ARTETA VS EMERY: HUGE MOMENT FOR BOTH MEN

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Here we go. The big one. Unai Emery has his chance to seek out vengeance against his ex-club. The Emeryista are sharpening their cuck talons, the #ArtetaOut brigade are penning tweets to save into their drafts, the whole world is watching for what happens at the Ceramica stadium this evening.

The importance of the tie cannot be underestimated.

A loss won’t see Arteta out of a job, it’ll just mean he loses vital fan capital in the stadium next season.

A win doesn’t claw back the love, but it goes a long way towards repairing the shame of this season.

The game is two legs, but it won’t be treated like that by the fans. There will be no ‘well, the second leg is more important.’ Tonight needs a massive performance. We’ve sputtered in the league for the last 6 weeks. There have been some bright moments, but not many.

We’re roughly 18 months into this project, there needs to be some joy. A shot at silverware is the Fairy liquid to the tarred wings of this season. Trophies have a way of making you forget, like parents with money after they’ve spanked you in a Tesco car park in front of your friends FOR SOMETHING YOU DIDN’T EVEN DO. They are a managerial elixir.

Arteta knows this, I think the players do as well.

Unai Emery has conducted himself well since he left. He called Arteta and offered his team an offboarding meeting, which is rare in football and very professional. He also tried to sell him a house, which is very Del Boy, but also quite amusing.

Emery is a god in this competition, he’s a master over two legs, he’ll fancy himself this ebening.

Arteta needs to show that he’s the better coach. He needs a smarter plan, better-motivated players, and some decisive moments to go our way.

Barcelona abused the backline of Villareal at the weekend. Good movement with variety will unlock chances… but that openness comes with problems up the other end. They have nimble players that can break at speed and unlock crowded boxes. They’ll also be a danger from setpieces.

Key to tonight, we need to have a calm opening 20 minutes. From there, we have to take the game to them. We’re not good enough to play for a 0-0 and a 1-1 would be VERY worrying

Off topic.

I did hear some rumblings that Arsenal is sniffing around Coutinho again for a potential loan move next season. That’s worrying on a few levels.

  1. It indicates that Odegaard might not be coming back.
  2. It shows that the club has NOT learned its lesson with older players
  3. It would show that we’re not even doing the basics like assessing injury records.

Now, the flipside of this is that Coutinho, however you cut it, is absolutely top drawer as a player. He shoots, he scores, he assists, he can control… and he’ll have a chip on his shoulder.

BUT… since April 24th 2020, he’s missed 233 days due to injury. He’s barely managed 10 games worth of minutes this season. If you want to make an impact in the Premier League, you need to be fit.

Barcelona has been trying to rid themselves of him since they bought him.

We have been here over and over and over again, are the club really going to go down this path again? Have we learned nothing?

We’ll see.

Let’s make it through this evening before we get too worked up about a rumour that is painfully believable.

See you in the comments.

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DM

Crunch time (pt 1)

DM

2

DM

No more loan moves please. If we can’t buy Odegaard then go for Buendia or someone similar.

DM

Tr4phy

Mark S

Hello DM!

DM

Hello Mark S!

Guns of Brixton

Cuck talons? Wtf is that?

Vickingz

You just know that Arteta is not really gonna be outsmarted by emery but he will be outsmarted by himself via his tinkering hence his bad selection for tonight’s game. Villarreal has aged defenders which means you can pace them but trust arteta not to have a game plan. I for one would go with martinelli as 9 being flanked by pepe and saka as my front 3 but I won’t be surprised to see arteta playing Auba and laca combo tonight

Mark S

It’s been awhile my friend. Hope you and the family are doing well! How are you feeling about tonight? As we know…on our day…we can give anyone a match. I’m with Pedro, we need to take it to them.

DM

Mark S All good thanks mate, hope you are too! Honestly, so hard to know which Arsenal is gonna turn up. I tend to think we’ll put on a decent performance tonight, but who the hell knows. I hope we don’t decide to risk someone like Tierney if they’re barely fit, can def see something like that going wrong. REALLY hope we don’t start Eddie up front, if Laca/Auba not fully fit and match ready then play Martinelli up top with Saka and Pepe flanking him, and let them all switch up and wreak havoc. Run at them all day… Read more »

Mark S

I’m with you on your tactics. I have my concerns if Xhaka is at LB…and as well if KT is at LB tonight…and for different reasons. I can see KT having a MOTM performance, and then being out for the rest of the season. I was talking to a friend of mine about Eddie up front, and we hope he doesn’t start. He just seems to be a “dull” forward. He’s more opportunistic than skillful. In a match like tonight you need a bit of skill. Eddie capitalizes on mistakes more than he creates chances.

Tom

My only worry is the fragile minds of Arsenal players who might freeze in their tracks once they walk out of the tunnel and see the evil man who had “ruined “them.
All the great work done by Arteta might get undone in mere minutes once their Emery induced PTSD kicks in.

Mb

When asked about one Goal Arsene Wenger would like to not count, it was the Eto’s from ’06 Champions League final. We played 3/4th of the match with 10 men and second string goal keeper. Henry and Freddie were everywhere on the pitch, and it took them an offside goal to go and win it. Those men deserved that shirt, they fought till the last second. It’s a game at the end and one has to take a loss but boy, they did a hell of fight. And here we are, hoping we don’t lose against a Villareal in a… Read more »

DM

From what I’ve seen of him, Eddie is an average player, who is more of a fox-in-the-box type than an all rounder. Which would be fine if we played that kind of system, but we don’t, and he rarely does anything that I’ve been impressed with. Martinelli looks a much bigger talent, and has a far higher ceiling. Likewise Balogun, although he hasn’t been given many opportunities to prove himself (but when he has, he’s looked sharp and much more exciting than Eddie).

Mb

I don’t think anyone other than KT, Saka and ESR can be even on bench in that team. Not because others are not technical or whatever, but they don’t fight the fight.

Ishola70

Pedro

“A loss won’t see Arteta out of a job”

But it would virtually seal his fate going forward.

Mb

A good time to place Martinelli up top? If it don’t deliver, there ain’t a rule you can’t make a substitution half time?!

Vintage Gun

“No more loan moves please. If we can’t buy Odegaard then go for Buendia or someone similar.”

Yep thats exactly where my head is at regarding the AM position this summer. The fact that we tried but were priced out for Buendia in January BEFORE going for Odegaard would suggest he’d be our main creative target again come summer. Especially with the numbers he’s put up this season.

Julian Brant and the such are just cheap cop outs imo

Vintage Gun

As for tonight’s match…

C’MON THE ARSENAL!!!!

Le Sauce

I bet Nketiah is starting up today.. laca or auba would’ve guaranteed us the away goals we need. Fingers crossed tonight

TheBayingMob

> Cuck talons? Wtf is that?

Hilarious, that’s what …

Mb

Le Sauce

I won’t mind even Eddie, as long as we don’t wait 80th minute to make a sub if he don’t look okay.

Rich

Hopefully Tierney is fit, he completely changes the dynamic of the team

……………….Leno
……..Holding Mari
Bellerin………….Tierney
……….Partey Xhaka
Saka Odegaard Smith-Rowe
…………Martinelli

Hopefully we get a big performance from Partey, it’s exactly the type of occasion we signed him for, neither Partey or Odegaard are strangers to Spanish football

Champagne Charlie

A negative result will see the swift return of a few posters who were wedded to Emery, no doubt about it.

Fully expect Banford to return of his 6th burner account in such circumstances.

Gonsterous

C’mon arsenal. Up and at em.
Wouldn’t mind seeing martinelli up front with saka and pepe either side of him and ESR behind them. That would be a strong attacking line up.

Any news on partey?? Is he fit?

Spanishdave

Arteta going boring defensive with Auba and Laca in the home leg.
Can’t see us wining this leg maybe a one nil.

Gonsterous

CC

A negative result would rightly get posters questioning the club. This is the EL semis with the only way to the CL, so of course we can’t afford to fk it up.

Valentin

The Countinho, Aguero rumours are the consequence of that stupid cost exercise of making redundant nearly the entire scouting department. If you look at stats without context, those are exactly the kind of player you will see: + Past it players: the stat look backward, so the negative trend has not yet been baked in the stats + Players who were brilliant but have been injured a lot: surely somebody should also look at the injury record before making those decision! Especially with Arsenal own injuries record. + Players who are good 90% of the time, but will make an… Read more »

Captain Tierney

I can see why Arteta would want Coutinho. Arteta likes to play creative players on the wing with full backs providing the width. We saw that with Saka earlier in the season where be played that LW/10 role. Now we see it with ESR at LW. If you want a player to play that position you cant better than Coutinho. I mean for the price we are looking for (given we’re looking at a loan) In an ideal world I would have Grealish in that role. But I doubt we have a spare 80 million after addressing our Midfield, Right… Read more »

Ernest Reed

“Tonight needs a massive performance”

Nothing further needs to be said.

Champagne Charlie

Gonsterous

That has nothing to do with what I just posted.

Rich

If we were going to invest in another forward, we should go for Pedro Neto

Wonderful footballer, very similar to Saka

Mb

@Pedro – I have dropped you couple of emails for my own blog’s promotion if that is something you can help me with, if you are reading this.

sorry guys 😂

Nelson

All their players are over 26 years old except Chukwueze. Their GK is supposed to be weak. Their FB’s are slow. We should be able to over run them.

Almuniasaynomore

Rich
If Arteta plays that team you suggested I’d be optimistic if not he’ll take flack for a negative performance. Nonetheless I hope he doesn’t risk Tierney and the lad only plays if genuinely ready.

Is neto available I wonder? Wolves cant justify selling their best players while on field performances keep deteriorating surely. I thought they had the financial support to avoid such a situation?

Time up

It’s not time to score points against each other tonight, it’s time to smash them tonight’s and make the second leg a formality.

Guns of SF

A big NO to Countinho
I like the guy, but the injuries and price are not what we need.

A healthy Coutinho I would rate over Ode. He has the skills and PL experience.
However, we can do better.

Its a shame that Edu and his small band of scouts pick their nose most of the day, and surf the net, instead of doing work.

Guns of SF

We win this one today.
One of Saka, ESR or Martin to score

Time up

No to Countinho, if we sign him, we would have another Ozil in our hands. Even on loan.

Time up

Let ESR, Saka and Martinelli up top run at their players for 90 mins and I’m sure we’ll score.

Nelson

I read that Richard Garlick, who specialises in sports law, is due to join Arsenal as our head of football operations later this year. Why do we need another lawyer in the administration?

“The Arsenal board are unhappy with Arteta’s progress with the Gunners and are already thinking about replacements. Arteta’s last chance of silverware this season is in Europe’a second competition. They face Villarreal on Thursday night in the Europa League semi-finals first-leg and the pressure is on.”

What do you guys make of that, any truth in it you reckon?

Gazza

Arteta will probably start with Eddie,Willian, Dani & Xhaka to piss us all off..

Champagne Charlie

Tyag

Source: dude trust me

@Champagne Charlie

Tuttomercato web is where the came from. On the website team talk. Like I said , don’t know if it’s true.

Time up

I’ve put a good money bet around 500 ponds that Arteta would not be manger of Arsenal after December 2021. However, if he wins the EL, I would be happy to lose the money and left European trophy.

Almuniasaynomore

Pedro
The Taoiseach (PM) of Ireland has just finished addressing the nation. He asked us,I shit you not, to ‘trust the process’. I will never question your contacts again….

Champagne Charlie

Tyag

I mean they’re not ever credited with being a trusted source. The Athletic seems to have that crown and they’re putting out information that contradicts what’s said there.

Lots about how Arteta is a great manager up and down the line, that a big positive is how the entire club feels collectively bound for the first time in years and that there’s a clear plan of where we want to go etc.

Obviously that conflicts with posters like Val who forever talks up rifts, and a disconnect between Edu and Arteta.

Who to trust, who to trust…

@Champagne Charlie

Yeah and in fairness they also quoted that old comments from a month ago when they claimed Arteta has lost the dressing room. As you said, who to believe.

Ad-O

Emery’s gonna be managing in the Final and we all know it. I blame LeGrove.

TheLegendaryDB10

Really looking forward to tonight’s game!

I can only agree that we need to take our chances tonight. To try and score 1 or 2 away goals and not concede would be a dream.

This ofc does depend on which team turns up and the team that Arteta puts out.

I can only agree that putting Martinelli up top would be the sensible thing to do if both Auba and Laca are not fully fit.

Really curious to see Artetas’ line up for the first XI.

Nelson

Arsenal starting XI vs Villarreal: Leno; Chambers, Holding, Mari, Xhaka; Partey, Ceballos; Saka, Odegaard, Smith Rowe; Pepe

Nelson

Maybe Arteta follow Pep’s false 9.

Nelson

Arsenal subs: Ryan, Okonkwo, Bellerin, Gabriel, David Luiz, Cedric, Elneny, Nelson, Willian, Nketiah, Martinelli, Aubameyang

Karsa

Pepe up front?

Rich

Pepe down the middle?

Almuniasaynomore

Have no idea if we could get Neto, Liverpool managed to convince them to sell Jota for a reported £41 million

I’d much rather we went for Neto over Coutinho, and Neto at £45-£50mill, and £70k p/w

Makes more sense than Grealish for £90 million and £200k + p/w

Moe

That’s a good lineup……hopefully it’s Pepe up top. Speed to burn.

TheLegendaryDB10

I agree Karsa. I am totallt baffled with this decision. Pepe has not once played up front this season.

So why now?

Venga, Dani

Liking this front 4 guys

Rich

Odegaard as a false 9?

He’s certainly got the ability to hold it up

Saka Smith-Rowe Pepe
…………Odegaard

All three players behind him will look to get beyond him that’s for sure

With Xhaka rarely getting past the halfway line, he’s preferred Pepe on the left to provide width, not sure why he’d change it now

Mb

I mean Arteta will try everything to not pick Martinelli as CF 😂

Chris

At least it isn’t Willian playing false 9.

That front 3 interchanging could cause their back line problems. Hopefully that’s the plan for them to do that and drag them out of positions.

Venga, Dani

Think Martinelli off the bench – at least for this game – is a great option

Karsa

If Martinelli starts it means one of ESR, Odegaard, or Pepe doesn’t.

It’s a risk but I like the look of this line up.

Leftside

Pepe up top then

zimmie2652

Audacious lineup, very risky for ‘ol Tets.

Moe

C’mon, that’s a good line up……….give the lads a chance. That team is the best lineup under the circumstances except for Bellerin.

Danny S

Xhaka and Mari making up the left of defence leaves us vulnerable to pace. I think Saka instead of smith Rowe on the right would provide better support.

That said, this is the game I hope we discover Pepe is Henry reincarnate and he smashes a hat trick from up front.

Moe

Arteta just selected his best 11 given availabilities……….can’t be mad at him for that. Now let’s see how he coaches in game. I think Pepe will spring a surprise today

Danny S

On the left I meant.

James wood.

Pepe to light for that role if that is the case.
Ludicrous.

Venga, Dani

Yeah, chukwueze is going to find some joy down our left I fear

Guns of SF

It might work, Pepe does well in Europe
More and open style game and our youngsters should give Emery a headache
Martinelli to light them up late on!

WengerEagle

Chukwueze vs Xhaka isn’t a 1 vs 1 battle that we want to see so hopefully one of our midfielders, preferably Partey, can slot in and cover that flank if we’re caught on the break.

BacaryisGod

I’m also against Coutinho but if a loan swap is available next season with Auba, I would happily trade bloated contracts for a season as it would also allow us to give more minutes to Martinelli and Balogun.

Sid

Coutinho is a has been

TheLegendaryDB10

I’ll admit that Pepe up top has not been tried and is a very ballsy move by Arteta.

This could actually surprise Emery. Let’s see how he deals with that.

I do like the rest of the team set up.

I do hope this works! Come on The Arsenal!!!!

BacaryisGod

I’m not passing judgement on this line-up. I admire Arteta going for it with pace and movement up front Hopefully the lack of a natural CF won’t backfire Let’s not compare with Pep because he’s used a false nine many times in his career This is Arsenal’s first time this season. Fingers crossed.

Pierre

The line up doesn’t surprise me, I made this comment yesterday
“I have a feeling that we may see Odegaard starting and it is a possibility that Arteta may use him up top to give Arsenal more control of the game higher up the pitch…”

Quite a risky move by Arteta , the question is …is he over thinking things regarding tactics , systems and personnel..

There is a history of managers over thinking things in big games and coming a cropper, let’s hope Arteta gets it right.

If not , he has enough in reserve..

Peckobill

Ohhh Mikel drops something interesting , Pepe as a 9 or Odegaard as a false 9 . I’m intrigued. Anyone know if they play a high line if so they could be in trouble with pepe’s pace and those 3 behind him feeding

WengerEagle

Moreno the obvious danger man but in Chukwueze they have a 1 vs 1 specialist and Paco is good for popping up with a goal. Parejo running things in midfield. We managed to nullify him once before when he was at Valencia so we can do it again. Capoue and Foyth are Spuddie rejects so there are players that we can get at. Not much pace at the back, they will be frightened of Pepe and Saka on fast breaks so expect them to sit fairly deep. I like the inclusion of Odegaard for this reason. Not a bad lineup… Read more »

Sid

Pepe cannot lead the line, would prefer Ode playing the Firmnho role.
The fact that Pepe us leading the line means Diet peps plan is to have 10 men defending and hope pepe gets a goal like Auba in the FA cup.

TR7

Would rather have preferred a target man like Martinelli upfront but still the front 4 looks fluid on paper. If it doesn’t work out well, Arteta can change things at half time.

Karsa

We can’t complain when Arteta picks the oldies then knock him when he goes youth.

COYG.

BacaryisGod

Karsa

Everyone is fine with Arteta picking youth. It’s a question of formation not age.

Samesong

My new tv just packed in.

Danny

If that front line clicks then we should be 2 up by half time.
Let’s all remind Arteta: 5 fuckin’ subs!!!

DivineSherlock

Arteta going with audacious move there , love this lineup.

BacaryisGod

Having said that, he’s got 4 good players upfront. I really hope it works out.

As Pedro said, we need away goals and hopefully this will deliver them.

AFC Forever

“I agree Karsa. I am totallt baffled with this decision. Pepe has not once played up front this season.So why now?”

Injuries and tactics. Lacazette is out. Aubamayang has had Malaria so he’s not fully fit, no point starting him when the game is at its most physically intense. There is going to be a lot of interchanging and putting as many of your best players onto the pitch is never a bad idea. Pleased Chambers is in ahead of Bellerin, he’s a much better player. It’s the best 11 we could select.

Rich

Bacaryisgod

If we win, then the managers selection was the right one

If we lose, the managers selection was the wrong one

Regardless of the selection

Moe

He fielded the best available 11….now let’s see the strategy/tactics. Love this team, Arteta didn’t shrink and you have to applaud that for a change. In Martinelli and Auba we have an ability to come back if needed.

DivineSherlock

Villareal absolutely play the high line , but since that lineup reveal I think they’ll be having doubts. For me the key player today is Ceballos , if he plays well I believe we win this leg comfortably. He has to set the tone with quick passes.

Karsa

Everyone is fine with Arteta picking youth. It’s a question of formation not age.

Of course. But we won’t know the formation until the game starts. And neither will Emery.

A fluid front four wouldn’t be a bad option imo.

Pierre

What i expect to see is Pepe on the left and Saka on the right, Odegaard as the false 9.

I would expect Smith Rowe to be the one making the runs off Odegaard and breaking the Villarael defensive line .

It’s all about the timing of Smith rowe’s runs and I believe he is made for that role.

Mb

#COYG

A goal each to Pepe and ESR with a clean sheet.

TR7

Odegaard most likely to play as a false 9, Pepe on the left and Saka on the right.

TheLegendaryDB10

AFC Forever

I understand…. but we also have Martinelli who is far better suited to that role.

If they do interchange, I’ll have no qualms. This is the best way to tactically confuse Villarreal and get these goals rolling in (I hope!)!!

Elmo

Keown on BT Sport re Kroenkes:
“Let’s see the colour of their money, or step aside.”

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