who pay our players so if anybody has to adapt, that’s the national teams and not us.’
More positives? Let’s all enjoy some high praise for Martin O and his relationship with ESR.
That was our feeling. But you never know. You have to see him in action, you have to see his character a little bit closer, on a daily basis. I think everybody has been really impressed with how quickly he has adapted. Professionally, how he is and how willing he has been since day one to try to engage with everybody at Colney and then also with the performances that he’s putting in as well.
He is getting better and better (Martin). I think his understanding of what we want is excellent. His work rate has been phenomenal and then he’s doing something that, in my opinion, could improve a lot which is getting in the opponents’ box and maybe being more decisive in the scoreline. He is doing that with the two goals and he’s had some really important entries into the zones and he looks all the time really dangerous. If he adds that to his game, he becomes a real complete player.
Man, post-NLD win week is always sexy for news. Personally, I love the fact that we finally got a January loan move right. Martin Odegaard is the exact profile of player you’d want in the side. The fact that he’s finding ways to work with ESR, and ESR is still pivotal is a joyous moment. I wrote quite extensively about a few years ago about Arsenal becoming the best place for young players to develop… more signings like Odegaard would help that become a reality. It’s easier to love a team of hungry kids. Let’s hope Edu recognises the value and how much easier his life is when you’re not sniffing around the Kia ‘very good deal’ bin.
Finally, let’s finish on elite vibes. Kieran Tierney absolutely bossing in the North London Derby. He’s a fan favourite for the ages. What an unreal signing he is. He’s going places.
HAVE A GREAT WEEK. x
🆕 It’s time for us to drop a 𝗻𝗲𝘄 instalment of Open Mic – and we know you’ll love this one! 😍
🎙 @KieranTierney1
🔴 #NorthLondonDerby📺 Watch the full video on Arsenal Player and YouTube 👇
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) March 16, 2021
1st
And
The
Tr4phy
Where y’all at?
Boooom Sabeel
Top 10 is all we could hope for.
Sup
Guendouzi and Viera cannot be placed on the same comparison charts. Moreover, I am not surprised by Mikel’s Man management style and decisions. He has learned some cues from Pep. Pep had issues with players when he arrived at manCity (Yaya Toure ). The same at Barca when he started there. Ronaldinho was known for off the pitch behaviours that did not fit into Pep’s plan for a new Barca that will be feared. This is a normal phenomenon as a manager of players and people at a club you win some and lose some. Wenger despite his man-management skillsets… Read more »
I agree that people are upset about Martinelli because of Saliba (much less so Guenduzi or Ozil). The concern here is a lot less about “Arteta won’t give kids chances” and much more about “Arteta is building a reputation for ruining young player careers and no young talents will sign for us.” This is probably overblown, but definitely a narrative. A few nitpicks— the Pepe thing isn’t exactly settled, and many are wondering why he’s not getting more starts. Also, we don’t really have that many examples of Martinelli being “inconsistent.” Also, Willian has had a lot of assists lately,… Read more »
We are not pushing Arteta to start Martinelli. But substitute chances should be provided for now.
“It’s not about disagreements on the future of blockchain art”
Nice
Tuchel starts Kante instead of Jorginho in midfield.
Looking good.
But we need consistency and ruthlessness – we’ve dropped too many points.
If Wenger could lead us to 10 + matches straight wins and more unbeaten runs with average players, Arteta should at least get us to top 4 with the players he has. This is really the minimum for this club.
I wouldn’t mind seeing Gabi Auba Pepe front 3 tomorrow.. maybe even give Willian another go in the 10 role (we all know he’s gonna make the team sheet let’s be honest). That also gives ESR and Odegaard a rest for Sunday’s trip to West Ham.. just a thought!
Being 3-1 up on agg, that front 3 would be absolutely devastating on the break as Olympiacos are likely to throw the kitchen sink at us
Very Good post Pedro.
Like how Tuchel is handling this,, front footing Atletico after several early minutes of barrage.
Nelson
BelieveJorginho is not available from too many yellow cards.
Nelson
We have only 3 substitutes. And the team result is the goal not just about individual run out for players. It can be argued Eddie Nketieh deserves to be subbed in.
Major
We are allowed 5 subs in tomorrow’s game!
Pedro,
Great piece. But I think that Nelson makes a good point: Arteta has passed on a couple of good opportunities to bring Martinelli on as a sub when he has had the chance. Didn’t we use FIVE subs in the game in Greece last week? Why didn’t we use him for the last few minutes instead of risking players that we knew we would need for the NLD.
That way, at least Martinelli knows that he is loved, which is often what a young player needs (Guen being an exception to that rule!). .
It could be a PK. Azpilicueta did use the hand to slow down the opponent.
Chelsea scores.
Methodical from Chelsea, the big trio from summer paying dividends there.
Havertz to Werner to Ziyech.
@Nelson
I was talking about EPL.
For the Europa
That can be used since we have one foot in the quarter finals.
Tap in for Koke if he makes the run… Simeone livid.
2x big penalty shouts not even reviewed, Rudiger on Suarez is a foul all day. Azpi on Carrasco soft but so easily could of been given.
Salparadise
You’re not Scottish or have lived in scotland at all?
gonna read the blog in a sec but really enjoying this chelsea atletico match. wow
nice post. tierney is our future captain. sooner the better!
Wiglaf
Right.. one man party in here.
Wheres the locals?
It’s hard to stay motivated getting zero minutes.
Atletico is a bad loser. They receive so many yellows and now a red.
Felix is still very good.
Its true that Mike has tightened up his lineup, leaving Martin no chances
IF I were him, if next season is like this, he should consider leaving. This type of talent needs to play. Enough with the kid gloves. Look at Saka, ESR etc.
The future is the youth.
If Laca gets sold there is no reason at all why he should not get a lot more mins.
I reckon Eddie N is gone too.
Guns, encouraging our young players to leave if they don’t get their way at 19? So good of you. Hope he’s reading.
Feels like Martinelli is gonna get some game time tomorrow…..
So Chelsea, City and Pool are in to the quarterfinals…………with Arsenal, Tottenham and United
(still fancy them away to Milan) with a better than a good shout to do the same………I guess that should settle the strongest league in the world debate for this season at least.
The timing of Arteta’s pronouncements is very calculated.
And when Pedro follows up with a blog on the subject you just know it’s gonna happen.
Words, defending a 3-1 lead at home needs a counter attacking formation. Would be a good moment for him to shine.
Pedro
Agreed.
It’s time.
Pedro
I don’t think that’s Arteta’s modus operandi.
At home to Olympiacos possession based style more likely.
Thank heavens ‘blame the manager’ has changed to ‘praise the manager’. Arteta was right to drop Auba, to expel Gendouzi, to farm out Saliba, and is right to be patient with Martinelli.
Tom
Regardless of whether it’s Possession style or counterattacking, we’re gonna see Martinelli.
As Sid (and on this occasion Pedro) would say: you heard it here first!
Words
Starting or sub?
Hopefully we smash them and United lose in Italy and that’s my day done thank you very much.
I’m not heavily invested in Arteta’s game time selections tbh.
Tom,
Starting or sub?
Sorry, my crystal ball isn’t that clear!
Hopefully we smash the Greeks and the Italians get rid of the pesky Mancs.
I am sure that Martinelli will become an important player for Arsenal in the future.
Martinelli showed last season that he has huge potential, but he suffered a bad injury, which
impacted on his progress.
When he resumed earlier this season there was an element of concern with his style of play.
Sometimes he was “too brave and also reckless ” for his own good. There were at least two
occasions when he went into tackles and appeared to suffer injury.
What we want to avoid is repeating what happened to Wilshire.
Tom, I thought he might go for a shit-house tomorrow.
I don’t find it is a good idea to try out Martinelli now in the striker position. On the one hand, we want to protect Martinelli. After all these injuries, his body needs to get more robust. As a striker, he’ll be constantly being hit by two big CB’s. It’s better he plays the left wing to get himself into game shape again first.
I cannot believe at the stupidity of FIFA.
There’s a global pandemic.
Why are we still playing international friendies?
Pointless.
*friendlies?
Mikeal laying down the works, so he is not questioned when he doesn’t bring on martinelli against olypiacos.
I did advice people to put money on martinelli getting 0 minutes against spuds and oly. 1 down, 1 to go.
https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/dennis-bergkamp-arsenal-return-legend-23745909
Can only hope Dennis comes home to coach.
Olympiokos will go all out and try to dive and kick their way back into the tie…
I want to come out of this without any injuries…
As I said before to the moaners in this section, I know Arteta will do right by Martinelli just as he has done with Pepe, ESR, Saka, Odegaard. Martinelli will get his chance and will come out a better player.
Pedro, if he leaves it aint coz he read any of my shit. Its bc he wants to play.
Of course I am stating my opinion only.
your boy Mike Arteta does not know how to manage the youth, who basically have saved his ass from getting the can this season.
He should show them more respect and also Martinelli. I think any other coach would be giving him more minutes. His rookie season he score like 10 goals.
I bet/hope martinelli gets 10-15 tmrw
Don’t even get me started on Balogun…
Why the F did he keep Eddie N when West Ham wanted him for around 20M???
Poor kid cannot kick a ball now… I dont care for him personally, but that was cold hard cash in hand that he turned down.
The kids are not dumb, they see their chances really limited and it kinda sucks for them.
Arteta wants his vets – he probably thinks Saka and ESR are vets now that they have said his arse
Tierney is a gem. Hope Arsenal can hold on to him and allow him grow. he is as good or getting better than Alphonso Davies.
suddenly there is a lot of Achraf Hakimi breeze blowing in every channel concerning Arsenal. Assuming there is some genuine interst in that bloke from Arsenal, any right-meaning football follower would wonder what was Arsenal board smoking when he moved from Germany to Italy!!!
Or, was the arsenal board having great expectations from the fashionMonkey Bellerin whm no one wants to buy. Absolute non-baller, low-skilled footballer running around like a headless chicken?
Balogun will be a total loss if he he moves away. This season is anyways screwed. Neither is ther a threat of relegation so seriously. Why not try the Balogun fella for 3 games? Why??
If Mason Mount could start for Chelsea last year, why can’t Balogun start?
So what’s the expectation for next season in the league? After last season’s win, the narrative was we would be fighting for top 4. After the horrendous showing pre Christmas, the excuses were out. Now we are getting shown a table post Christmas that has arsenal sitting inside the top 5. Does this mean we have the players to compete for top 4 Or should the expectation for next season be dialled down for arteta? Regarding martinelli, it’s no wonder everyone is questioning artetas decision to give the lad 0 mins. No one in the media is questioning the absence… Read more »
What I will say having just read the last post, is I do love the positivity Pedro; and Arteta does seem to have found a formula.
But all things considered, Arteta was the one who had us in our ‘lowest ebb’ of the last near half century.
Not Emery. Not Wenger. But Arteta.
Divine Sherlock please skip this post. Kroekephobe Still jabbing away at my chemical imbalance posts in your recent response to a China post. So let’s see: Bunkum or not? To be fair it’s not an easy answer to keep short. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326475 https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/debunking-two-chemical-imbalance-myths-again https://www.google.com/search?q=MRI+brain+images+of+chemical+imbalance&client=safari&rls=en&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=7pR79Ss0kt8tiM%252C5vtLPTr-9BZiLM%252C_&vet=1&usg=AI4_-kSjnVHRWbmyfRSvPXsdNP6kqd8rWg&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwijs5CR5rjvAhUwxDgGHZjBCq8Q9QF6BAgLEAE&biw=1588&bih=1243#imgrc=7pR79Ss0kt8tiM A quick google offers the above for people who don’t have psychologists’ friends or hospital/clinic Drs seen on a regular basis. The reality is and has always been my argument/concern with our psychologist friends is that psychology isn’t an exact science as say general medicine is. Coronary heart disease for example and something else I’ve had to… Read more »
Gons We have had a top 6 squad for the last 5 seasons. Everyone told us that emery should achieve top 4 or be fired. A Europa cup and 1 point off top 4 secured the 2nd season. It was an upgrade in coaching would take us to another level after Wenger (Emery wasn’t that). It was never squad poverty under Emery. It was just Emery is a hack. Somehow an fa cup has secured Arteta total immunity, and every excuse under the sun is being thrown out as to why 10th in the league is ok. And our team… Read more »
Goober
Funny that, actually arteta owes a lot to emery, since emery is the one who have debuts to ESR, Maetinelli, Saka, and Guen. They developed under emery and arteta reaped the benefits.
If saliba was bought when emery was here, you can be sure he would already be integrated into the first team.
Emerys only downfall was his inability to speak English, which led to him losing the dressing room.
Who gave* debuts
“And our team went from top 4 quality under Emery to 10th place quality under Arteta apparently because Emery ruined them.” er ..no it didn’t. Jeez – some people on here have such short memories they’re even distorting the facts. We were drifting into oblivion by the time we finally sacked Emery. Every performance was getting worse. Players were in some cases (Xhaka) leaving the pitch smiling after another defeat. The performances were getting worse. And most of us knw he should have been sacked after that disgraceful performance in Baku. In pure league positions, there’s little to chose between… Read more »
If we keep Guendouzi next season, then we will have to offer him an extended contract, which will be too much to stomach. Selling him is he only way forward.
Some stories to match the Manager’s stories. Once upon a time Pepe was ostracized, but only because he rated him and wanted no blemish from travails in the match,. so much so that he went and bought Williams for free and a salary of 200k per week for 3 years. Unfortunately shit started hitting the fan . Unfortunately for the Club, Xaka❤️ got a red, Williams ❤️ was out and as Arteta was facing uncertainty ( there is nothing better to knock sense into an obstinate noggin), and ESR fell into the XI , and the Club started winning and… Read more »
Excellent post. Arteta buried the conspiracy theories on here about Gabi thank goodness. It seems there is more angst on here about players who don’t play ( Balogun, Gaby, Saliba,Mavro) than those that do. There is a thing at most clubs called competition for places. I suspect real reason these guys don’t play is because someone is playing better or the needs of team require x rather than y. Hey but why let the truth destroy a good conspiracy story.
No way Arteta tries a Mourinho-esque shithouse game against Olympiakos. He is like Pep and will always play sexy football. Unless we come up against someone like City or Bayern, Arteta wont change his philosophies.
And anyways, its easier on the legs if you just keep the ball and control the game instead of defending in a deep block for 90 minutes.+ If the opponents get frustrated and try to irrationally press, we could always just break out and overload the attacking areas.
StopAsianHate
Kerrrrissssst Tony… does that pass for amusement in your burgh? You spent half the night/day writing that? After I wrote half a sentence in a sardonic manner to China? Cool down – you’re overheating. None of your most recent scribbling accounts for you blithely declaring your belief that Guen has a chemical inbalance in his brain. Attach anything you like but I guarantee none of it asserts that one of our young midfielders is mentally ill. Oh, and by the way I didn’t read any of it of course – why would I for the reasons I’ve just described. This… Read more »
If he plays, GM will scare Sokratis and the rest of their back 4 shitless. His mere presence on the field will force a team to re-evaluate how high their line should be thus ruling out any attempts to camp in our half. That’s why I was surprised not to see him in either game against Benfica. Same goes for Sunday against the Hammers. That goal he scored at Stamford Bridge last year sent shivers through Europe. Tets was right to clarify what is going on but there are still unanswered questions relating to the “when” and “how” of GM’s… Read more »
I swear the Anti Arteta squad have developed total f*** ng Amnesia!Never a mention of the total shit show he inherited.It’s as if everything in the garden was rosy when he turned up.Simple job.Wonderful football & top 4 first season .oh & Europa league winners while you’re at it or sling your hook.Lets disregard the fact of the difficulty in getting a shed load of dross of the books & im talking around 16 or so v.well contracted players.on top of that,our worst defence to be sorted in living memory.But then again that doesn’t count.Hmmm what can we nail him… Read more »
Great Post Pedro.
Bard/Northbanker you both nailed it. Obsessions on players that arent playing is a thing on here, petty nit picking because it’s a hypothetical.
Football is about so much more than a name on a team sheet.
Not playing or at least subbing Martinelli is a mistake. Anyone pretending otherwise is just talking utter gibberish. Subbing Willian on in place of him is the type of mistake which always results in me being back on the fence wrt Mikel even if a massive win had just instilled faith.
Buzzy – it is if he is truly fit. However, if he’s being developed as a CF then MA may be thinking that better to not sacrifice him. His last outing (can’t remember who against – sorry) he wasn’t that impressive and looked a bit of a headless chicken at LW, although admittedly I’d have preferred not to have seen Willian replace him
But yes like you i hope to start seeing him soon in a cameo role. and start getting some game time.
Uwot The fact that you mention we are 10th and progress in the same sentence, goes to show, we were never progressing in the first place. We were playing great football at tail end of last season, auba was scoring for fun. 3months later, we can’t string together 3 passes without shitting the bed, then we improve post Christmas and climb back to 10th and its taken as progress. Why couldn’t we maintain last seasons momentum? Which great player did we lose after the FA cup win? If it’s emi, who’s fault was it that he left? This like one… Read more »
Northbanker.
It’s not short termism to say that fans expected more of emery his second season after seeing his first season.
Emery lost the squad. Everyone and their dog knows that. But this squad is not a 10th placed squad. You cannot truely believe that.
Northbanker
“Players were in some cases (Xhaka) leaving the pitch smiling after another defeat.”
And that fucking cunt was our captain
I can see Bellerin back tonight to rest Cedric for the weekend.
Same with the CB’s – we’ll probably see one or both of Mari and Holding.
Willian will be back too, from the start.
The team that beat the Spuds will be the team that faces West Ham.
Northbanker.
I wasn’t bigging up Emery there.
I just don’t know why the standards dropped sooooooo much.
Or why the squad was great enough for top 4 under Emery yet it’s pleading poverty under Arteta.
I was definitely not denying that emery was a lost cause.
Yeah guns I feel you.
I want to be positive about this season. But it’s just a shame we couldn’t properly push on from the Wenger days.
That late splurge of money on absolute shite like xhaka and Mustafi was what killed us the most, on top of Ozil contracts and swapping Sanchez instead of receiving a few.
But it’s all in the past.
If Arteta can kick on, I’m keen to see it. But I’m not going to jump in balls first like Pedro because it’s the hip thing to do. Especially given the first half of this season.
Gons* ^
Leeds
“I cannot believe at the stupidity of FIFA.There’s a global pandemic. Why are we still playing international friendies? Pointless”
Yes, it is. I mentioned this. I mentioned this a few months back. We have a situation where due to the pandemic players had no pre-season and that has presented a real risk to injury, especially to the teams managing midweek European games. We have travel bans and supporters can not only go to games but are told we can’t travel around the world. It does seem nonsensical.
“… Guns of SFMarch 18, 2021 04:12:38 Don’t even get me started on Balogun… Why the F did he keep Eddie N when West Ham wanted him for around 20M??? Poor kid cannot kick a ball now… I dont care for him personally, but that was cold hard cash in hand that he turned down.” Together with the handling and management of the like of AMN (another 20m?), Balogun, (total loss likely as one put it Martinelli, (scored 10 goals last season!) Nelson, Martinez, (top 5 in Europe per stats) Guendouzi (value plummeted after stupid coach mouthed him off publicly)… Read more »
Even if we qualify for Champions League through Europa (tough fixtures ahead), ranking higher in the Premier League table at the end of season is important too!
We would loose some 10-15m as Merit Payments are decided by the League Position. Last year, a difference between 4th position (Chelsea) and 8th (Arsenal) was 6m. It’s not much but everything counts and we are worse than 8th currently!
Didn’t the generational coach say the same thing about ozil when he left him out? It’s always his fault, he says this just to shut people up from questioning his decisions
Goober – think we may be talking at cross purposes. No the team has overall under-performed this season in the league. Given the end of last season was only a short period it’s a mystery why even though players like ESR entered the fray much later. But I really look only at the trend rather than demanding we should be winning every game 5-0. We are now going in the right direction and with a few exceptions I’m very happy with the performances. If we hadn’t signed Willian I’d be happier still and that is a 3 year drain which… Read more »
Lets get this shit done Arsenal. Kill them in the first half itself with a goal . Last 8 would be quite difficult , Utd/Milan , Spurs , Ajax , Villareal , Rangers. Still a job to do today , Be professional dont fuck this up Arsenal.
They’re all very beatable if we play as we have Divine
Northbanker
I think you’re right. As we’ve seen since Christmas, and barring the supine performance against City, we’re our only enemy really. The first 10 minutes tonight will reveal if Olympiakos intend to have a go or will just go through the motions. I didn’t see a huge amount of quality from them last week. Benfica looked a tougher proposition out of the two. Discipline and non complacency the priorities.
Arsenal team is miles away from Olympiakos in quality. What Olympiakos does better is being disciplined to their plan. However we have seen a different style than our earlier plodding with 70% possession around the vicinity of the D predictably with calamitous consequences .. We seen a different style recently with the kids playing their Hale End style. Looks like Arteta too has seen the light. We should see a walloping of Olympiakos
Userox
Arts of a generational f😩😩l
GooberGooner Forget league position, look at what your eyes tell you. We are a much better team than the one that started the season and if people can’t see that then I really don’t know what they are looking at. As for Emery; well seeing teams running at us under his management & isolating Xhaka was like watching a slasher movie with the lights off, as you hide behind the sofa trying your best not to soil your undercrackers. Another season of that nonsense and I’d have had to put a cork up my backside and a plastic sheet on… Read more »
Divine
“Last 8 would be quite difficult, Utd/Milan , Spurs , Ajax , Villareal , Rangers”
Nothing there to be scared about, we can beat all of those over two games. The winners of United/Milan would probably be the toughest test.