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
10 more minutes like this and aeteta manages to break another record… Fulham didnt beat arsenal in last 18 or 29 games.
Piss poor from the whole team
And people knocking Martinelli. Aside from scoring he’s done more in 80 minutes this game than aubu has done all season
Eddie needs to show why he belongs here!!’
5 Nigerians? 1 from arsenal I’m guessing.
Why is ceballos still dithering around half way with the ball. Spray it to saka and pepe
What times kick off ?
Fuck me how much time are these cunts trying to waste
Sorry. Eddie doesn’t belong here
This is where we miss the fans
Two minutes added on then
Vikingz
Yes.
Wiglaf
The Fulham fans won’t mind with the current result.
@Gazzap
Mate if fans were in the stadium Arteta would of got the sack months ago
Whenever we get w chance to move up in the table, the team manages to screw it up. Arsenal have made it a habit to do this. So frustrating its become
TR7…..very true
Told y’all arteta would change the winning eleven, he does this every time, he has no winning eleven after being here for over a year, always changing what doesn’t need to be changed, a generational curse he is
They just showed the Fulham player dived on slow mo, there was no contact. Commentator said probably VAR bloke deemed not a clear and obvious mistake because it’s not about getting the right decision!!!
You couldn’t make it up.
No first touch from Nketiah- he really is absolutely useless
Eddie cmon
Well said Wiglaf
Add to that why Azeez and Balogun aren’t on the bench today….
Saka still creating from RB.
Nketiah not taking his chance.
After this game Elneny has to be sold, forget giving him the contract extension.
Laughingly not good enough.
Useroz – Correct, Eddie not of the calibre
Wow just wow
Nketiah is dog poo.
What is artetas system? No one explains that. We don’t have any chemistry out on the pitch. We don’t play in triangles or one touch footie, we don’t have any partnerships in the players, we don’t have any intensity or desire. We just keep passing around The back hoping for individual brilliance.
No.wonder we are mid table, our system is a mid table system but at least they practise set piece threats, something we don’t have.
Ceballos is so shit
Ffs ceballos. U had to do this ??
Lose this and we’d have lost 13 league matches.
That’s a third of our league matches!
Arteta needs to win the Europa or has to go.
Fulham haven’t won a London derby since 2014.
Eddie showing why he didn’t make it at Arsenal
GonsterousApril 18, 2021 15:15:22
What is artetas system…..
It’s called the generational one.
Saka great shot…nearly
Great attempt from Saka, love this kid.
Useroz
Sounds exotic…
Ceballos/ ElNeny = Axis of Doom
Im sure Unai’s licking his lips at this woeful display.
There must be over 4 minutes Fergie time with all the disruptions and subs…
7 minutes ! !
Oh Martinelli shot saved
Getting worried about facing Villarreal now.
I would love to trust the process.. it it was any good.. but every time … we have a decent result.. we drop a horrendous 1 or 2. You have to earn my trust. With the talent we have, you can’t have these results. You just can’t.
Saka forcing things.
“Fulham have been doh shit. Nicked a dubious penalty and hung on by the skin of their teeth.”
It wasn’t a penalty, just been proved there was no contact it was a dive. I have no idea how the guy in VAR can make that mistake.
Gonsterous
We have partnerships but our generational Coach insists on ripping them apart
Rambo Fanboy ? Nah Heavily criticised his decision to sell Martinez and ostracize Guendouzi. His perseverance with Xhaka riles me up. It’s just that I was in favor of giving him some time given he led us to a FA Cup win in his first season. So disappointed I was with his brand of football and poor man management skills that I didn’t bother to comment on LG for about 4 months. I still think he will turn out to be a good manager but I don’t think we are in a position to take a gamble while he is… Read more »
Trust the process.
Emery out after Wenger out but Sauce is the messiah.
In any club with top 4 pedigree, he would have been fired many moons ago.
Ceballos is a spinning top. Lots have said that.
Good movement to nowhere
7 minutes added time.
Is Pedro the 4th official?
Martinellj cretkng cha cesspit of nothing
Eddie gesticulating “pass it”
Eddie wants everything handed to him on a plate
Why didn’t Esr shoot??
@AFC forever
I said that earlier. No bloody way was their any contact. I’m not even wearing my glasses and could see on the replay he wasn’t touched so how the fuck did var give that decision is beyond me. Fucking joke
arteta smh
We need shots…somehow
Do we always have to give struggling teams a lifeline?
Why do we have no players who can take corners?
No urgency
Ceba’s corner kicks are just straight passes to the goalt
We are so laboured in our play no cohesive one touch interplay
Typically boring Arteta.
Must be part of the process
our run in is anything but easy with diet P
I can’t remember watching as many frustrating games as this season. It seems to be two steps forward then six steps back. So so so frustrating. Losing to Fulham at home. Ridiculous.
Leeds
.Agree. We don’t have a good enough squad to manage midweek games & PL. Our best 11 beats anyone but rotation exposes the quality in the squad. Of course the penalty was a dive & we were unlucky with the disallowed goal too but Arteta & Edu know we need better quality in the squad. Busy transfer window.
Can’t believe pepe can’t cross in 3 attempts…all blocked
Almost last chance corner
This is hardly a surprise watching this particular Arsenal side lose at home under this management
Eddie tapped in
Twice now, Pepe can’t cross the ball
Well do me Eddie.
Will VAR intervene?
Ah we do – Saka
Arteta and Edu obviously decided they do not want the problems of 7th place qualifying.
If not total amateur hour in not staying with a winning team to try and build confidence.
Walmart like a WIN
Yes !!
Pre assist from Mat Ryan!
Well..draw at home which is still poor against this side
Eddie the eagle
Too little, too late
Sign Ryannnnnn
Surely not offside. Cmon not even a corrupt var can change that
A draw is better than a loss but we have been poor today!
By the skin of the teeth, irrespective of ArtetaOut
How useless is pepe…really..everytime he gets the ball he tries to cross…which then gets blocked
At least we don’t lose.
Lol, Matt Ryan causing chaos and Eddie gets one from two inches.
What can they find against Arsenal here
Can var rule this one out!?
Surely not with VAR again
FFS. Holding didn’t even clinch and not interfering a yard from the GK…
This can’t be offside
Who cares about 1 point? A draw is no good. We needed 3 points, 1 doesn’t make much difference except to make things worse for Fulham
If VAR Intervenes now, I will join the movement just on sentiments
Nketiah trademark goal
Phew… I was rooting for that goal to come. We really didn’t deserve to lose this game.
Well done Nketiah.
Thank fuck for that
Hahaha oh man… Scott parker’s look… was priceless.. Var check.. of course.
I miss the unsuccessful Wenger years when we were permanently in the top 4…
Holding was a mile offside so I feared the worst
Very leggy performance after our heroics on Thursday night
Great character, never gave up
Fuck off VAR.
Goal
1 – 1
Again, it’s like a WIN for the dumb generational one
Draw is still a terrible, terrible result at HOME to Fulham?
Arteta is terrible with rotation.
Pepe is frustrated. Anyone would be. Just go by earlier comments .on the blog
But a shit result
great
should have been a win
team selection and in game management strikes again
generational
trust the process