ARSENAL NEED A BUDGET MANCHESTER CITY-2017 SUMMER

by .

I was like, totally off the train… ready to move on. Now I’m ALL ABOARD and ready to go again. I can’t do a summer of misery. I am back on the project and searching out the light. One last time for the vision.

If we win our next two games, the most we can finish off 3rd place is 9 points.

Think of the ways we’ve punched ourselves in the face this season. Think of the clubs we’ve failed to take points off. Think of some of the rough luck.

Since we added creative midfielders, our 22 game run has us in 3rd place.

That’s over half a season’s worth of data. It is now significant.

So, what happened in that run?

We added ESR. Then we added Martin Odegaard. Those two gave us faster movement in the final third of the pitch. They opened the game up for us.

We also added Thomas Party. Before January 14th, he’d only managed 360 minutes of football. He was our biggest signing of the summer. His form has been a bit messy, but reality is, he should have flushed that out of his system by October.

Then think about what we had brewing in the dressing room. We moved on Mustafi, Kola, Ozil, and Sokratis. 4 senior players, all big personalities, all very disruptive behind the scenes.

Mustafi and Kola went to Schalke, staged a coup, ousted Gross, then relegated the team anyway. Do you think that sort of mindset was easy to deal with?

Mesut Ozil went to Fenerbache and has registered 1 assist in 10 games. Remember when he was commentating on games just to be a pain?

During that December period, we also dropped Luiz and Willian. The expensive free transfer last summer never made it back after stinking up the starting 11 for the first half of the season.

Then think about how we’ve lost games this season. Look at the stupid red cards we struggled to recover from. Look at the unforced errors.

Then the big one… Auba went from a 30 goal a season striker to someone that could barely register 10. Family issues, malaria, a lack of form. We signed Auba to a big deal because goals are hard to come by, then we literally got the nightmare outcome, a different variant of striker that couldn’t score goals.

We lost twice to Everton, Wolves, and Villa. We only picked up 1 point against Burnley.

I don’t think we’ll lose 7 times at home with fans in the ground.

Yet, all the above… and we could still finish 9 points from 3rd.

The mission for next season is clear.

Improve defence. We have the 3rd best defence in the league currently, but 38 goals is hardly peak anything. A chunk of those goals were unforced errors, we can improve there drastically next season with better players.

Score more goals. We’re 10th in the league for that and it’s unacceptable.

Fix the midfield with press-resistant athletes that can move the ball at speed.

Find a ball playing centre back that can pick up the slack of Luiz, but without the errors. He made our attack better and we missed him because players like Holding and Mari can’t pass like him.

Find a right-back that can offer that side of the pitch what Tierney offers the left. We’re very addicted to the left side of the pitch, which makes us easier to plan against.

Find some extra ammunition in attack so we can add now numbers and goals. JACK GREALISH would be nice. Maybe even a cut-price Aouar after he tanked his form and lost out on the French squad. Whoever it is, they need to bring goals and creativity.

Unleash Auba. He should be scoring 25 goals when he’s 35. We need to create chances around him and work to his attributes, which is outrageous edge inside 8 yards.

Limit the unforced errors.

We’ve already gone a large part of the way by moving on David Luiz. His lack of focus and dying pace cost us big last season. Dani Ceballos won’t come back. There are also a number of other players I expect will be moved on. Better players make less errors.

We also need to address the backroom deficiencies. There were some awful decisions last season that a rookie coach shouldn’t have been making. Who is going to help Arteta be better with talent? Who is going to challenge him when he wants to try a false 9 in the semi-finals of an important game? Who is going to make sure average coaching is rectified with people that can create a better working environment?

City had a similar issue when Arteta first went there and took a beating from Wenger in the semi-final of the FA Cup against us. They finished 4th. They weren’t clinical enough in the final third and they made too many errors in defence. Everything else was good. They signed Bernado, Mendy, Laporte (Jan), Walker, Ederson.

Those signings gave them defensive stability, but also control from the base of defence where they build attacks from. They went from conceding 41 to 27. They went from scoring 80 to 101.

I think we’re the poverty version of what City were going through. Too many errors in defence. Not enough edge in the final third. But the bit in-between is generally pretty solid. There aren’t many games we haven’t controlled since the turn of the year. That’s a positive to build from, we’re solid and we hold onto the ball well.

Do a budget version of City’s summer and things could bang.

What we need to do has never been clearer. We’re not a million miles away from being a really good side. But… the summer needs to be perfect. Do I trust Arteta and Edu? Not really, but there doesn’t seem to be another option.

So let’s see.

Also, when I write posts like this, we tend to lose. So I’m bracing for impact on that one. Anyway, hope you enjoyed, see you in the comments x

900 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Kroenkephobe

Marc

😁. He escaped by the skin of his pelotas didn’t he? Chalk that down to the players who won despite (not because of) Arteta and his cone wielding idiots.

Danny S

Windings

Pepes pricetag is nothing to do to do with Pepe.

Mr Serge

Kronor phone lol

Left Testicle

WHU equalise.

Foxy

Emirates is going to be fun at the weekend, we need to win and Brighton will fancy their chances

Mr Serge

Kronkephobe I mean

Luteo Guenreira

Roy called us “one of the top teams.” I knew this fucker was senile.

Mr Serge

Come on Burnley do us all a favour

Left Testicle

Extra ‘flip’ from Pedro tomorrow.

Champagne Charlie

Danny

He can, as seen twice a year. If that’s your level for a star player in this team then that’s all there is to it. Pitifully low standards.

CG

Christmas Table Champions this time next year.

FB

Hahahaha yes, terrific win in the end

Ok, I get it, a really terrible night for the LeGrove bedwetters, and there will be no dry night tonight.

But for the few of us, well yes, a bad season, but….enjoy the moments

MD-Gunner

“Always knew Arteta had a master plan while all you wankers where doubting him!”

How true no attempts and no shots on goal in the 2nd halve until just minutes to go until full time, that certainly looks like an Arteta master plan as it reveals he has no clue that you need to score goals to win games.

Frost

“He can be a game changer.”

In games he chooses to show up, yes. Over a season tho? Think you’d be setting yourself up for failure thinking he can. Never shown that consistency since he’s been here.

Now put Grealish in this arsenal side & we cooking.

Leftside

Wingdings

Its not Pepe’s fault we paid that for him.

Mr Serge

Fb I am so happy we won but that was turgid as usual until the last 10 mins coyg

Wingdings

I would like us to be in Europe next season. I will celebrate the win no matter what. And having Europa league to qualify for CL the season after the next under a new manager will be good. Arteta though isn’t it.

___

Yeah like that wanker Arteta will get sacked if he gets Europa Legaue football. It’s would just be back to square one after failing miserably to get to CL. A truly pathetic manager.

Mr Serge

Raul pocketed 25m for the Pepe signing

Gazza

Very poor 2nd half besides the last 5 mins saving Arteta poor judgements yet again

Marc

Pedro

Why who’s going to manage it?

Arteta is already cooking up the false 1-11 for the next europa league campaign. Think he might buy a few more keepers as well just to make sure that at least 5 of his subs are keepers

Luteo Guenreira

A back door berth to the Europa League on the last day of the season, it’s the kind of stuff you dream about as a fan. I kid but I’d really be happy if it all falls right for us for a change.

MidwestGun

Brom is going to screw it up.. … I guess we can still get that Europa conference thing. Again That seems like a terrible consolation prize though. Maybe, Saliba will finally get a game if that happens.

Frost

Looking at those final games, Leicester – Tottenham, City – Everton, Wham – Soton, very good possibility Everton & Tottenham don’t win their games, Wham should.

Win Brighton & we’ve got this I feel.

Wingdings

Ridiculous how many times Fraudteta has been bailed out this season. Also the players are idiots. They’re supposed to down tools to get rid of the manager. Instead they all the sudden starts to play to save his job. Again idiots.

Leftside

I remember us needing to beat Brighton for a CL place in Emerys first year, and golden boy Bissouma taunting man at the end.

If we can do it then that will be good, will only help us with funds and we need all the help we can get as Arteta is staying.

@Pedro

I would rather we concentrate on just the league than a Mickey Mouse European competition. That way there will be no excuses if he fails to push on next season

Kroenkephobe

Anyone know a tasty Lasagne recipe that makes footballers shit through the eye of a needle?

Left Testicle

We won lads. Cheer up. Last game of the season could be fun.
>>>>>>>>>>
If desperately scrapping for a place in Conference European football in the last game of a turgid season is fun, then yeah could be ‘fun’.

Danny S

Why are people talking about Grealash as if we have a chance of signing him! 😂

Luteo Guenreira

Come on Baggies!

Wingdings

Win Brighton & we’ve got this I feel.

___

Got what? Back to the 2nd rate Europa League again? You’d have to be complete loser to be happy about that. Arteta has already failed.

Mr Serge

I a, always always happy when we win happy for Pepe as well he is getting a lot of shit and like I keep saying he is improving

raptora
Mr Serge

Windings I would rather be in europa we can play all the up and comers and rest the big players for the league, plus it helps our pulling power

Leftside

If Grealish doesn’t cure world poverty in his first six months he’ll be a flop too here with some of the fans.

Arteta is a graveyard for footballers.

Ps

Should’ve done that in 2019

Champagne Charlie

Danny

It’s nothing to do with whether we can sign him, it’s about him being the level of footballer we should be expecting at Arsenal.

But no, we’re happy to pretend Pepe is about to morph into prime Salah next year – can’t wait for it personally.

FB

Mr Serge

I agree it was an awful watch.

However, we all know Arsenal are in a trough, but let’s always enjoy the good moments, even if they are are ten minutes long.

Champagne Charlie

Pedro

2nd in the league since Xmas (23 games). Inject it, make a few tossers cry their man-tears.

G

” Pepe got 14 goals and 5 assists ” how the fuck is that being a flop and he’ll be better next season

Beard of Zeus

My boy Pepe with another brace
Can’t argue with his stats and the quality of his finishing
Play him and you’ll score goals

Time Up

The Spuds had a fight, Harry is gone and spud losing.

Wonderful world

Jim Lahey

“But no, we’re happy to pretend Pepe is about to morph into prime Salah next year – can’t wait for it personally.”

Just like we are waiting for Arteta to morph into a semi-competent manger…

raptora

Jim knows.

Jim Lahey

@CC –

“2nd in the league since Xmas (23 games).”

Who needs league titles or champions league football when you’ve just won the “2nd in the league since Xmas (23 games).” trophy! Thats the one ALL the fans want!

Elmo

West Ham drawing or losing is the same to us. In either case we can pass them as long as they don’t win on the final day and we do.

While winning any trophy would be nice, I don’t want to be in the Europa Conference League. It will genuinely be a lower standard than the Inter-toto Cup. Dundalk would be an average knock-out rounds level team.

Jim Lahey

“Dundalk would be an average knock-out rounds level team.”

And we still wouldn’t win it

Matt B

Think we won that in spite of Arteta

Pepe is like a baby giraffe a lot of the time but very effective too

For all the perpetual whingers on here — we won

Ustyno

Surprising to see people who defend Arteta because according to them he is a rookie learning on the job at a big club like Arsenal and are busy complaining how shit Pepe is C’mon if we are experimenting with Arteta and it’s acceptable so what’s the complain all about, Pepe isn’t a top player but he didn’t sell himself for 72m and if we are willing to allow Arteta learn on job so maybe Pepe should get a pass too because Arsenal gradually does things the other way and some fans sees nothing wrong with it A serious well organized… Read more »

FB

Jim Lahey

Give up following Arsenal, or any other team for that matter, it’s really not for you’re sort

Perhaps, oh I don’t know, something where we are all winners all the time

Matt B

Think you’re missing the point Jim

FB

Sorry, your

Matt B

Ustyno: But we did, so let’s just get on with it, get behind the team and quit the constant moaning

Jim Lahey

“it’s really not for you’re sort”

And English is really not YOUR language! 😂

Jim Lahey

“Think you’re missing the point Jim”

Please, enlighten me!

Wingdings

Arsenal fans love mediocrity.

Matt B

We had a shite start to the season for all sorts of reasons

None of us wants to be where we are

But there is clear evidence that the second half of the season has been a whole heap better than the first half

That’s progress — better that than decline

Matt B

Wingdings: How d’you come to that conclusion

Frost

“Back to the 2nd rate Europa League again?”

Getting into Europe isn’t going to get me & 99% of arsenal fans displeased if that’s what you driving at.

Pick your battles, arsenal getting into Europe isn’t one of them

Wingdings

Arsenal is probably the worst run football club in Europe. I mean imagine not sacking that tosser Arteta after the pathetic exit in Europa League. Unreal stuff. Only at Arsenal.

FB

Jim Lahey,

Giggle

Dissenter

European conference league js good for the bench players and to keep the squad happy.

gnarleygeorge9

St Totteringhams Day back on?

Pierre

Good to see Martinelli score , a little scrappy but good anticipation and good desire to get on the end of an excellent cross from Odegaard.

What with willock banging in the goals , all we need now is Balogun and Eddie to be given their chance and we are ready to go.

Dissenter

Who need trophies when you can just create your own prizes
“2nd best in the league since December”

Everybody can be a winner

Captain Tierney

Pepe putting in a Pepe classic. Horrible for the most, losing the ball cheaply many times but still coming away from the game with 2 goals. Like I keep saying he is a bit like Auba, try to involve him in the build-up or ask him to be a traditional touchline winger and he will disappoint but give him the ball in and around the 18 yard box and he will give you goals and assists. Martinelli making the difference from the bench after a Lovely ball from Ozil lite. Odegaard can do some magical things with the ball but… Read more »

Time Up

Watch Liverpool sell Matt Philips for 30 mil omnibus the back of shit half a season and we struggle getting 10 mill for Chambers or Haolding.

Captain Tierney

Somehow we could still qualify for Europa League on the final day.
Bonkers this season.

S23

Awful second half performance,Arteta must give them a Horlicks and sig them a lullaby at half time,great result.
I am hoping,he sees Holding is no good,6 ft 2 and when he jumps he is 5 ft 6-prefer to keep Chambers, Elneny cannot play under pressure and reverts to back passes every time, Partey just cannot sustain his fitness for 90 minutes and I fear we may have seen the best of Auba.
Big clear out in the summer,fingers crossed.
At the moment I will take finishing over Tottenham and getting into some sort of European competition.

Luteo Guenreira

Anybody who ignores the improvement in the results since Christmas is being a dick. Anyone who props up 2/3 of a seasons’s worth of results as if that means anything during the worst Arsenal season in a generation is also being a dick.

MidwestGun

Let’s see all we need is Hammers to draw or lose this match… Draw or lose next week.. to Southampton, Everton to lose to City. Spuds to lose to Leicester And of course we need to beat Brighton and 6th place is ours.. Sounds simple. to me. hahaha ..

FB

Wingdings

Goodness me, you are really suffering.

Thinking Arsenal are the worst run club in Europe.

Before you go to bed, I promise me you we are not. We all have bad days, but everything will be alright in the end. We just need to be strong

Captain Tierney

Holding and Elneny should be nowhere near the first team next season.

Luteo Guenreira

Mid.

All the other results will fall our way and we’ll concede in the last 5 minutes of our match to draw, just you watch.

Frost

“all we need now is Balogun and Eddie to be given their chance and we are ready to go”

Pretty sure Eddie was given his chance, he didn’t grab it. He’ll be lucky to be a championship starter the way he’s going.

And no his youth goals doesn’t mean he’s gonna be the next Ronaldo.

Dissenter

Odegaard js a poor man’s Ozil
He’s not even good enough to on play for Madrid.

Time Up

Run
Cedric Holding Mari klas
AMN Willock Azeez
Martinelli Balogun Willian

To win the conference 👍

MidwestGun

Luteo… yep.. you never know what your gonna get with this team.

Wingdings

What with willock banging in the goals , all we need now is Balogun and Eddie to be given their chance and we are ready to go.

___

Lol like Nketiah haven’t already shown up to be a shit player. Championship level player.

Captain Tierney

By the way, Willock is now the youngest player to score in 6 consecutive games in the Prem.
He made 6 dribbles today !!!!! That must be our combined total against CP.
Also 2 key passes, 23/23 passes completed.

Most/all of his goals for Newcastle have been equalisers or winners. Fair to say he is probably THE reason Newcastle aren’t in a relegation dogfight on the final day.

Wingdings

Captain TierneyMay 19, 2021 21:46:55
Holding and Elneny should be nowhere near the first team next season.

___

Trust me they will. This is Arsenal we’re talking about. Zero ambition where mediocrity is celebrated.

MidwestGun

Wheeeeewwww great save by the Brom … keeper.

Luteo Guenreira

Fuck West Ham up 2-1.

FB

Frost

So true. The bedwetters demand Eddie and Balogun because they need to slaughter anyone in the current XI.

Slight problem is that some professionals within the club see these players in training, and not on the back back of a few minutes against Dundalk

MidwestGun

And then they screw it up…. immediately.. Europa Conference best we can do now.

Leftside

Ham score

Captain Tierney

The improvement in results since Jan has been very positive. But Pedro you have been banging the drum about performances needing to improve and the results will follow. You bashed Emery with the same stick. And even though we have competed for most games bar City, Pool and Villareal, there hasn’t been a marked improvement in performance. The Martinelli goal was our first shot in the second half. Yes our first shot in the 2nd half came in the 91st minute. CP outshot us overall and nobody wouldve argued that Cp didn’t deserve to win the game if they knicked… Read more »

salparadisenyc

I think its time to give Luteo a post, speaking all kinds of truths on here.

London gunner

Would rather no conference if we aren’t getting europa

If we do get conference just treat it as a youth league and play our under 23s

salparadisenyc

Cmmoon West Brom do it for Sammmy.

MidwestGun

Game over..

Captain Tierney

Thats the EL slight chance gone.

salparadisenyc

Dissenter don’t be hurt Ø put in that ball to Martinelli to equalise, just embrace it.

Time Up

Pedro,

You remember Arsene pointing out to us that, we were the champion from Jan to Dec and we should be handed the title lol.

What we’re seeing is boring football under a boring manager with no style or philosophy.

salparadisenyc

Liverpool working on the GD, Brenda breathing into a paper bag.

Luteo Guenreira

Sal cheers but no thanks I’d have better luck getting through to a group of fundamental Christians about the societal benefits of abortion than convincing this lot to be reasonable and rational about the Arsenal.