Well, that was a little better.
Arsenal beat Sheffield United with ease.
You can say we should be beating teams like that and you’d be right… but we did not beat a similarly bad Aston Villa side last season when we had our minds on a different competition. The players didn’t show up that time because they were saw the game as a punishment fixture.
We didn’t get that performance yesterday.
Arteta showed that he’s a very good coach. He deployed an interesting system. It was a 3-2-5 moving forward, sometimes a 3-1-6 which felt very Wenger chasing a game. Xhaka also tucked in at left-back giving us another option for accurate distro from deep.
There were little surprises all over the pitch. He shielded Dani Ceballos from himself by letting him pick up a position on the left. Saka was given a roaming #10 role, he was all over the place, picking the ball up from deep, floating left and right, even adopting centre forward positons at time.
We were dynamic in attacking, sometimes having 4-5 players running at a very confused Sheffield United.
It was pretty clunky for the opening 30 minutes, but it was a new way of playing and we didn’t have many creators on the pitch.
It clicked after a while. Our first goal was a thing of beauty, played through the middle, started by Thomas Partey, followed by some lovely interchanges with Saka, Ceballos, then finished off clinically by Lacazette.
Our second goal started with Nicolas Pepe winning a press, he powered into the Sheffield box, unleashed his classic far post shot, Ramsdale saved it, but Martinelli followed up for the tap in.
The third goal showed off the talents of Thomas Partey, the Ghanaian picked out a ball so perfect, Lacazette could get in behind and finish with a ferocious low strike.
The biggest regret of the game was that Bukayo Saka limped off with a thigh injury. The hope is that it was a dead leg, my suspicion is it’s something more serious. You could criticise his inclusion in that game, but I suspect the gamble was based on the reaction to Thursday from the fans, and the reality that the bad Liverpool loss probably contributed to that. We needed a momentum performance, you’re not getting that if you’re missing 3 creators, your captain, AND Saka.
If you’re a fan that spend Saturday crying about Arsenal dropping to 11th, you should probably pipe down about Saka’s inclusion in the starting 11. Our fans won’t tolerate dead-rubber run-outs, unfortunately.
Back to the game. There were lots of very promising performances that could be the start of something exciting.
Martinelli didn’t have his best game, but he made the runs Auba doesn’t on the left, he takes chances on lost causes, and he is way, way better at defending. He should start on Thursday. He gives far more balance to our forward line. Additionally, I love that he was given permission to move into more central positions. He wasn’t hugging the left, which made us far more threatening.
Nicolas Pepe showed the best and worst as usual, but on the balance of things, it was more of the best. His touch was rancid for the first 30, but then things started to click. He wiggled out of space, made good runs, and he gave Sheffield a torrid time. He’s an inch away from being a really problematic player for us.
Thomas Partey, on fraud watch with the section of the fanbase desperate to see him fail, dropped a proper Atleti performance. He’s just so, so fucking good. The creative part of his game, which he drops for Ghana, is starting to blossom. We need that Partey on Thursday, controlling tempo, bossing proceedings, being decisive. He was probably our most disappointing player last Thursday, he needs to avenge that.
Lacazette also proved that he is, without doubt, our best #9. Further to that, it’s clear that he cannot play with Auba. You either use Auba, a clinical #9, with runners to provide him. Or, you use Lacazette as the link-up man who brings pacey technicians into the game. We are more effective with a link-up #9, because the link-up player doesn’t have a passing interest in downing the manager.
We kept our first clean sheet in 6 years. Pablo Mari played pretty well with Rob Holding. The SPANIARD played a couple of very nice balls over the top. I think he’s preferable to the erratic Gabriel this Thursday. Cal Chambers also had a very good game, I love his volleyed crosses. He doesn’t have the pace, but defensively, he’s robust, and his final balls are very good compared to what Hector offers us.
Granit Xhaka dropped another solid performance. He did a job at left-back with commendable defending, but at the same time, causing problems for Sheffield by pushing up into midfield to become an outlet for our attacks. He’s the least of our worries right now, I wish the kids had his robustness when it comes to injuries. Guy is built from Captain America stuff.
We can’t get carried away, but, that was a performance and a much-needed one after the horrors of last 10 days.
I have no idea what the starting 11 on Thursday will look like, but if you have ESR doing what Saka did and you bring Odegaard into the mixer for Ceballos, we could do the same job, but with more precision.
We cannot fall back on players that don’t care about the project. Auba, at this point, is a liability who I wouldn’t trust to behave like a captain. Leave the job to Lacazette. He has form, he makes players around him better, and you know he’ll give to 100% in a tough away game in Prague.
Punchy write up today. Everything rests on Thursday. Pray for Saka. Pray for Martinelli who looked a bit limpy. Pray for everyone.
I want an Emery semi-final, so we can retire his fan club, Cuck FC, and move on from Bummery chat for good.
I’ll leave you with an on-the-whistle podcast with Johnny. Check out his fatherhood podcaster here. BUT, check out our football thoughts as well.
Top 4?
Wow!
Martinelli Hat trick.
Wenger 4th trophy
West Ham 5th.
6th?
Spursy 7th?
Retired Ramsey 8th.
Sexy Laca9
DB10
Özil was better with number 11
Giroud 12.
Sczvzmznhzy13
The King 14
Yep Pedro, Partey has had his issues with injuries and consistency but his quality is there to see and he is far from a cause for concern in this side.
Denilson 15 hahaha
Arteta showed he is a very good coach?
We knew Pedro would say this he can’t help it.
Beating the leagues worst team and suddenly we are champions elect.
All it does is to give us more false hope only to crash again.
Get real
As much as we can be excited for Martinelli being back, the performance wasn’t exactly over the top given Sheffield arerock bottom on 14 points. Not sure if a team has finished a. season with fewer points. Each day it’s looking more and more that the Auba contract extension is as diabolical as the Willian one – two players we can’t move because of their wages. I still have not seen enough to see that Arteta is the one to lift us out of the rut. He still has tepid selections and his tactics are still undecipherable – we still… Read more »
Joke friday on a Monday, brilliant content supreme leader!
Pedro quickly forgetting that it was Auba’s inclusion that brought the goal against Slavia
I thought Partey’s turn and pass for the third goal was sublime and of course I hope he does become a big player for us, BUT, he is still very erratic and loose in possession.
We need to look at our remaining games in blocks, we have to have targets to aim for: Sheffield United ✅ Slavia Prague – Just qualify inside 90 minutes Fulham – 3 points Everton – 3 points Semi Final – Newcastle – 3 points Semi Final – Just qualify for the final West Brom – 3 points That puts us on 57 points, which is one more point than last season, with 3 league games remaining Chelsea – 1 point Palace – 3 points Brighton – 3 points This should be our aim, but anywhere between 60-64 points would put… Read more »
Our CB dilemma Thursday night…
If it’s not good practice playing left footed CB pairs for footballing reasons, how about right footed CB pairs around Europe? Many do well considering. especially with generally fewer left footers around.
Always baffles me in a way… would right footed CB pairs not face similar downside, challenges etc? Or is it the training, tactics, deployment that matter more?
Anyway Mari does boast impressive win stats and on omen alone would start him on Thursday!
Fairly accurate observations for a rare (relatively ) fluid game, especially with the movements of Martinelli and Partey.s orchestration.
Though, needed to soul search somewhat when came across the “Arteta showed that he’s a very good coach” bit… may be, maybe not.
I noticed something new about Xhaka last night – there was a number of very accurate long crossfield balls to Chambers and Pepe that quickly opened up the other flank. He must’ve hit 6 or more of them like tracer bullets and they all had a positive effect. I’d trust KT doing that too – not so sure about Cedric and definitely not HB. A much better tactic than passing it slowly across the back 4 and losing the initiative.Very impressed with Chambers as well having not really been a fan in the past. He was technically very good up… Read more »
Useroz, The issue with left footed players is that they tend to be a lot more one footed than right footed. So right footed can adapt and still use their weak foot, but left footed usually do not. Look at Pepe, he has had to have special training session at 25 years to start using his right foot and is still not comfortable making simple pass with his right foot. Also because of the greater number of right footed CBs, left fullback and wingers have learn to find angles and position where they can be found by a pass from… Read more »
Chambers has very good first touches…. if only he’d swap that with Pepe !
Flu? Or did Arteta finally decide not to show undue respect for the elderly?
Yesterday every outfield player was 100% committed. That says all we need to know about Arteta and his project.
Makes more sense now. Thanks Valentin
Don’t really get why we want to stack our chips behind laca who is clearly not elite, subs is when central
.
If we want to elevate we need support auba
With all this talk of wanting to get rid of Aubameyang in the summer which will be very difficult stranger things have happened than him popping up and scoring the winning goal in the Europa League final which wins the trophy. Of course he will be the darling again then.
It was great to see some better play from us but let’s be honest, this was an absolutely abject Sheff Utd team we faced, they have completely lost their spirit since Wilder’s departure.
Good to get momentum but nothing to write home about, the test of whether we have turned a corner again comes on Thursday.
Ishola
I hope that does happen as not only will we have a trophy to show for it, but it may also increase his potential suitors.
The guy is a man/child mercenary of the highest order and if we truly want to create the right culture at this club, he should be sold to whoever is stupid enough to take him off our hands.
Martinelli’s first start since forever, with the occasional sub appearance, he’s not going to be 100% on top of his game. Would love to see him start with Laca on Thursday but MA will cowtail to Auba. Pray Saka is fit and Ode returns. Mari, Chambers, Cedric, Hector,, Pepe?? starting line up could go a number of ways but PLEASE NO WILLIAN.
OGS doesn’t give his kids dinner for punishment. LOL!
And whaty happens if Emery is the one that throw us out of the competition?
As always you talk as if it is a given that we will. beat Emery, but with this Arsenal side and Arteta recurrenr mistakes there are high chances that Villarreal becomes one of the finalist.
I dont care about Emery, but you have spoken so much that it will take 365 straight days of blogs to apologize to. Emery if he manage to beat Arteta in a europa semifinal.
Jim Furnell
In order to avoid the danger of him being anywhere near that plane to Prague, I’d even go as far as buying Willian an economy return to Dubai so he can spend the second half of the week undercoating and glossing the skirtingboards in his restaurant. Luiz can go with him and do the emulsioning cos he’s taller.
I think this whole thing between Emery and Arteta, and us against Villareal is all a bit fake. They’re both substandard, and if we were to play them and lose it wouldn’t mean any more or less than losing to another manager. Thank you very much!
Great offering Pedro
Could not disagree with anything you write today. Want to see more of Pepe and martinelli. Less of Aubameyang and get my main man Odegaard in the middle of the pitch behind our 10 and feeding the front quartet from deeper
It will open up so many options on the pitch for us
Myth Monday: left-footed players are more one footed than right-footed players. Why? Why not.
The more you know.
As much as Pablo Mari loves the beaches of Rio, he not Brazilian. Please correct.
Martinelli showed why Auba shouldn’t be starting there.
Twice more efficient than Pepe and Auba. Can dribble. Works like his life is on the line. Always moving without the ball. Not afraid to take shots.
Also showed his goalscoring instincts yet again.
Pepe really is a poor player for 72m pound. The guy can’t trap cement. His touch is as bad as Walcotts was, but at least Walcott scored more goals
One half decent performance against a already relegated team doesn’t hide the fact we’re still a shit team. Sheffield United could of a probably should of scored at least 2 goals from the chances they had.
As for this Thursday we’ll probably squeak through on the away goal, then loose to Everton, with the sulking players that didn’t start on Thursday.
CC, Before opening your big bully mouth to diss people, you investigate whether you are not as usual making a fool of yourself. It is well known fact that the weak foot of left footed player is worse than the weak foot of right footed players. In order to make it simple, rather than the CIES observatory report, I will direct you to the game FIFA. FIFA rating are based on the reality, so people may argue on the individual rating but the overall rating still give you a good representation of the reality. Rating of the weak foot: Right… Read more »
Myth Monday: left-footed players are more one footed than right-footed players. Why? Why not.
CC
This is not a myth, it’s true and Valentin’s assertion is right.
There are more right footed players in the world and it’s possible to have a team of all right footed players but you will almost never see a team of left footed players.
I’d like to see Mari and Chambers at CB, both slow which may cause issues but defensively and error wise, they are probably the best we have.
Indeed I’d like Martinelli to start. He should be given the minutes early to run the defense ragged against Slavia. Auba can then come on for the last 25 mins if necessary when Slavia are tiring. I think MA will play Auba from the start though. Don’t want to see Willian. At. Any. Point.
“We kept our first clean sheet in 6 years. Pablo Mari played pretty well with Rob Holding. The Brazilian played a couple of very nice balls over the top. I think he’s preferable to the erratic Gabriel this Thursday.”
Pedro – isn’t Mari Spanish not Brazilian.
I dont know about right and left feet but my middle foot is very strong, according to the data i have collected, it scores alot
Im telling you for free!
I managed a squad of 18 players in my son’s u14 team. As a left footer myself, I was appalled when all 18 of them said they were right footed (some were no-footed in reality when it came to football but that was a cross I bore as patiently as possible).
It made team and formation selections a little problematic.
I cannot swear to it but weren’t TA, Sol, Bouldy and Keown all right footed?
KroenkePhobe,
Yes we had a few right footed CBs who preferred to play on the left: Sol, Koscielny.
I think Bouldy and Keown was more due to the fact that TA did not want to play on the left.
John Terry is another example of an inverted right footed CB.
The man with the strongest middle foot should be captain, e.g Viera
John Terry was captain instead of Wayne bridge proves my theory
Kronkephobe, similar to my U10’s. Only 1 leftie in our squad of 13 which makes me cry salty tears.
My left foot is decent but my right leg is as much use as Rod Hull’s fake arm.
“It is well known fact that the weak foot of left footed player is worse than the weak foot of right footed players.“ Where is this a well known fact? What objective data makes this bit of information actually factual? Because you, unlike anyone else on here, continue to just speak things into existence at your behest. Weak foot ratings on FIFA the video game is the evidence. Wow, fun and factual. What a game. – Azed So there’s more right-footed players in the world, and you inevitably see teams of all right-footed players and not left? Wonder why that… Read more »
“I managed a squad of 18 players in my son’s u14 team. As a left footer myself, I was appalled when all 18 of them said they were right footed“
You lucked out, if they were all left-footed it would never have worked, apparently.
On the subject on left and right footed players wasn’t Santi Carzola ambidextrous? And have we had more of those ambidextrous players?
Kroekephobe
“I’d even go as far as buying Willian an economy return to Dubai”
Think bigger and crowdfund a private jet that gets delayed for engine trouble in Dubai.
Val I did a bit of time in the centre of various back fours (if I make it sound like a prison sentence that’s because it was in some of the games I played in!) and would play on either side because when you’re that central it didn’t seem to matter. There’s actually an argument for being in the wrong half anyway if you’re looking to distribute to the wings from the heart of defence. Jaroda I reckon I got more game time than other kids because of being left footed but I really had to work at using my… Read more »
Sid – If you ever get to stand next to TH14 in the gents you will know why Wenger made him Captain.
Kroenkephobe
Adams, Bould, Keown, Campbell, were all right footed
TT
Cazorla is right footed, so he claims
He did clip a n outrageous penalty down the middle with his left last week though
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NWek3TyRLY
Sid
“I dont know about right and left feet but my middle foot is very strong, according to the data i have collected, it scores a lot”
You didn’t qualify age for your data because if it’s over 70 with a pulse, the scoring wouldn’t be hard. In fact I would imagine any attempts at scoring would be most welcome and encouraged.
“I dont know about right and left feet but my middle foot is very strong, according to the data i have collected, it scores a lot”
Sid, wanking off to posters of Melania, MacKenzie Scott, and now Vjosa Osmani hardly qualifies as scoring, for if it did , Pedro would have you beat easily with his Arteta posters.
Wouldn’t it be better to have a middle leg, rather than a middle foot?
Entirely left-footed teams aren’t prevalent because of the numbers, nothing to do with the ability or dynamic of them being left-footed. It’s basic numbers.
CC
The basic number means you’ll have more right footed players playing on the left side than left footed on the right side.
This means right footed players who play on the left tend to use their weaker foot far more often than left footed players who are automatically given the left side role.
“OGS doesn’t give his kids dinner for punishment. LOL!”
And Jose has been stealing to feed his…….something clearly everyone knew already.
Its clear i should be le groves captain
Sid
mind you dont trip over
“And whaty happens if Emery is the one that throw us out of the competition?“
Then it’ll be described as anything can happen in a cup competition, where even a bum can beat a generational talent……….which of course is true.
@NORG, you can tell from the smile on Andrea rajacics face, the less said about Lorena the better
Im well anchored
The funniest thing about the near fatal blow to the face/ eye that had Son stricken on the ground for about three minutes yesterday, was how perfect his eye of a needle finish from a weaker foot was some three minutes later, and not a single sign of any injury on his face/eye from any close ups.
Such a quick healer.
Saka should give him a call and ask what his secret is.
We’ll need him Thursday.
Excerpt from a media report ================== [Martinelli] would have to wait to the second period to get it, when demonstration of the poacher’s instinct that could see his future ending up in the number nine role, saw him bounce on the rebound from Nicolas Pepe’s low drive. Interestingly enough though just before that strike Mikel Arteta did not seem to be too happy with Martinelli’s contribution to the game. Just minutes before the goal the Spaniard was seen shouting at the 19-year-old and agrily gesturing to him that he needed to start to begin his runs wide on the pitch… Read more »
“On the subject on left and right footed players wasn’t Santi Carzola ambidextrous? And have we had more of those ambidextrous players?“
There’s ambidextrous and there’s Santi.
There should probably be another term to describe his ability with both feet.
And there aren’t many Carzolas around…
Mourinho reportedly wants Fellaini. Maybe we can offer him Luiz and Willian too.
Dinosaurs!
David Luiz is very two footed
He can be equally brilliant and erratic with both feet
Kenyangunner
Why would Willian even consider a move when he is virtually guaranteed the CL trophy with Arsenal in little over two years.
Hi Tony
Think bigger and crowdfund a private jet that gets delayed for engine trouble in Dubai
I think that’s always been my problem. Sid, on the other hand (foot?) seems to be thinking too big!
There are two pleasant surprises in last game.
– We know Laca can hold up the ball. He is now even asked to support the play out from the back. He is resistant to high press. I feel much better see him playing that role than Ceballos.
– Saka plays the #10 role as well as ESR. I like him coming back to offer Partey an outlet. Ceballos then moved to the left when we attack. The transition from defense to attack looks fluid. No more aimless long balls from the defenders.
‘Thomas Partey, on fraud watch with the section of the fanbase desperate to see him fail, dropped a proper Atleti performance.’ Who is desperate to see him fail Pedro? It’s hard to take you seriously at times with the lack of impartiality. Partey has struggled for the most part this season. Some of it [fitness/health] isn’t his fault and some of it is given he’s looked subpar in a lot of his apps. We all obviously hope that he comes good and his performance last night [albeit at Sheff Utd the second worst PL team ever] and at Old Trafford/vs… Read more »
“And there aren’t many Carzolas around…“
Uzeros
If Pepe “couldn’t trap concrete” , then Santi could trap a wild, crazed ferret on speed with either foot.
Sid
Yes I think your something …. and it does sound like anchored…
WE
Pedro is the master of trolling his own blog and posters with little tidbits like that one.
He clicks send, and then sits back comfortably in his lair stroking mr Bigglesworth and laughing sinisterly as we scramble to respond.
Re left-footers and ambidexterity. Anecdotal of course but I tend to agree that they are generally weaker on their less dominant foot than right footers for the most part. You think of some of the most one-footed top players that we have seen and so many of them are lefties in Messi [better than most still but compared to his left peg, it’s pretty much for standing on], Di Maria, Robben, Ozil, James Rodriguez, Bale, Salah, Lukaku and going back in time the likes of Adriano, Recoba, Vieri, Raul, Roberto Carlos, Rivaldo, etc. Again, anecdotal but imo a disproportionate number… Read more »
Buendia is 2 footed and great at interceptions, tailor made to play the carzola role
About the 3-0 victory, it is what Arsenal would be expected to produce given the quality of our players. There was a huge gulf in that sense between Sheffield United the rock bottom team and Arsenal . It could not be otherwise. But given how we labour through to get a narrow win , occasions like yesterday cause multiple orgasms in infatuated people about a “ slam bang” by ARTETA.
( caps to illustrate the sparks in lover’s eyes )
WengerEagle/Tom
To be fair to Pedro, he wasn’t trolling his own blog (at least this time).
Yesterday before the match Dissenter and a couple of others were busy talking about how Partey has been a disappointment.
Tom
Felt like a semi-troll but it’s hard to know with Pedro these days, fairly entrenched in his camps.
“ him. “
F.O. Arteta
“ Speaking after the mtach the Gunners boss suggest that long-term considerations were the cause of the course of action he had chosen to take with the 19-year-old. “I’m asking you to be patient because we have a lot of players at 19 and 20 years old,” he said. “When you compare that with a lot of Premier League clubs at the top end it’s not common. “Gabi’s having the right path, the right development, he’s got an incredible attitude and talent and has got all the future in front of him. “ F. O. Arteta Sorry about the incomprehensible… Read more »
Woards on a blog
“Yesterday before the match Dissenter and a couple of others were busy talking about how Partey has been a disappointment.”
The conversation was that he has lived up to the billing, nothing to do with desperation to see him fail. It’s about his recent poor performances . Nobody wants him to fail, Pedro was writing up cack.
Get your facts right.
We beat one of the worst teams to ever feature in the premier league with a nonentity manager and Pedro declares that “Arteta showed that he’s a very good coach”
Lord have mercy
We did the barest minimum and good for us but can we cool off on the Kool-Aid?.
Wenger eagle, There has been nervous reports investigating the source of that imbalance. In short the conclusion for that weaker foot for right footed players tend to be mix of different factors: + Coaching/Practice: Because left footed are in less number, they tend to be asked to play on the left and are rarely asked to develop their right foot. They can get away with a very poor right foot + Brain organisation: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laterality One of the CIES reports also tried to see the impact in visualisation: why players will favour passes to their right rather than their left. Why… Read more »
Special type of fan that wants to be out here shitting on the club after a win.
A few of you should take a listen to Graham Hunters take on Arteta.
https://twitter.com/LeGrove/status/1381282644802080768?s=20
Not just me that says it. He’s one of the best-sourced journos out there.
WE, no one wants to read an impartial blog. No one. The BBC is in that business.
There is a big selection of number crunchers that put their reps on the line over Thomas Partey… one said he wouldn’t have taken him on a free. There has been a lot of ‘he’s average’ over the past month. Thomas Partey slander is an industry.
So I put it back onto you… your twitter algo is off… you need to pick it up.
Partey has been a disappointment so far, there may be mitigation circumstances for that But we didn’t sign a raw 22yr old, we signed an experienced 27yr old, who’s played at the highest level, so he can make an instant impact He cost a lot of money, and is one of our highest earners Expecting a lot more from him in the remaining part of the season, isn’t unreasonable So far he’s largely looked sloppy, lacking concentration, and far too casual on the ball Last night he dribbled into trouble towards the end of the first half, which could have… Read more »
Gabriel Martinelli hands Arsenal a boost as he confirms he’s fit for the crunch Europa League quarter-final with Slavia Prague after being forced off with an ankle knock following his goal against Sheffield United
Now wait and see what spin spews from hate
Rich, he’s basically in his 3rd month in the Premier League if you consider all his injuries.
Think he’ll be special next season.
Pedro
Are you sure about Graham Hunter? I’m reliably informed by Ishola that Hunter is just a jock who loves Barca and everything he says should be taken with a pinch of salt.
Marko
You equate every conflicting opinion as an argument. Just ironic you spend your time telling me I’m argumentative between the ‘I mean, you have to be stupid to think..’ posts you trot out daily on here. Another day another dismissive comment about what other people are talking about, just Marko things.