Gooooooood morning! Arteta dropped some intel about some of the reasons we struggled early in the season.
DEADWOOD DEEPSTATE. Think I stole that from someone on the Arsenal Vision Podcast. Now it is mine.
The allusion was that certain players that aren’t here now were the problem.
I cannot imagine which part-time social media manager on £350k a week that could have been?
I cannot imagine which binned players might have been causing those issues?
I cannot imagine which players exiting might also have had a role?
The mess of the squad at the start of the last season led to dramatic decisions. Those decisions against big names were obviously going to hit the morale of the squad. You’ve all worked with a dickhead who hands their notice in and determines to burn the house down.
‘THIS PLACE IS A HELLISH VACUUM OF PUSS THAT IS GOING ALL THE WAY TO THE BOTTOM’
Actual quote from Sandra from accounts at my place.
The biggest issue, Mesut Ozil, was a problem because he was the king. Everyone knows that when the King is dethroned, you have to kill him, because their prior power will always be a threat to stability. The German was too big for Arsenal at that point, he was hurt by the rejection, so it was clear he’d be a problem internally and externally.
Form has picked up since we rid the squad of bad eggs. Things have been better since we discovered the power of creativity in our midfield. We controlled games far better with Thomas Partey in the side.
Everyone is whining on about how 23 games of form doesn’t count for anything. Well, let’s see how that pans out next season, but also dig a little deeper into some other elements.
Leicester beat us with their only run into our box. We smashed them at their place.
Fulham beat us without having a shot on target.
Wolves didn’t deserve to beat us chance. Self inflicted Wolves.
Spurs beat us off 5 attempts at our goal and 30% possession. It was palmed off as ‘genius’ at the time, but let’s be real, it was luck as shown by Jose exiting the building a few months later.
Burnley beat us off 2 shots on target.
Everton beat us twice.
Villa beat us twice.
Basically, a lot of very lucky stuff happened against some very average teams this season.
Turn 3 of the above games into more positive results and the last game of the season sees Arsenal in Champions League spots in our worst ever season.
Hardly a stretch, right?
Think how much better life will be if we have a settled squad come the summer. Creative players from the start. An Auba not dealing with family issues and malaria. Young players a season on.
Arsenal will sell a whole collection of players. I’m not sure reading the praise of the manager is indicative of who we are keeping, it’s a negotiation tactic. Do we really think Madrid believe their future hinges on Odegaard? Doubtful… but it’ll pump his price. Same for the players Mikel is saying are under contract. We are less desperate this summer, which will lead to bigger fees (or actual fees).
Arsenal will no doubt try and make Martin a centre piece of our rebuild this summer and I’d agree with that. I’d certainly prioritize him over the Norwich fella at £450m or whatever they are looking to charge for him.
Then we’ll go for a right back, which has basically been a dead position all season. A nightmare for many reasons, but mainly because we’re lopsided when we attack. If we can bring Tierney levels to the right, it opens a whole world of possibilities.
Ryan Bertrand is perfectly acceptable cover on the left (Leicester after him, so should be safe).
Then we need to address that midfield. I have no idea who we’ll look for in that role, but hopefully we have another press resistant player that can move in the role.
Shake out the deadwood this summer.
Have a 6 week preseason and bond the leaner group.
Make sure everyone is excited and knows their own personal plan.
There will be no excuses next season, but I don’t believe there will be a need for them.
The players are backing the manager. Look at the vibes in the training ground video for David Luiz’s send off.
The club is going to bat for the first team again this summer.
I think we’re on the up.
Final word for the Edu story doing the rounds. The gist is he was taking orders from someone banned from Brazilian football for corruption when he was over there. I don’t understand enough detail to give a running commentary, but the basics are pretty clear, he took orders, he knew who from.
Arsenal relevance:
- It shows real lack of leadership to keep quiet when things like that are going on. The guy giving orders was behaving like Pablo Escobar from jail. Shocking stuff.
- Subservience to shady characters is clearly part of his operating system.
Speaking up about tough things that don’t feel right is part of any big job. I’d say ‘imagine if that was Arsenal’ but let’s be honest, we’ve seen people fail to speak truth to power in our football braintrust to great cost. Shocking deals, cosy agent relationships, huge wastage that a layman could have predicted.
This story is a bad reflection on Edu, but an even worse one on our leadership. Did anyone check in with people that had worked with him to see if he was a determined leader, or a soft touch people pleaser?
I doubt anything will come of it, but at the very least, I hope Vinai V, Richard G, and Josh K are keeping an extra close eye on who we are talking to this summer. The number 1 interest should always be Arsenal FC, that clearly hasn’t been the case with a lot of the decisions we’ve made over the past 4 years. The weaknesses on show in this story aren’t hard to trace back to some if the things we’ve seen at Arsenal (subservience). It is also a worry that he can be so comfortable working with a man of corruption. It’s a canary in the coal mine. Let’s hope we’re not on the receiving end of one of these stings in the future.
Guns of SF
We signed Gabriel from Lille and they upgraded on him. The Sven Botman fella who took over is supposed to be top class.
Eagle
Lol if i speak….Glad there’s some bit of competitiveness coming in now, cycles being broken and all that. Have a feeling same will happen in Germany soon
Wenger Eagle
It’s like 16/17 in PL. We had 75pts and finished 5th
All in all a great season for toppling the Euro giants considering Lille won the league over PSG, Sporting won the league over Benfica/Porto, Inter won the Scudetto ending a decade of Juve domination and Atletico Madrid won it over Real Madrid/Barca for only the 2nd time since Valencia in 04′.
Looking forward to the international tourneys this summer.
Wenger eagle
Talking about the inevitable breakup of lille, I’ve been hugely impressed with renato sanches. He seems to have been around forever but is only 23. Worth a punt in my view, what do you think? Value prob soared. Really like maignan the gk also. Yilmaz looks good but always have to rem the french lge is a drop in quality, some of the teams are really poor. Still excellent players to be had I think.
Bati
Not sure about Germany, have to wait for the Lewandowski-Muller-Neuer generation to die out first, lol.
Lewy is pretty much irreplaceable for them though without destroying their transfer record, unbelievable that he cost them nothing.
Dortmund will never make that mistake again with Haaland, sell to the highest bidder.
Dream
That was the season Sanchez routinely saved our bacon, scored something ridiculous like 24 in the PL.
Almunia
Haven’t watched a lot of Lille this season but when I have I have always liked Yilmaz up top (shame he is 36), Renato and Andre in CM and Maignan in goal.
Re Renato, he failed spectacularly in Bayern and with Swansea which would make you worry. Been quality for Lille tho.
Thelegendarydb10 Yes,the game is becoming so predictable its losing the romance that attracted so many of us. I’ll never forget dancing around the sitting room in 87 and 88 as Coventry and Wimbledon put paid to Spurs and Liverpool respectively. I’ve watched teams like Steau Bucharest and Red Star Belgrade become champions of Europe and though they weren’t pretty,they carried the torch of hope for football clubs everywhere. Those dreams never even see daylight now and the game is all the poorer for it. I think that money and greed have damaged football in many ways but closing the doors… Read more »
Some right knobs on here, call yerself Arsenal supporters ffs
Wenger eagle
Yilmaz is 36? Christ even Arteta would have to limit him to a 2 year offer!(on 200k plus one year extension, player’s choice).
Sanches was v young at Bayern. His next move is likely to define him. Worth a punt for me but I have no idea what Lille would demand. Any more than 30/35 mil would be too much for me.
As guns was saying what about Sporting? Have we ever bought a good player from the Portuguese league?
Alumniasaynomore
One game I will always remember is the OM (Olympique Marseille) vs AC Milan final. (Sorry Bati!!!). (I have huge respect for the OM fanbase; they are just mental!!!)
L’OM was not supposed to win and Papin left for them that year. Yet they did the unthinkable and won the CL.
The header from Marcel Desailly was just so magic.
Just watched the game
Much maligned Pepe with two goals and second right foot scored in two games
So much for le grove expert analysis lol
Luis Campos won the Ligue 1 over PSG with two separate clubs Monaco and now Lille. In both case, the guy has hired great manager and build fantastic teams by finding hidden gems.
Most DoFs specialises in one group age (young market, discarded older players), but Luis Campos seems to be able to tap different areas of the markets: unknown youngsters (MBappe), under appreciated youngsters (Martial, Maignan, …), Comeback has-been (Jose Fonte), unknown never been (Burak Yilmaz was a 34 years old Turkish player lost in the Chinese League).
Valentin
Can you pass the memo to that wet paper bag Edu about how to be a DoF?
The Arsenal greatly needs it.
Burak Yilmaz an unknown never been? Lol tell that to Galatasaray fans
Thelegendarydb10
Desailly. What a player. Growing up, Ireland never qualified for any major tournaments so I always cheered for France, something enigmatic about them,the 84 team took my breath away the way they played. Fernandez, giresse, tigana and of course platini pulling the strings(in a non financial sense). They were robbed in 82 and 86 but a certain Mr Henry has led me to reassess my sympathy for them! Still it’s those memories that warm you when you dip into the past. I hope future generations will have the same sport offering the same joy that I had.
Almunia
There was of course Le Grove Hall of Fame transfer target William Carvalho from Sporting. Felt like we had signed him at least!
Today happened We won, we lost. we finished 8th Sad and pitiful Turn it off and on again!! Reset The scars of the season will last till kroenke goes or till they empty their pockets. Which will never happen. Mikel is learning on the job and hopefully he has learnt from his bad decisions. Twitter and haters will hate but he is here, support him!! Massive surgery needed with the team I count 11 players gone 5 quality needed No Europe could be a blessing Well done Joe. Really cool achievement Ballard impressing Did anyone find Gabriels tooth? Thanks David… Read more »
Camden is cool and correct!
We need to sign a new mascot! Gunnersaurus is exticnt
The kid from Partick thistle is going to be cheap
Bargain
Crimson nice one
Willock goal was well taken hope he gets his chance next season and we do not sell him
Portugal seems to be pumping out talent left and right now.
Need to scan that entire continent for some good players. It can be done. I only hope Edu knows what he is doing
Poch bottled the French league as well as the CL
He always has been overrated
Guns hard for us to scan Portugal for talent when we don’t have any scouts haha
China we are getting them via headhunters
SMH, we fire them, then need to hire more.
Who is running this place man?
Lets hope we unearth a Campos or Overmars with some young and swashbuckling scout…
Find us some diamonds pls
Guns of SF
I only hope Edu knows what he is doing.
I wouldn’t put my hopes up with this geezer.
He’s said zilch ever since he has been with us. I wouldn’t put my hopes up with someone who has put 0 plan forward to make us go forward.
I hope he gets binned for someone who actually has a plan to put forward to The Arsenal.
DB10
I agree. He is similar to Stan. Silent.
This fella never speaks. Gazidis was good at calming the natives when they needed a talking to. Of course he fed BS most of the time, just to buy time anyhow.
Edu and Arteta have not really made a strong team. This combo needs to be given the riot act- or be fired.
Will Vinai do it? Nah
Josh – nah- maybe
The Garlick fella? who knows what he actually does
Stan- LOL
Its gonna take someone to grow a pair to fire any of these clowns it seems
Well I had a faint hope to finish above Spuds but also didn’t want to get into the third rate euro league as a result.
For me the departures are almost more important than who we get in – Leno, Laca, Elneny, Xhaka, Guendozi, Torreira, Bellerin – won’t the place feel better (and a leaner wage bill) without some of them who frankly have offered little this year (harsh on Laca but we need to cash in). Willock, Partey centre mid next year, sign a Tierney backup, Matt Ryan as no 1. Could work…….
It’ll take a huge pair from Josh. Considering that he has 0 knowledge of how ruthless one should be in football, I wouldn’t put my hopes up with this geezer either. This is our problem (to quote Alejandro Sosa from Scarface). We do not have someone who has the balls to come up with a plan to turn us around. We need to be ruthless. And no one is stepping up to do this. I would be happy to be proven wrong. Edu is the easiest fall guy to get rid of . If we have any plans for our… Read more »
Pepe I think has 20 goals/assists this season For a guy who has had quite a lot of poor games and rarely been trusted to strong 3-4 starts together, this return really makes you wonder what he can do if we manage him well He’s not like saka who will look dominant in most games and take the game by the scruff of the neck. I’m not sure (I may be wrong) he will ever be dominant. But if you can score and assist that often, especially in a team where we’ve lacked creativity and goal scorers, this is an… Read more »
Arteta playing his serious game in the last two games, and experimenting in the semis when it should be the other way round.
Get in the proper players and we will Still finish no higher than 6th, because the manager is holding the team back with his defensive mindset and favoritism.
Expecting more of the same next season.
All these fucking excuses by Arteta “61 points and we finished 5th last season” well get a fucking grasp on reality about how to manage a team. Liverpool with 10 games to go were 8th and finished 3rd because from 30 possible points they got 26, fucking Leeds got 23 points from their last 10 games. AFC got 20 points big fucking deal, Arteta needs to graduate from EPL manager 101 course. AFC has not finished above the Sp*ds in 5 years that was one priority but Ian Wright summed it up perfectly on MOTD Arsenal is loosing ground. Well… Read more »
I’m not interested in hearing excuses or comparisons with last season. He was fresh off the boat halfway through the season and had a good end to last season then won us the cup. That’s a better achievement than struggling through a full season and failing in all the cups. It should be easier for him this year not harder. The real issue I have is not that we’ve had problems but just how many of them are clearly self inflicted He’s like that 5 a side mate we all have who goes out and gets smashed the night before… Read more »
I don’t remember wanting a season to finish more than this one in my 55 years of supporting The Arsenal. I vaguely remember a season late 80s or early 90s when we were 13 points clear at Xmas and then lost the title to United or the bin dippers. What went wrong with our season? Arteta and his crew of back-room wannabes along with Edu, Vinai and ultimately decision makers Kroenkes for not being decisive pre-Xmas in ridding us of Arteta, as they did Emery. Simple as that really and goes to their poor football knowledge and desire to win.… Read more »
Pierre If your handicap is really 4 then, as self taught off the TV, is some achievement. Imagine what you could have done if you had the Internet in those days. Most if not all Thai golf courses have a number of pros who have done ok in the game at lower levels. Enough to feed families and put their kids through private schools. They cost about £60 to £100 a month for their daily coaching on the driving and putting where the best students get free time on the golf courses to play holes with their coaches. If a… Read more »
Pierre
I have always rated Willock, ever since his debut.
But I doubt Arteta knows how to use him properly. Better to get the cash
Thanks Tony your posts are always welcome and a well balanced opinion and fact analyzing of what is happening to Arsenal unlike Pedro’s blinded by the Arteta spin comments.
Wish you success in your family decision making as it is not easy to raise someone in today’s environment..
Tony
I am in agreement. Not convinced by Arteta ball at all.
Except for that part about Santi. He is like a short Kanu. Nobody picks their pocket.
Bergkamp however does loses the ball quite often as he lacks agility despite his great technique.
Tony I did say my handicap was 8, not 4 (I wish), recently gone up to 10….may be able to get it back down again if we get some decent weather, the winds have been a killer down on the coast since we returned from lockdown. The important thing for your son is to enjoy his golf which is not always that easy due to nature of the game and the pressure a player can put on themselves to keep improving.. Your views on Pepe are in line with mine, give him the ball where he can do the most… Read more »
No Europe means less game time for the likes of balogun, Eddie and Martinelli .
I would sell Aubamayang , Lacazette and willian to open up a pathway for the young players.
Dark Hei
Arteta must know that the team is struggling for creativity and goals …willock and pepe give you both in abundance.
Pepe needs to play his football in the final 3rd and he could be as prolific as Salah.
Willock looks unstoppable running from deep with or without the ball now he has found his confidence…his pace and strength are frightening..
A good manager would find a way to maximise their potential.
Partey is not a playmaker.
Even the dregs of the great Arsene Wenger said “judge me in May” and people sucked it up for years even in the last 3-4 years when it was clear we’d fallen a lon g way short on and off field as a club. This was a somewhat reasonable request compared to “judge me based on half of the season after christmas” even though I got schooled and my ass whooped by my (much mocked, unfairly and forced out by player power, Ozil…. ) predessessor, finished below not just Spurs but West Ham. Let that sink in……. west ham, owned… Read more »
Pierre, A good manager devise tactics and formation not only in function of the opponents but also in function of the players at his disposal. That’s not Arteta: he devises tactics and then try to shoehorn players into it. If you hope that Arteta will give more freedom to players on the pitch, you will be seriously disappointed. We will have a 4-2-3-1 with Partey and Bissouma (if media reports of Arsenal negotiating for him are true) forming a very rigid duo. Unless we are ultra dominant or losing with 5 minutes left, those two will not be allowed to… Read more »
Pierre, agree that a 4-3-3 would allow Willock to be fitted in, I think we’d score plenty of goals but it’s asking a lot of Partey and if he were to be injured I’d be very nervous. Pepe was obviously impressive yesterday with his attacking threat but he also tracked back. If your going to play with two essentially attacking midfielders, your front three would have to all work hard without the ball. With that in mind I’d get in a CF who has real work rate who would help the midfield, that means PEA would have to go. If… Read more »
Pierre Sorry must be a friend who is 4 handicap; many are golf fanatics. Still many also would like to be 8 or 10 from what I can see, I’ve thought we should play 433 for some time; certainly since Xmas. I agree with your Willock thinking, too. Said a few months ago we had the nucleus of something good with the youth players coming through and a couple in the wings, such as Azeez. Odegaard added nicely to the mix, where with time, he’d be essential to our needs as with ESR and Saka. Arteta and Martinelli seem to… Read more »
Jamie piping up with “Partey is not a playmaker.” I didn’t say he was , I said he can be.. when I look at him play I don’t see a negative player who wants to play safe , I see a player who wants to look forward , to pass between the lines , to take risks by committing the opposition…. My definition of a deep lying play maker is a player who is prepared to take the ball in tight spaces on the half turn , a player who brings his team mates into the game , a player… Read more »
Valenti/Bob I did say he has big decisions to make and I do agree that fitting willock into the current set up is unlikely to happen. The question is, will Arteta change the system to get the best out of 2 potentially prolific attacking midfielders. Having 2 holding midfielders like Bissouma and Partey I am not against as they give the team the control in the middle of the park and the team won’t be succestible to the counter,but Arteta has to find a way of unlocking our goalscoring talent , of which the potential is enormous. Another season of… Read more »
Pierre, I think if Partey and Bissouma play together then I believe their strengths would allow them to take turns to push further forward. I think you we’d the best of both worlds, defensive solidity as well as an athleticism that would support the attack.
“Arsenal sign Partey for £50 000 000, ATM go on to win La Liga.Arsenal sign Pepe and Gabriel for £100 000 000 combined , Lille go on to win the French LeagueArsenal loan Joe W, he becomes Newcastle ‘s Roy of the Rovers.Scoring in 7 successive games.Arteta leaves Man City , they regain the league chmapionship and head to the European Cup final next week for the first time.Bloody bizarre.”
more like cursed , we will sign Yves Bissouma and Brighton WILL WIN THE FA CUP NEXT SEASON
Midfield has been a weak link in the Arsenal team in recent seasons albeit we are beginning to see some improvement in recent games with both Smith-Rowe and Odegaard looking like decent options in the attacking department. The defensive department remains still problematic. Partey needed clearly a season to adapt to the EPL. Xhaka is the best of an average bunch to play alongside him, but will be 29 next season. Ceballos and Elneny are not of the required quality. So in reality we need to recruit at least two new midfielder in this transfer window even if Xhaka stays… Read more »
‘However we are not playing in Europe this season and so for this reason I would be inclined to sell or loan him. Willock is a decent player and has had a decent run at Newcastle, but he is not of the same quality as Odegaard or Smith-Rowe if you discount his goal potential’ Yes and if my uncle didn’t have balls , she will be my aunt. Willock is giving decision makes trouble precisely because of his goal scoring potential. He’s ally’s had that knack of popping up in goal scoring situations, that’s not something that you can teach.… Read more »
Even with only the domestic competitions to play for, Bissouma and Partey are still likely to miss chunk of of the season. Between being absent because of AFCON (so will Elneny) they will also pick up injuries and suspension. Partey hamstring do
We need to keep hold of Willock and sell Xhaka. He is going to fetch £20 millions and we know that there is zero possibility that his values will exponentially increase the following seasons.
Valentin – Yes that makes the most sense logically(sell Xhaka) but he is clearly an Arteta favourite, I suspect he’s closer to signing a new deal than leaving permanently based on Arteta’s previous comments and history with the player.
Bissouma is worth the risk when it comes to being absent from the AFCON, we need to have enough depth to negate this impact. Having said that, he will probably go to Liverpool or City, such is the interest and quality of the player.
We lack a dynamic midfielder in CM, thats why 1st priority should be Buendia then Bissouma.
Diet Pep will probably prefer Bissouma & partey, which means rigid football.
Then both are off to AFCON/Partey gets injuries, we will be in crisis.
A 3 man midfield partey/AMN/Torr, Willock/Buendia, ESR would be a safer bet.
“My definition of a deep lying play maker is a player who is prepared to take the ball in tight spaces on the half turn , a player who brings his team mates into the game , a player who is the link between defence and attack”
Define the role of a deep lying playmaker however you want, but Partey is not, nor can he be a playmaker by everyone else’s definition.
Your boyfriend Ozil was a playmaker, albeit an advanced one.
Willock is of greater value to the team than Odegaard.
Im telling you for free!
The thing between french Peter and James is amusing
F365 Do their top 10 goalkeepers of the season. Guess who is top? Leno didn’t make the top ten btw… 1) Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa) Arsenal had a straight choice last summer between Martinez and Bernd Leno. They got it wrong. In fairness, at the time, it was the easiest decision to justify. Leno is a Germany international with a stellar track record. Martinez was impressive as a stand-in towards the back end of last season but it would have been a brave call to bomb Leno in favour of a goalkeeper who has spent the vast majority of his… Read more »