Career defining week for Arteta, who will he go to battle with?

by .

I’m feeling a little bit numb. The football results have been miserable. Spurs play a cup final later today. The Super League stuff feels like a massive hangover right now.

Our entire week now rests on us beating a manager I beasted for 2 years.

The football gods have been brutal this season, will their final act of vengeance be drubbing from a man that let the bus driver give a team talk against Palace?

Who knows… but we have to pick ourselves up and look for the breaks of light on the horizon.

There’s no better manager in the league at saving his bacon when the chips have been blown off the table by a tornado.

Thursday night is going to be difficult, Spanish teams are fast, technical, and not afraid of the Premier League. We exited to Atleti in a semi-final in Wenger’s last season, so we have tasted the bad times, but we’ve also beaten Valencia in Emery’s first season. An away day my dad got so drunk in, he left his expensive watch in the Mestalla. Imagine your drunk thing was resting your watch on things to protect it?

Here’s what works for Arteta on Thursday night: He has all the chess pieces at his disposal to win the game.

The question, as always, is which will he use.

With his career in the balance again, which path will he take?

Eddie Nkeitiah didn’t have a horrible performance, but there really was no punch with him as our striker. He’ll likely be out next season, so is it worth trying that game again? Do you really try and make a point to the fans with a risk like that? There’s a reason the fans don’t care much for Eddie… Arteta has benched him all season and shown zero interest.

To my mind, his forward line should be the live wires. Gabriel Martinelli should be the #9, then we should surround him with Saka, Odegaard and Smith Rowe… or Nicolas Pepe who I suspect might have been pulled on Friday to rest him.

Arteta’s obsession with players that can control doesn’t rub at this stage. Eddie offered 94% pass completion, you’re not getting that with Martinelli, but which striker did more in 10 minutes than the other did in 90 in front of goal? The kid that is a high-risk BANG BANG striker.

I don’t want us to do go to Estadio de la Cerámica to control a 0-0… because we know there’s a mistake in the tank. The away leg should be treated like the Slavia Prague game. Go for an early destruction. Take the away goals. Emery teams concede a goal a game, make it count, take advantage of the things we know.

There’s no point in control if it doesn’t lead to anything.

Willian is control, but we lose with him in the side.

Eddie is control, but we barely registered a shot on target.

Look at what works in the side. Power, pace, directness. Think about what we need: goals.

The Everton game stung on paper, but if you watch it back, there was plenty of good work on show. We were just toothless in attack. That can be fixed with the right line-up on Thursday. More bang bang, more risk in the system… a better strategy than ‘keep it tight.’

The keeper question is a big one. Bernd Leno has been tanking. Interesting to note that Arsenal moved on Sal Bibbo, a much-loved character that made Emi a top 3 keeper in the league, and replaced him with someone that, let’s just say, is not loved to the same degree by many. Does the form of our keeper speak to elite coaching? A person bold enough to make a ‘contacts’ recommendation for a backup keeper so bad, Arsenal staff were leaking the disaster signing story after 3 days. Are shocking taste levels indicative of talent? Proof is in the pudding, are our keepers getting better? No. Just throwing it out there people. A horribly mismanaged situation that has paid out when we need it least.

Arteta’s career doesn’t depend on Europa. We’re not binning him this summer. But football isn’t always about the execs. It’s about the fans. Arteta misses this, he forgets who his real masters are. The Europa League is for the fans. The memory of this season will be erased if he brings us European glory, he’ll be a two trophy winner, he’ll have taken us back to the top organically, he’ll be the guy that gave us a monied summer.

The weight of winning this trophy goes further than that, it allows him to lose 3 games on the bounce without a protest next season. It’ll lighten the mood this summer. It’ll make everything better.

… right now, it feels like it’s too much to ask for.

The only positive I have about the shit league form is that there’s a correlation to last season. This team thinks they are better than they are. They want to win things. They want the adulation, the bonuses, and the big cup comp in the world. I had my doubts about the league as soon as top 4 was over, this team always switches off… but when there’s a trophy brewing, they can do magical things. Our FA Cup final run last season saw us down City and Cheslea. We have enough to beat Villareal if we’re on it… and it’s Arteta’s job to make sure we are. Everyone will be watching.

We need a big Thursday. Back door entry to the Champions League against a back door expert who we sacked… tasty. Let’s see where this goes.

P.S. Listen to our podcast if you haven’t. This week, it’s Johnny, Matt, and Jay. It’s a spicy one. We cover socialism, Gary Neville, the future of football… and views of the future.

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Sly

1st?

Karsa

Good stuff.

Benjamin

The bus driver was a better motivator than Arteta!!

Benjamin

He would even be a better Manager!

Sly

Fans mood rock bottom
I agree Pedro
Live wires will do it
Arteta should read the blog tho

Karsa

Martinelli. EL hero.

DivineSherlock

I am not fazed at facing Unai Emery now. Just look at Barca picking them apart

Samesong

Arsenal down to 10th double figures

Ishola70

Agreed with how Arteta should approach the match and Martinelli as the No.9. Pepe to me looked uncomfortable on the left against Everton.Very noticeably many times having to check onto his more comfortable right foot and losing momentum. I heard fans say he looked the most dangerous attacker against Everton but if that’s the case it would just show how ineffective the other attackers were in that match. Pepe could start left again but only because Saka looks to like the right side. When it is said though that Arteta’s career doesn’t depend on the Europa League and he is… Read more »

Ishola70

Samesong
“Arsenal down to 10th double figures”

Didn’t catch the Leeds – Man United match.

Did Leeds just put men behind the ball and look to counter Arteta style or did they actually look to try to compete all over the pitch with Man United in a big match?

Ishola70

“Correction” “Pepe checking on himself to go inside rather than his favoured foot”

Bertie Mee

Pedro
I desperately hope Arteta succeeds but he is severely testing our faith . Do we definitely know Auba and Laca won’t okay any part ? A big thing is not conceding on Thursday. If we can nick one or two that would be excellent . Maybe a team with Odegaard , Saka and ESR would create some chances for Pepe and Martinelli?

Tom

“Back door entry to the Champions League against a back door expert who we sacked”

Pedro, Emery a “ back door expert”?

Was there something I missed in the Sacha Wright ( AKA” white witch”) interview ?

Kroenkephobe

There’s no better manager in the league at saving his bacon when the chips have been blown off the table by a tornado

Pedro
That’s a serious range of mixed metaphors there Pedro. Cured pig meat, plastic tokens used in a casino and strong windy weather. Phew!

Nelson

For the sake of Le Grove, let’s hope that we defeat Emery.

Long live Le Grove!

Ishola70

Could be argued that Arteta has weakened his side since the FA Cup triumph.

As many have noted the GK position and Martinez was a leading figure in those big wins in the FA Cup.

Can Arteta’s sauciness in adversity overcome this?

TheLegendThatIsDennisBergkamp

14th the new norm…

Samesong

Tbh Ishola United couldn’t break Leeds down. Good point for Leeds.

Ishola70

Samesong
“Tbh United couldn’t break Leeds down. Good point for Leeds.”

Ah so for this match Leeds did an Arteta eh.

Unusual for them. They have usually not just sat back in the big matches and of course they have been accused of naivety regarding this at times.

Ishola70

Leeds do absolutely despise Man Utd though and vice versa so it may have been a case of we must not lose this match.

China1

Can I just say a minute that today we shouldn’t be talking about arsenals problems. We should really be dedicating every ounce of strength towards praying that Spurs don’t get some lucky BS win. It would be absolutely unbearable

Ishola70

It’s only the Carrraaabboobo.

Who cares if Spurs wi that.

It’s a tin pot cup.

Nelson

There are 8000 fans allowed in the stadium for this final. Why are they all sitting on one side of the stadium?

Nelson

I thought Kane was injured. Spud is gambling with everything they got.

Samesong

Who cares if Spurs wi that.

I don’t want them winning anything.

Peckobill

There’ll be zero credibility left for arteta if he loses to Emery , trouble is poor Pedro has probably jinxed this game after forever saying how bad Emery is ( which I agree with ) and how special arteta is ( which I in now way whatsoever agree with ) . Things like this always come back to haunt you . To lose to Emery would be the ultimate shame

Moe

Watch the Kroenkes do a few things this off-season to divert or at least lessen all the negativity:
1. Spend reasonably well to strengthen the squad
2. Get rid off of Arteta and replace with a big name manager.
3. Any other slick PR move that won’t be too obvious
I think it’s curtains for Mikel and I surely won’t miss him. Arsenal has regressed under him, not two ways about that.

Samesong

You just fet the feeling Spurs will do a smash and grab in this match.

Nelson

Spuds defends with all 10 men inside the box.

China1

League cup is a tin pot but it’s still a trophy. Spurs must not win this.

And lol Nelson they do all this spiel about covid safe and the like but then when it comes to actually implementation…

Peckobill

Moe
The super league fiasco just put a rocket up the arse of arteta , he’ll need to progress in a far quicker manner because the owners are feeling the heat and they’ll want arsenal successful as quick as possible to get the fans off their back . Arteta isn’t capable of this

Moe

When was the last time that Arsenal hovered mid table for an entire season? Someone help please.

China1

Nelson spurs declare Kane as not fit before literally every big match then he makes a miraculous recovery on the day. They’ve now done it so many times it’s completely transparent that they’re just hoping to have the opposition set up differently then spring a ‘Kane surprise’

But it’s now happened so many times it’s safe to say it’s now fully expected.

They could tell me Kane got beheaded the night before the game and as opposition manager is still be expecting him to play the next day. It’s always fake as hell

Moe

Peckobill
Agreed, that’s exactly my take. The Kroenkes will find a way to deflect the negativity which may be a blessing for us long suffering fans. They have no choice but to make the team competitive and gauging the fan mood, they’ll be dumb to stick with Mikel.

China1

Moe they have absolutely no idea about fan mood. I’d hazard a guess they’ve not even discussed arsenal in the last 3 days and fixing the club is not a priority

Peckobill

Moe
I did agree with Pedro that arteta was safe initially which I thought he’d last to the end of this year . Which the pressure the owners are now under I think is Europa league or sack for arteta now . Judging by the post Everton interview he done ,he looked and sounded far more under pressure to me

Moe

China
Lol……agree that was their mindset till this ESL fiasco. I think you’ll see a noticeable change in demeanor albeit with no sincerity. The fall out used to only be “local” but this time it was global. Their image is taking a pummeling. When did you last see American billionaires forming a queue to apologize. Arrogance was invented for these guys.

paul35mm

Martinelli played at Fulham and it was Nketiah who rescued the point. It is fair to say that Maritnelli’s selfish ball hogging drives were one of the factor’s in Arsenal’s loss. He took an easy shot from Ceballos in an attempt at glory and failed. Martinelli has talent and he has a future, but acting like Nketiah=loss and Martinelli=win is not even close to reality. Arsenal are losing matches because the midfield is woeful. Odegaard, Smith-Rowe, and Ceballos do not score and do not provide assists. Combined, they have 1 goal and four assists. The same people screaming for Martinelli… Read more »

Ishola70

paul35

Arsenal don’t have a real midfield presence of any sort let alone not getting goals from it.

If we had a midfield that actually engaged the middle of the pitch then perhaps things might improve.

As it is our midfield”talisman” for going on 5 seasons plays deep and away from the middle.

We really need help for Partey in the middle.

Samesong

If spurs win this trophy their be going on about it for the next 5 years.

Nelson

MC is missing Arteta. They forgot how to shoot.

Samesong

City are going to lose this game. They haven’t done enough.

Chris

City so wasteful, they need a focal point up front, Aguero or Jesus.

Dissenter

Pedro’s horrible treatment of Emery was boded on his own agenda and was divorced from reality.

Remember when he used to moan about Emery’s goal keeping coach?
It turns out Emery goal keeping coach got more out of Leno and fine tuned Martinez to A place where we could get £16 million for him
Arteta is surrounded by a group of nobodies that have left their own mess on the club over three transfer windows. The goal keeping coach should have been fired for the Runnarsson recommendation.

Dissenter

I love how people say they “hope Partey improves next season” It just goes to show that he has been underwhelming. so far. He’s no where near being a total midfielder like was presented by many over the ;last summer. He’s a defensive midfielder who needs to be paired alongside a central midfielder and an attacking mid. For Partey to work, we need to clear out the entire midfielder, except for ESR and Willock who can be kept because he’s shown that he may have an x-factor. Sell Xhaka and Elneny this summer and give Partey the right environment to… Read more »

Leftside

This feels like one of those where Spurs could get a jammy goal and hold on. City wasting all these chances.

Leftside

Arteta in the CL? We’d have our pants pulled down.

Samesong

Lol the man that should of been sent of scores.

Chris

Scored by the guy who shouldn’t even be on the pitch, but never mind!

Leftside

Theres the City goal they deserve

Samesong

Sterling been trying to get some glory all match. Why not pass the ball you idiot.

WengerEagle

Always love to see a hardcore Spuddie bottlejob.

Nelson

MC scores!!!!

WengerEagle

They have been pathetic all afternoon.

2 efforts on goal to City’s 20.

35% possession, no ideas outside of lumping it up to Kane.

Samesong

Always love to see a hardcore Spuddie bottlejob

Love it

Chris

4808 days since Spurs’ last trophy wahey!!

Samesong

Son crying looooool

WengerEagle

Pep bloody loves that Carabao Cup don’t he? Four in a row.

Jacko

Even when times are shit, the scum always manage to put a smile on my face.

Chris

Spurs’ xG was 0.04 today.

Chris

WengerEagle

I think that has equalled Liverpool’s record of winning 4 in a row in the 80s.

They will be going all out for this trophy next season too.

WengerEagle

Chris

Hilarious that.

I wouldn’t put a penny on them to score even if they did replay that match 39 times in saying that.

Samesong

Kane has to leave spurs????

Nelson

It is so close but yet so far!

Terraloon

Samesong

Not just Kane suspect Song as well

WengerEagle

Samesong

If he doesn’t push for the exit than he has no ambition.

28 in the summer, now or never for that big move. He’s tied up for 3 more years though and Levy is a notorious prick to haggle with so will be interesting to see if anybody will stump up massive money for a 28 year old with battered ankles, as good as he is.

Nelson

City needs a striker who can score.

Chrispy

A shit week but the Spuds never fail to amuse.

Tom

“Scored by the guy who shouldn’t even be on the pitch, but never mind!“

People keep saying that, but had he gotten his first yellow he probably wouldn’t have made the challenge he got his actual yellow for, since Pep’s players are pretty sharp when it comes to their foul management.

As much as I Like Pep G, it’s a bit embarrassing to celebrate this trophy the way they do.
Just me? Ok then.

Gazza

Le Grove needs putting out to pasture if Emery gets the better of Arteta…

WengerEagle

Onuoha, now there’s a blast from the past.

A remnant of pre-Oil City’s mediocre past.

Still remember Middlesbrough slapping them 8-1 and them nearly going down. Golden era of Darius Vassell, Richard Dunne, Steven Ireland, Martin Petrov, Corluka, lol.

James wood.

Well that was a bit like the Cassius Clay vs Brian London fight.?
Poor old Spurs.😊

La croqueta

All we have left is EL. IF we don’t win EL its NO TOP4 and NO European football. Spurs better be careful too. No Trophy. No top4. No European football next year. Real possibilities. Kane going?. Son going.? The Premier League is organically reshaping itself. The traditional top6 is no longer as it was. Arsenal and Spurs better be very careful how far behind they fall. Other teams have money and rich owners too. You can’t just spend your way out of this anymore. What is money when money is everywhere. What advantage does money pose when every team has… Read more »

Tom

Cazorla
City can suit up two starting elevens and probably win this trophy against 90% of competition involved.
It wasn’t a dig against the League Cup but rather Man City.

Nelson

Gazza
“Le Grove needs putting out to pasture if Emery gets the better of Arteta…”
—————————————————————————————-

If that happens, Pedro has threatened to shutdown this site.

WengerEagle

Son is more likely to be sold than Kane.

A year older and a year less on his contract. Not to mention, Levy could maybe just about get away with explaining away a Son sale whereas Kane being sold would tell that fans that they have no intention of being competitive [not that they are].

Son is brilliant but he’s 29 in a couple of months. Clubs won’t pay through the nose for him.

WengerEagle

Pedro’s ass on the line the next couple of Thursday’s haha.

Expecting fireworks on here no matter the results.

Sid

ESPN FC
@ESPNFC
6h
During his 22 seasons in charge of Arsenal, Arsene Wenger never finished with less than 63 points.
The maximum they can achieve this season is 61 points Eyes

Almuniasaynomore

Wenger Eagle

Touchy subject I know but your comment on Kane brought it to mind. I think it’s blindingly obvious that Kane must leave spuds and I would imagine the vast majority of non spuds would also agree with you. Yet many arsenal fans have never forgiven RVP who was the same age ,virtually, in the same situation. The argument about injuries,he owed us etc only conflate things,he left because like Kane,staying meant an unfulfilled career. Thoughts?

Havyn

Wenger Eagle

Unlike Kane and many Spurs players of many years RVP won something with us

Check your facts

Tony 2

Afternoon chaps after that shite feast in Friday he needs to win the EL Personally I think he’s out of his depth. Should be a coach but neva a manager. On a different note and pleading to Pedro and any of me brethren out here. I want to start a blog (not AFC related so no competition) just wanna but my views on life out there, coupled with humour) but can Pedro, some1 help? How do I start? How do I attract views etc? Thank you guys for any help

Kroenkephobe

To paraphrase that awful song by chas and dave (which I only get to sing every 10 years…)

There’s fuck all for Spurs when the year ends in one, when the year ends in one, when the year ends in one.

Pseudo Pearly King bullshiters. Gertcha cowson! Fan fucking tastic.

TR7

Son is a terrific player, most clubs will be intrested in his services despite his age. He is as good as Kane for me.

Tom

Kane is even better than peak RVP imo and if he went to City they would have a virtual lock on the league for the next few seasons.

Tony 2

Afternoon chaps after that shite feast in Friday he needs to win the EL Personally I think he’s out of his depth. Should be a coach but neva a manager. On a different note and pleading to Pedro and any of me brethren out here. I want to start a blog (not AFC related so no competition) just wanna put my views on life out there, coupled with humour) but can Pedro, some1 help? How do I start? How do I attract views etc? Thank you guys for any help

Kroenkephobe

Hi Almunia

Get the old joanna out my son and give that c&d tune an airing. Double Pie and Mash, liquor and stewed eels all round.

RVP and Kane both had something in common – rabid gooners when they were kids. The difference? RVP won some silverware – the longer that lisping lunatic Kane spends in N17 the less likely it’ll be…sob!

Good day today mate – helps to obliterate problems on our own doorstep.

AFC Forever

Tom

“Kane is even better than peak RVP”

He’s not. He is a more clinical finisher but has nowhere near the technical ability or skills of RVP. RVP offered more to the team than Kane who relies on service. Different players.

Ps: Great to see Spurs bottling it again. Should have been 5 or 6.

Bishans

Some things never change.
https://youtu.be/DEf06Fppq8A

WengerEagle

Almunia I ultimately didn’t begrudge Van Persie opting to leave because as it was, we weren’t winning trophies and he was an elite player, literally the best striker on the planet the year that he left. It was more the way in which he did it that didn’t endear him to the masses of supporters with the ‘little boy inside’ comments, etc. I in fact appreciated that he publically called out the club’s lack of ambition because it only confirmed what we all already suspected to be true given the fire sale of our top talent in those few seasons… Read more »

Almuniasaynomore

Tom
I think if they get kane,mbappe or haaland the gap will be too wide again next season though I do think both Chelsea and liverpool will come closer. Kane better than rvp? Tough call but I’m inclined to agree with you. Hard to forget rvp winning the lge for utd and the season before dragging us into the champions lge,both almost single handedly. Yet outside of that there was a lot of inconsistency, injury related granted. Kane is consistent as hell,the cur!

TR7

‘He is a more clinical finisher but has nowhere near the technical ability or skills of RVP’

This is not true. Kane is a brilliant technician himself and quite skillful. If I had to choose between Kane and RVP, I would always choose Kane. He is kind of underrated.

WengerEagle

‘Unlike Kane and many Spurs players of many years RVP won something with us

Check your facts’

Where did I mention RVP?

TR7

Kane can strike and shoot with both his left foot and right foot. He has shown he can pick great passes from deeper positions. He can run with the ball and is a clinical finisher. He can head the ball and his penalties are great. A very all round striker.

into the red

We know what works: Prague away. Unleash the pace and energy of youth and let them run at defences. But…….Arteta is nothing if not cautious, timid even, and in the first leg I think he will more concerned about not conceding or keeping them to a single goal difference. And we know his penchant for constant change in the back four. So it is equally possible he will cook up some unforeseen combination of players that his playstation brain has decided is a brilliant plan. So first leg like the Slavia first leg, then go for bust in the second?… Read more »

WengerEagle

It’s hard to say that RVP was better than Kane given the latter’s consistency and superior goal record but in a vacuum, I would take 2011-13 [starting from halfway through 2010-11 the second half of the season he was phenomenal, scored 18 PL goals from Jan-May] Van Persie over Kane.

And that was Van Persie’s true level without the injuries.

He had the best technique of any PL player I have seen since Bergkamp.

Tom

AFC
Small margins for sure but Kane for my money is the best call around player at the moment.

WengerEagle

Whatever about Van Persie, Thierry Henry >>> Kane every day of the week and twice on Sundays.

And I won’t hear any blasphemy on the matter.

Almuniasaynomore

Kroenkephobe We’ll take joy wherever we can get it! I wonder is Mourinho smiling? Chas and Dave had many crackers but I am hooked on the green maize so it’s got to be snooker loopy for me!. What’s your take on rvp btw, forgive him? Wenger eagle I’d be very similar in my thinking to that. I’d say i have a few years on you and can rem when players stuck with one top club only. But I’ve had to move with the times and accept that players are commodities with short lifespans. I blamed wenger for rvp going to… Read more »

Tom

all around

Useroz

On Eddie, “…Arteta has benched him all season and shown zero interest.” Pedro appears to really think the season started around Christmas! I recall Eddie had many opportunities before Christmas… “… but when there’s a trophy brewing, they can do magical things. Our FA Cup final run last season saw us down City and Cheslea. We have enough to beat Villareal if we’re on it… and it’s Arteta’s job to make sure we are. Everyone will be watching” I honestly believe Martinez contributed a lot in that FA Cup run in and provided the team especially the defence with Supreme… Read more »

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