If you came here expecting TRUST THE PROCESS propaganda, you’d be absolutely correct.
The Mikel Arteta fan club just had its servers crash after a masterclass under pressure.
We downed Racist FC. No, we smashed them. It was an absolutely brutal takedown. Majestic under any circumstances, more so because of the context of the scuzzy team, and the moment in our season that felt do or die.
The big worry is we’d see a return of players we’ve not been happy with.
Auba didn’t start. Was he the leaker? Did we have another Ozil situation brewing? Was this because of the authoritarian management of a novice manager reported in the French press?
No. Turns out flu was actually malaria. Yikes. That’s not good. If I remember correctly, Kolo Toure took quite a while to fully recover from the disease way back when. Wishing Auba all the best though. Sounds like he was doing captain duties from his sick bed, that was great to hear.
The ‘you are a terrible person for having an opinion’ police dishing out ethics lessons on Twitter need to pipe down. The club told us he had flu. He’s been playing poorly all season. He’s had discipline issues. If you’re above making a comment on that, fine, but please, don’t lecture people for working with the information they had.
Back to the game.
Things blew up pretty quick after 10 minutes. ESR tapped in the second ball after Saka hit the post, VAR cancelled it out, you immediately wondered if that was going to be our night.
It was not. No one felt sorry of themselves. We powered on, sticking to the plan, creating chances, and most importantly this time… taking them.
Nico scored a superb goal, breaking the offside trap by inches, then holding off shooting until 3 players had dropped to the floor before rifling into the next.
Bukayo Saka had another crack cutting in from the right, instead of gong for the far post, he caught the keeper off guard with a stunning low near post shot. Beautiful angles.
Lacazette made amends for his sins last week. He buried a penalty with his usual coolness. His second goal was outrageous footwork that blinded 2 defenders, his drag back perfectly executed in tandem with a clean striker.
Bob Holding and Pablo Mari kept things incredibly tidy for the game.
Thomas Partey pulled midfield strings again whilst also offering up a masterclass in shielding our backline.
Granit Xhaka, left back to the gods, dropped another good game.
We qualified. But in style. Performances matter, that was a performance.
So what do we have to say about that?
Playing your best players is usually the best option. Arteta didn’t start Martinelli, but I don’t think you could argue with anyone he had in the starting 11. Smith Rowe was absolutely explosive, he is the absolute real deal and I can’t believe we’ve landed him at the same time as Saka. His running is exceptional, his off-ball movement is so modern and difficult to track, he’s decisive and so alert. This kid will be a 15 goal a season player when it all clicks for him. You also couldn’t argue the inclusion of Pepe. He was brilliant again. He’s confident, increasingly decisive in big moments, and he finally looks like he’s enjoying himself. His goal was a thing of beauty, shades of Kanu, exactly what we were hoping we bought.
It’s becoming hard to deny that Lacazette is the better forward for this system. Auba is great if you want to build your game around feeding him chances. For me, Lacazette connecting 3-4 players with his quick passing and deft movement feels really promising. Our forward line in the last 2 games has looked devastating and incredibly dynamic. Now everyone is finding the Midas touch, it’d be tough to break the flow up. Interesting that Eddie is picking up minutes now, clearly to get him into shape with Auba out for a while. Shame it’s not Balogun, sounds like he’s going to leave Arsenal this summer, what a shame. Final point on our attack, we’re doing this without Tierney, Auba, or Odegaard.
Defensively, we were very strong again. Pablo Mari and Rob Holding dropped clean sheet number two. Do I like that? Yes I do. Can we move away from the idea David Luiz needs to be the future of our central defence? Isn’t it time to move on from a once elite player that will never give you reliability? Bring Saliba into the fold next season and age down our backline. It’s time.
Let’s also talk about Arteta. He had not showered himself in glory over the last month. He invited the doubters back in with familiar mistakes. It looked like the team was floating away from him. Made worse by the leaks. But here we are again, watching him do the business in a competition he needs to win. His tactics were spot on in both legs, the personnel not so much. Last night, we banged, every player worked for that win, there were no passengers. He needs to remember this. When his back is against the wall, who does he turn to? The hungry players that want it. I love that the players are reacting well to his systems and that his systems are starting to work better for the players. Arsenal, collectively, are becoming a more intelligent team. We just need to do it on a run of games. Pockets of form do not qualify you for the Champions League.
It’s also worth talking about the leaks. Someone went to L’quipe and complained about the same things that went into The Sun before the Sheffield United game. Authoritarian management, unhappy senior players, and Thomas Partey not being played correctly. 2 games, 2 leaks, 2 wins. The leaks aren’t coming from players we should care about. There’s no manager coming into to work with this lot that wouldn’t make the older player change their games. As for authoritarian, again, what is the counterpoint? Build out a creche like Wenger did? Cave to senior demands like Unai Emery? This phase of Arsenal cannot be a negotiation with players that aren’t doing it.
The path we’re on is the right one if Arteta learns his lessons, fast. Stick with the players that want to be at the new Arsenal. Give chances to young players with high ceilings. Develop senior players who want to learn. Keep improving how we do things week in, week out.
The next round of the Europa is against Unai Emery. We must destroy Villareal. There’s no other outcome that is acceptable. A see a lot of people crying about how classy he was. It needs to stop, this is a guy brought in by a super agent, late to the process, who landed the job without speaking English. He literally did a deal with the devil, and when Raul let him go kicking and screaming, a skint Arsenal paid him out in a lump sum instead of putting him on gardening leave like every other club would have.
This cut back merchant needs to feel the full force of the new Arsenal. Arteta needs to make a statement in both legs. We need make sure we see a bang-bang performance because I honestly cannot deal with the Emery fan club any longer. The weirdest fetish on the internet.
A final against Manchester United will be very tough, but in a one-off, you’d have to fancy our chances.
But first… we need to exact a lesson on Villareal. Last time we were in a semi against them we made a Champions League final. Time for us to make another European Cup Final and actually win one this time.
Onwards. Podcast on Sunday. See you in the comments. #ArtetaFanClub
First?
Masterclass
Fourth since Christmas?
I thought BAlogun had signed a new contract.?
Hello there
Pedro
Even Fabrizio reported that Balogun is gonna sign for us.
And we’re back.
Sorry, what’s that about Balogun? There are reports saying he’s signed. What the fuck is going on? And why was he playing yesterday? THIS GUY IS OUR FUTURE.
Top 10 ? Must do better next season…
If anything it sounds like Eddie is off and Balogun is set up for next season with us
Pedros behind the curve on Balogen.
Good result but there’s work to be done to settle the team.
Arteta needs to play the same team a few times to let the players bed in
Most would love to see that team every game, especially if Martinelli, Balogun, and Azeez get time from the bench.
The reality is we will have to play some of the less desirable options for no other reason than to keep the A team fresh.
As said there’s multiple reports about Balogun having already signed and Arteta said yesterday that it’s very close and just need to be finalized. Did you go into a coma after the game Pedro? Our backline has looked good the last 2 games but it has hardly been tested, don’t want to see Xhaka coming up against any speedy wingers please. If only Arteta wasn’t such a slow learner maybe our attack would have clicked at the start of the season instead of now when he’s finally picking the right players. Auba-Laca combo of death and Willian has completely nullified… Read more »
Good post Pedro Think arteta is building something and heading in the right direction If we do get to the final and face manure, it’ll go two ways! One, we’ll get nervous and struggle because of “it’s manure”. Or, two, the kids will not have respect and run riot then we’ll just have to take our chances and it could be a 3-1 result I’m hoping Roma do a job though Also, as for ogs!!! Whinging about sons dive last week and all the pundits agreeing, it’s pathetic. OGS did exactly the same thing when he played vs sol Campbell… Read more »
Reports that Real isn’t considering letting Ode leave next season so we need to find another option that can rotate with ESR. Links to Camavinga cropping up but that seems a bit unrealistic, he’s also not really a Cam, would be amazing though. Nkunku also linked. Fekir another option I’d like, there’s also Buendia etc.
Not ideal ofc to lose Ode after he has settled but not a disaster either, plenty of fish in the sea and if we have a tight budget there’s plenty of cheaper options out there than him.
Roma can cause this average Utd side problems
OGS saying fergie pulled him aside and told him off for taking out a Newcastle player as “this isn’t how Manchester United win games” is such utter bullshit
Camavinga might be an option, there’s not much money around, he has one year left on his deal at Rennes, is refusing to sign a new deal, and is another Arsenal fan
Don’t know much about him, but must have something about him if he’s broken into the French team at 18, they’re not exactly short on talent
Wait…..what?
I thought Balogun had all but signed. Your credibility has taken a knock if that’s the case. You were my ITK.
Wardo
OGS is a complete arse and major hypocrite. I think Arsenal derives a small benefit as a result of him managing a competitor.
Ive got mates who support Cardiff and they loathe him – about the nicest thing one of them said was that he was a “fucking cone man”
This Balogun thing is causing palpitations. Pedro – what are you hearing?
We absolutely must win the UEL… (Unai Emery League).
Can’t wait to see us get back to champions league football with our first major European trophy in the bag
Kroenkephobe
Cheers. I’m really annoyed with his antics. Do you remember the game when sol palmed him off and he went down holding his face and sol got sent off??
He was wrong doing that so was son last week but Utd went on to win and when he did it, Arsenal lost the game
He should have just kept his mouth shut over the incident
“Hello there”
General Karim!!! You are a bold one ….
Apparently we’re about to tie down Taylor-Hart who Bayern Munich were in for, Azeez who Juventus wanted, and Balogun who turned down 15 clubs to stay with us
If I take my Arsenal hat off, I’m not sure they’re being well advised, at some point young players need to start playing competitive football on a consistent basis
Right now the path is blocked, so unless we’re loaning them out, I don’t see how staying and not playing, benefits their careers
Nelson has wasted the past 2 seasons of his development, Nketiah + Balogun should have been loaned out in January
The player being banned for 10 games because of the racist activity is an absolute joke. Trippier was banned for 12 games because of a betting issue how does that compare. Unless UEFA is serious about the racist issue ban the player for a year anything else by UEFA makes them complicit.
Surely Pedro meant Eddie is leaving in the summer, no?
Also Odegaard is going to be at least 40 million. Cant see us doing that when we have no cash and a lot of positions that need strengthening. Maybe another loan next year though. I cant see him wanting to go back to Madrid if Zidane is there. If Zizou goes to Juve though, then I could see Martin wanting to stay in Madrid.
Excellent performance. To go away to a side unbeaten for 18 months on their own ground and thrash them with a scintillating display of attacking football is worthy of the highest praise. Which begs the question; what are we doing languishing in mid-table when we have such talented players at the club. Just imagine what position we’d be in with a good manager at the helm. As for you referring to Emery fans Pedro, I am certainly not one, but I do wish him to be judged by the same standards as your favourite Arteta. For instance, a 22 match… Read more »
Camavinga has the potential to be the complete midfielder, very similar to pogba.
Wouldn’t be easy getting him though BUT if we did, it would be a coup. Partey and him (in maybe a year or two) would make for an ideal double pivot.
Great stuff Pedro.
Really feel like a yo-yo this season one week i’m a believer the next week i’m full on slash and burn this side been. Such a weird ride 2021.
Liverpool broke me, Praha is that moment where the pieces are picked up really hoping Villareal is where they get put back together.
Everyone and their dogs knew what today’s post would be about.
Pedro
Rumour has it that you have a direct line to Arteta, let me tell you this for free, if Arteta plays Xhaka as a left back against Villareal, he will be destroyed and will be sent off.
Everton would give our defense a real test before we face Emery’s team.
Everton vs spurs 1-1 at HT with Jose playing about 8 defenders.
Play Xhaka as LB against EPL teams will not work. His weakness is well known to all EPL managers. They’ll send their fastest runner to attack on his side.
“If you came here expecting TRUST THE PROCESS propaganda, you’d be absolutely correct.”
You funny man you, Pedro!
Nothing changes my mindset regarding Arteta, he’s still achieved nothing this season other than inconsistency brought on by his own hand. In the end Arteta remains his own worst enemy.
this game needs more injuries and red cards IMO
As the game was getting started, I was hit with that familiar buzz of excitement and anticipation. Then a realization dawned on me. We’re playing a critical away tie against Slavia Prague in the QF of the Europa League. Pedro,, reading your post just tells me that you’ve become a victim of the same preposterously low expectations that you mocked when Arsene was talking about a top 4 trophy. I was thrilled with the win yesterday. We have great talent like Saka, ESR and Martinelli showing their potential is not a distant proposition and we’ve secured Balogun. But the truth… Read more »
According to Evening Standard, Balogun has already signed but official announcement is remaining factor
As for Balogun, why the hell is Arteta talking about the deal unless it’s signed, sealed and delivered (or docusigned..).
Let’s assume he’s 99.9% confident the deal is done. Great, but then why step on the club’s own PR win by putting out there in an interview reply? He’s got a lot to learn still.
and Eddie being used to boost up his market value
What a finish
What a goal scored by Everton…
siggy. Was hoping for a draw but this is nice too
Xhaka was expected to be roasted by the Sparta wingers. He did just OK.
Everton keeps setting up Kane. WTF!!!
haha
Will Kane stay at spurs surely he has to leave. He is legitimately the best striker in the world along with mpabbe. More complete player than Lewandowski and a level above benzema.
Wonder who will go for him real madrido?
Everton play like muppets with errand passes and headers which should have been handled like cushioning the ball and Iwobi was replaced because of being ineffective. Not a good game so far.
Here is an interesting part from the commentators, if Arsenal winds the UEL and Chelsea the UCL and both finish outside top 4 only top 3 will go to UCL.
poor from richarlison there
bacaryisgod
Arteta has got fuckall to learn from you or anyone else on here, all that’s on hear is opinions including mine
Everton are muppets times two play like December Arsenal with missing open goals.
James Rodríguez is a pleasure to watch.
Buckagh
What’s your point?
Kane twisted his angle.
Venga
You got your wish!
Pedro never misses a chance to trash Emery, who is twice the Manager Arteta is! One great result and Arteta is the best thing since sliced bread. Maybe we should beat Villarreal first ??
The only position I would change personnel in the coming weeks is striker. we need to keep a settled back 4 and a settled midfield pairing. If Partey and ceballos is working as a midfield partnership, it wouldn’t make sense to break it up.. Continue to play Smith Rowe as no.10 with Saka on the right and Pepe on the left …any of these players can be substituted after the hour mark with Odegaard, Martinelli or Willian coming on. The striker role can be alternated between Martinelli, Balogun , Eddie and Lacazette and If Lacazette is considered as our main… Read more »
Win on Sunday and we’ll be 2 points behind The Scum and one off Everton who we play next Friday.
Think the draw is the best possible result for us
@Nelson – and Kane limping off!! Good couple days these.
All begs the question, what happens if Villareal do the not so unthinkable and knock us out? Will love to see the verbal gymnastics on the blog the day after, would be pure marketing man comedy gold. Its a win win in all honesty but would prefer another Arsenal cup final ideally. I’m not exactly sure what Emery did wrong for some people. He’s a likeable, successful chap with a good track record who was poorly suited to the Arsenal job and had trouble with some of the bad eggs who were at the club. Big whoop he’s not alone… Read more »
Tottenham host Villa, and Wolves, and have to go to Leeds and Leicester.
Everton have to come to us, Man City and West Ham, and host Villa + Wolves.
Our toughest fixtures will be Chelsea, Newcastle, and Palace away.
Is 7th enough for Europa League given Southampton dont win FA Cup??
Sotongunner, we burn down this blog and quit football my friend.
Spuds has the Cup final on 25th April. Would Kane be ready by then?
We play Villareal first away, can easily expect us to get a couple of away goals which should do the job.
From the purely footballing perspective Kane is a joy to watch. Like Rooney before him he holds a PhD in that department……just too bad he’s such a massive play acting cunt.
Maybe you just can’t separate the two.
Hate to see him limping off lol.
Everton CB’s cost them points today.
https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11670/12276117/mikel-arteta-exclusive-interview-bukayo-saka-emile-smith-rowe-and-the-story-of-arsenals-youth-revolution
Exciting that this forward line could be our future, and it cost us a grand total of £6 million
Saka Smith-Rowe Martinelli
…………….Balogun
“We don’t buy superstars, we make them”
Is a much better mantra than
“We’re a knackered yard for over the hill mercenaries looking for 1 last payday”
SotonGunner
That was a perfect description of Emery from you:
He’s a likeable, successful chap with a good track record who was poorly suited to the Arsenal job and had trouble with some of the bad eggs who were at the club.
Rich
Please tell me there’s no truth in the story that Arteta has blocked a permanent transfer to Schalke for kolasinic. I understand that Tierney badly needs back up but if Schalke were willing to take him???
Kroenkephobe
Timothy Dalton? We need to talk.
I’m more excited for a possible reunion with Le Coq than Emery. Always had a soft spot for him and his flying block attempt will be long remembered.
https://the18.com/en/soccer-news/watch-francis-coquelin-experience-miracle-human-flight
It looks like he’s not played much this season for Villareal. I think I would prefer him on the bench as we beat them than see him over-enthusiastically hurl himself into a leg-breaking challenge.
Sotongunner Let me catch you up then. Emery took over a nailed on top four side let down by a hasbeen Wenger, and blew the CL qualification by one point via the league, and then through the worst cup performance by the Arsenal ever against Chelsea in the EL. He ruined the players and that’s why it has taken Arteta sooooo much longer to rehabilitate them and shape them into anything remotely resembling a footballing outfit. Had Arteta got the job right after Wenger, like Pedro advertised he should’ve, we probably would’ve been playing PSG in CL semis this season… Read more »
Almuniasaynomore
I don’t know, wouldn’t have thought so
We were so desperate to get Kolasinac out in January, we left ourselves with only 1 left back
He’s reportedly a big earner due to us signing him on a Bosman, probably another player we either give away for free this summer, or end up paying him to leave
Kolasinac was benched by Schalke last weekend, who’ve only won 2 games all season
Really poor player, another really poor signing to add the the ever growing list
Tom
Your sense of humour is seriously growing on me!
Almuniasaynomore
Not sure what you mean…..I’m dead serious, just ask Pedro.
Rich
I was trying to think of any logical reason,couldn’t. Put it down to clickbait. If Odegaard isn’t available next s
Next season is buendia a realistic alternative?
Keep the faith, believe in Arteta, take him at his word.
Funnily enough, I have no problem with that, which is odd because my default position is to be on guard with anyone who makes promises. Thus I hardly believed a word Wenger or Gazidis fed us. But with Arteta it’s different. He’s honest and forthright. He means what he says.
Which is not to say that he has not made mistakes, nor that he won’t make any in the future. But safer and more sensible to take a journey into the unknown with a man you can trust.
Next season is buendia a realistic alternative?
———————————————-
Buendia would be brilliant for us. I dont think he wanted to agitate for a move in January but I imagine that’ll be different in the summer.
Buendia has only played 1 game at attacking midfield for Norwich, 2 from the left, and 114 from the right
Nothing to say he couldn’t play centrally, but it would be an expensive gamble that he could transition to a central position
Last two summers we invested £72 million in Pepe, then big wages in Willian, only for Saka to make the right wing his own
Hopefully we can sign Odegaard, we need quality competition in the forward positions
Who would you go for?
Trusting Arteta over Wenger …..now that’s quite a leap of faith.
Wenger didn’t want to give Pires an extra year on the wrong side of thirty,
What are the chance he’d have given one to Willian?
Wenger had his own issues for sure, but Arteta given a chance would leverage Arsenal to the hilt to make a name for himself and then jump ship to advance his career.
https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/arsenal-news-nicolas-pepe-no-excused-for-arteta-b930084.html
Dani/Rich
Well that’s just it, I don’t see enough football anymore outside of arsenal to be a good judge. A friend talks about some south american called thiago Almada or something like that, think he’s Argentinian. I like maddison but seems to have attitude and prob too expensive now. Buendia is highly rated by many, it seems to be a question of position with him. I just don’t really see what the choices are really.
Rich
I can’t read any football article anymore that contains the words ‘next level’.
Tom, thanks for your I’m sure tongue in cheek response. Also agree with your analysis of Arteta, think it is unlikely this guy would carry on the “I’m an arsenal man” act if say Barcelona came calling. I still feel we are yet to see the special sauce and managerial genius yet. That said Im still for giving him time as he can still become the equal of Emery (at Arsenal at least) by at least getting to a Europa final and maybe even pulling a europa league win back on him as well for the career records, which would… Read more »
Rich
Pepe will most likely never live up to his lofty price tag and that’s the cross he’ll have to bear for as long as he’s here.
But if you can get past that he can be a very useful player if deployed the right way.
He’ll never be the Zaha type because he doesn’t have the physical presence, or the Hazard type who shields the ball from opponents to draw fouls.
We bought a £35m player and payed twice that for him at the height of the market.
It’s up to the fans to move on from that.
Tom
I wonder is that the issue so many utd fans have with Pogba. They feel his contribution doesn’t match his price tag( they’d be right) therefore they’ve become deaf to the argument that he does contribute.
Pepe might surprise a few people and become much more than a useful player, he’s got real ability
There’s signs he’s adapting physically and tactically, we know he’s got plenty of end product, if he can get the basic stuff right, then I’ve seen enough to suggest he’ll become a consistent match winner
Almuniasaynomore
Most likely yes, except in Pogba’s case it’s justified because apart from his transfer fee there are also his wages, and these are actively pursued by the player and his agent as a reflection of his worth to a given club, which in Pogba’s case is around £300kpw.
Has he been pulling his weight according to his wages?
Probably not, and that’s even before his agent demand United make him their highest earner matching the Sanchez deal.
Pepe’s wages reflect his on the pitch contributions and probably with room to spare.
Tom
You have to be an accountant to judge a footballer these days. What you said makes sense to me. Is Sanchez still a utd player? I know De Gea went up to the 350kpw mark, ironically just before he fell off a cliff. Seems increasingly obvious that a sliding scale has to be introduced, prob linked to appearances though I’m sure there would be legal issues there. Youth is the answer it would seem, yet why don’t other clubs with well paid senior players suffer with the same type of final big contract secured apathy?
We potentially have a LOT of cash for this close season. Think about the likely outbound players… I don’t see Torreira or Guendouzi coming back. Easily 20m Euro. Bellerin. More like 25.m. None of those need replaced. I’d sell Nketiah. We’d get £ 10-12. Promote Balogun. Controversially, I wouldn’t be unhappy to let Auba go, and even at his age, that’s 30-40m Euro. Martinelli and Saka are the future on the left of attack, clearly. Cash in while we can, I say.. I like Willock, but I’m on the fence. I’d bring Ainsley back. Really useful squad player and there’s… Read more »
Balogun has signed. Perhaps nobody noticed that after the group stage – while his agent was being a cock – he don’t get a sniff. But yesterday, just 48 hours after the news that he’s staying – he’s gets 5 minutes. Arteta has many flaws – but he’s a ruthless asshole When needed. He clearly told Flo that he wouldn’t play him Unless he signed. He’s not putting him the window to leave for free. Now he’s signed- he will start to play. By the way – anyone else think Mari and Gabriel are the new bould and Keown? The… Read more »
With partey being the defensive shield + the break the lanes vertical passer, does anyone think, from what we’ve seen of Torriera, that the two might actually work very well in a mid field two pivot. With a front three of salam, esr, ode, pepe or martinelli, in front of them, this mid field pair would be a pressing machine. LT also want a bad passer of the ball and covered decent amount of the pitch as well.
The most promising thing about yesterday other than the score was that Pepe is actually smiling and laughing now with his teammates. He seems fully settled in and looking much less of a sad loner on and off the pitch.
I will never understand the rabid hatred that Pedro uses to approach Emery.
I want Arsenal to win, the rest is hogwash.
Aasim,
It really feels like Torreira is just desperate to leave. We should definitely negotiate hard for the best possible fee but I think it’s an unrecoverable situation.
I hope Roma pull off an upset against United.
I fancy our chances against them in the final, not so much United in their current form.
There’s a massive overreaction to Slavia not taking a knee. The actions of Kudela were disgraceful and rightfully punishhed. However, there are English teams with BAME players who have made the same unanimous decision.
Slavia stated that the players were gathered together to support anti-racism. I’m not naïve enough to believe that there’s not a lot of racism in the Czech Republic like many other countries but the act of not taking a knee should not itself be seen as an act of racism.
bacary
Agreed
Standing together with hands joined is just as powerful as taking a knee. The Slavia team is multiracial with a Nigerian and Senegalese starting games for them.
That said, I find the way Slavia managed the Kudera incident to be utterly shameful. They deployed a scorched earth-admit to wrong and blame to victim approach. They sullied Kamara all through the incident, made him out to be a thug.
They employed the Trump method; give no quarter-burn everything down.