The most predictable outcome of the season occurred in the first home game of season when the European Champions absolutely took advantage of our messy starting 11. They were better than us, they didn’t really step out of 3rd gear, and they took their chances with absolute brutality.
I’m sure I’ll be accused of excuse-making, but when you’re 8th placed Arsenal and you’re missing your best two strikers, your best midfielder, your best two defenders, and your most effective creative midfielder… there’s a chance you aren’t going to do well against one of the best teams in the world. You can give me the ‘standards’ chat, but reality is, that was always going to be a nightmare day out.
There were some bits that I liked. The most important start to the day was seeing Arteta come out all guns blazing, it’s a small thing, but after his carry-on pre-Brentford, it was nice to see him bring a bit of fire to proceedings. The start matched that intensity as well, for a truly glorious 14 minutes, we pressed hard, we tackled with power, and we looked a nuisance. The football was exciting.
Then BANG. Caught out on the right by the excellent Reece James, we failed to stop a cross that found Lukaku who finished with ease on his debut.
That took the wind out of a young side and we struggled to find our composure. The organisation went out the window, the gulf in class became more pronounced, and the weak links started to break in front of our eyes.
The second goal came 20 minutes later. Xhaka didn’t do well enough on the edge of the box, James was found in acres of space on the right that we didn’t solve for, Leno was beaten easily with a lashed shot that went high across his goal.
We didn’t totally fade, but you could see the players looked beaten. The ref didn’t help us, just like last season when we were on all the extreme ends of VAR decisions, against Chelsea, we were at the mercy of the new relaxed reffing on penalties, where apparently clattering through someone’s legs in the box doesn’t cut the mustard a season after a rogue bootlace would have the ref pointing to the spot.
The second half was marginally better in that we didn’t concede, but to be honest, Chelsea dropped into first gear because they knew we didn’t have much in the tank mentally or physically to move the needle. We dropped a lot deeper, which stopped the beasting, but it didn’t give us much in attack.
The fans, in fairness, stood by the team. When they showed some fight, there were cheers. Auba came on and looked pretty sharp, Tavares looked tidy when he replaced Tierney… but really, no one was saving that game.
It’s hard to pick through a game like that because most of the players we were missing represented starters, however, there are some things we need to discuss.
Cedric Soares isn’t going to cut it this season. We’re on game two and no one has a clue who our best right-back is… I have a sneaking suspicion it’s probably Ainsley if he can get his head on the project. There’s no position that needs a jolt more than that one.
Nicolas Pepe dropped another poor performance, as he seems to against big teams. He lacks a wingers instinct, he’s too slow making decisions, and most of the time his mazy runs end in him losing the ball. This is his 3rd season with us and he still looks like a raw 19-year-old finding his way. He had a couple of decent corners, but didn’t create a single chance.
Pablo Mari really is nowhere near the level needed even as a back-up. He has absolutely no idea how to handle Lukaku. He was too close, then he was too far, he had no street smarts about his approach, and his feeble collapse in the penalty box summed him up. How can you let another man do that to you when you are a professional athlete? That’s an Arteta and Edu decision though. They had him for 5 months, watched him train every day, thought he could handle the Premier League. He was shite against Brentford, then we let him loose on Lukaku and it was predictably bad.
Gabriel Martinelli was a 0 out 10 again. It was weird against Brentford and even weirder yesterday. Where is the beast from Brazil? Where was the nusiance press? Where was the player we saw burst onto the scene? It wasn’t good enough from him again and that’s a real shame. I can sympathise that he had to drop deeper because Mari was so poor, but he still didn’t shower himself with glory.
There were some bright sparks. Rob Holding might not be the best, but my word does he always give you a full-throated performance when you give him a sniff of the starting 11. He made some great passes, he was always in the game, and he did a better job than I thought he might.
The fact that Xhaka is the least of our problems but still a problem is also irritating. I watched a Reuben Neves masterclass against Spurs, who were the jokers that said he was the same player? Far more ambitious with his instinctive forward passing, certainly a level above the player we just gave a new deal. He’s slow, he’s safe, he switches off to danger, and he’s never going to win you games. Yet he created the most chances yesterday with two. I really hope the long-term plan is Thomas Partey and Lokonga.
Mikel Arteta’s performance? He was caught out by Tuchel who exposed the left side brutally and he didn’t react. The tactics didn’t match our reality, if ever there we a time for a shit-house special, it was with 6 starters out the team. Two banks of four with a springloaded counterattack was the move. We tried to go at them, which worked for about 14 minutes. We simply didn’t have the personnel to play the way we tried to play.
So where are we now?
Arteta has spent all his fan capital. Boos at halftime isn’t cool but that’s football in 2021. Fans want to see wins, Arteta hasn’t been delivering them, and it doesn’t look like he has it in the locker right now. We’ll go into the international break rock bottom and that will be a painful week or so. His only hope after that is that the players aren’t broken by a brutal City spanking, and that the players coming back in can pivot the season right away.
Beat Norwich and Spurs, who were dreadful against Wolves, and you can slowly start to pivot the negativity. Lose those two games and it’s pretty clear the season is over before it’s started and Arteta will be out way sooner than he should be. Football is about winning games, if you don’t win enough at a club like Arsenal, you’ll be out on your arse and we’ll move onto the next manager.
Still, at least the next manager has some good players to work with. Sambi Lokonga looks an excellent signing, his passing range is a breath of fresh air. ESR looks like he’s going to go from strength to strength when he gets his more experienced teammates back in the mixer.
Those points aside, it’s bleak out there… not all of it is on Arteta, but the bad transfer decision of last year bit him hard again, and it’s hard to avert your eyes from Soares and Mari and who welcomed them to the club.
Right, we did a video, just me and Matt. Enjoy it. See you in the comments.
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Pedro
He would be.
Easy to forget what wonders he achieved at Ostersunds, getting them into Europa league and coming to the Emirates and beating us 2 1.
Seems to have progressed throughout his career.
Did a good job at Swansea too.
Not sure we should be looking at Conte.
Great manager but very temperamental and doesnt stay at clubs long. Usually ends up throwing his toys out the pram.
It looks like the power house CF is back, kane, lukaku, Calvin L, Antonio, shame we only have little slow Laca to batter defensives with
David,
Yeah, things I like about Potter.
> Has worked with misfits at Ostersunds, it was basically a rehab camp there
> Plays a similar style of football with Brighton
> Implemented his ideas fairly quick with far worse players
> Good communicator
Would big players pay attention? Who knows…
Graham Potter would be a good sensible choice. He reminds me of a young Wenger in more ways than one.
I’m glad to see more getting on the Potter train. Been on it a while.
Leeds, Hold two ideas in your head at once.
1. I don’t care what you think.
2. I do care about people who spend time here, even if they are rude. I want them to have accurate info when they are insulting me. ‘Credibility decline’ isn’t accurate. That info might help you find a better insult to attack me with, which might hurt my feelings, like the haircut jabs did.
Foxy, The burly striker never went out, it just got refined. The big static player with square foot and a big head is not in demand, the big striker who can held the ball but is still agile , quick and technical enough to play fast football is in demand. Everybody talks about Lukaku’s power, but he is more than just a bruiser. Antonio is a much better player than he was 3 years ago, but he still has the power and aggression. When you watch old highlights with TH14 you realise that there was finesse but also a lot… Read more »
Pedro
Thats the question…..
You just cant tell with some of our prima Donna’s.
However I think the job Potter has done so far in his career deserves respect.
He looks like he treats his players well and let’s them Express themselves.
I’d be totally on board with Potter though I’m sure some of our fanbase would consider him beneath us…..
David, most of the fanbase think Conte would want the job, despite seeing his rejection of Spurs.
David.D
“Not sure we should be looking at Conte.
Great manager but very temperamental and doesnt stay at clubs long. Usually ends up throwing his toys out the pram.”
Hahahahahaha. Arsenal fans are crazy. Conte? No thanks, too temperamental. Do you want Arsenal to be successful again? Arsenal need to do everything they can to get Conte. This guy is a proven winner and an elite football manager. Give him whatever he wants.
Pedro
“David, most of the fanbase think Conte would want the job, despite seeing his rejection of Spurs”
So because he rejected Spurs we shouldn’t try? And do you know exactly why he rejected Spurs?
Pedro
Why the need to be personally insulting?
I have not agreed with your stance on Arteta and that’s it.
If you feel the need to insult another person feel free to do so it’s a free country but in my experience once people resort to personal attacks they’ve lost the argument.
For the avoidance of doubt if you felt I was being rude to you I apologise. It was not my intention.
Wishing you the very best.
Leeds, you have come onto my site again to insult my personal credibility, now you are accusing me of getting personal with because I countered your insult with a few facts? Please.
Yes Bolo
I do want Arsenal to be successful……
But if it’s at the cost of him being successful for 2 seasons then fucking off when he doesnt get his way as happened at Inter then no thanks.
Plus I dont want someone who will clearly think he is doing us a favour and will hold the club to ransom.
… and I apologise to you if my work offends you or I do. It’s not intended to do that.
Carragher killing the myth that Ben WHITE was an exception ball playing CB.
Brighton replaced him with Adam Webster and he does exactly the same thing than Ben White. It’s the system and the coaching of Graham Potter who created the illusion.
Nowadays most CBs are half decent on the ball. Give them a system where they have time to make a pass and go forward and most will be able to execute that.
Pedro,
Cesc Appeal,
Romford Pele,
Receding Hairline,
Marc,
Marko.
And now Leeds.
Just a few of the people you’ve banned/derided because they questioned your decision to switch your allegiance from the Former AFC (Arsenal Football Club) to sponsoring the New AFC (Arteta Fan Club).
For fuck’s sake, man up.
Otherwise, all you’ll be left with is a miserable evening with a glass of champagn, some Charlie, and the company of englandsbest.
Valentin
That is true, we witnessed that when Gabriel arrived at Arsenal he used to move the ball forward carryint to midfield, and made a lot of good passes until he got used to Arteta system and now it seems like he forgot how to do it anymore.
David.D I totally disagree. So if the choice was Conte or Arteta would you stick with Arteta? Arsenal are desperate and yes we need the favour. Arteta has had 20 months and apart from FÃ cup we have regressed. There’s a top quality manager available and you think we shouldn’t go for him because he’s temperamental. We don’t need another “experimental” coach, we need a proven winner that knows what he’s doing. Lol. Conte is that guy and I’m so happy Spurs didn’t get him. He 100% would have significantly improved Spurs while we continue with our record breaking “generational… Read more »
Arsenal are the laughing stock of every football blog and social media site on the Internet today. You people can say it doesn’t bother you but there’s not too many kids at the moment that are going to follow Arsenal with this owner manager and team which will eventually effect our once proud status as a big club that wins trophies.
Like I said this morning I would take potter, Brendan, , ten Haag hussenhuttl they all do well with a good playing style and have an eye for a player and work with youngsters
We have bigger players than all those clubs and they would fit in great with a nice brand of footie
Conte is the short sharp shock we need but the guy is high maintenance I worry he is just a quick fix but I would have him.
Serge
A quick fix is exactly what Arsenal need. Conte is that guy. Anyone else apart from maybe Rogers is just another gamble. Arsenal can’t do anymore gambling. This is our chance. Take Conte now before someone else does. It’s unbelievable that Arsenal fans have reservations about Conte considering his track record and what we are currently going through. This is the problem with Arsenal they don’t know how to make the obvious decisions.
Bolo I agree I said a short sharp shock is what we need I would take him
Anyone but Mikkel now
Said it before, Wenger to come in after the international break until seasons end is the only option for Arsenal …. Arteta is a dead man walking
Arteta was dead after Villareal when Emery schooled him with an inferior team. But somehow still walking. Only Arsenal accepts things like this.
Anyone know why we have lost so many players to Covid positives when other teams haven’t? Have they been doing risky stuff? Is this the same positive that kept people out of the Brentford game? Have we got antivaxx dipshits in the squad?
Pedro “Who can deal with a budget?” Literally any manager bar pep it seems. “Who has experience working with misfits?” An actual manager. We aren’t the only team with misfits. “Who can command respect of players at the highest level?” A winner and a manager with experience and who hasn’t had his head up peps arse. “Who can play the Arsenal way?” Bielsa would be great, hassenhutl, ten hag, Potter (at least he’d get the best out of white and bring Bissouma!). But there has been many names thrown around on here who would all be better than the shit… Read more »
Bolo the people who have reservations about Conte are Arteta fans. Makes sense when you think about it 😂😂😂 Conte will prove exactly how shit Arteta really is
Also Pedro. What has spurs got to do with Arsenal?!?! You keep mentioning that.
Like 10 other managers turned down those shit cunts as well
Goober, nothing has massively failed. Such drama. Honestly
Words, you are more than welcome to set up a blog of your own and do this yourself. You can have whoever you want on there and be the most manly of manly men.
Valentin, quite a wild statement to deduce that Ben White is a bad player because Brighton have another good defender in their ranks. Graham Potter gives the illusion that his defenders can pass, dribble like a midfieler, and convince big clubs to pay attention. Amazing stuff.
Let’s see where you are on that when he’s played more than one game and you’ve actually watched him.
https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/arsenal-news-smith-rowe-arteta-24817832
Look I know it’s the Mirror and John Cross but no smoke without fire.
Just shows the confusion with ESR and Arteta where Ode is likely to be 10, so I assume ESR will drop to 8 and shunted to the right side with Pepe/Martinelli/Auba. as before.
For me ESR was our brightest player against the Chavs but Arteta wasn’t happy with his defensive duties while ESR was trying to drive us forward.
Arteta just doesn’t understand partnerships on the pitch.
＃Arteta & Edu Out
Tony, Odegaard and ESR play well together… and ESR naturally drifts out wide. That’s not really smoke, it’s an amateur observation from a journo.
Someone the other day mentioned that Josh Kroenke was in town. Was he spotted at the game at the weekend?
If so, it’s a good indicator something is likely to happen, otherwise I doubt he’d bother getting on a plane.
Both are quality players Pedro but ESR as Pierre pointed out has a near telepathic connection with Saka. Esr is better playing centrally and Ode next to Partey with Lokonga sitting behind the 2. Xhaka has no place on the pitch other than closing out a game which I’m loathed to do after Wenger didi it so many times losing or drawing the game. This is from my watching football for over 55 years. A tad longer than you, Pedro, and many years longer than journos ametuer or otherwise. Arteta has broken the squad if you can’t see that, Pedro,… Read more »
Tony, I know it’s broken, we were missing 9 players at the weekend, if you can’t see that that’s an issue, I can’t help you.
Why is it always Arsenal with so many players out, Pedders?
Moray, you’re going to see a lot of it this season. You wait for the pivot on here, it’ll be bad luck when it’s Leicester in a few weeks.
If Arsenal had any sense , they would have brought Van De Beek from United or Barkley from Chelsea . Both young , both unwanted at their clubs , both can do a great job for our midfield.
Pedro
Can you and England’s best dedicate one blog post on what exactly the process of Arteta is?
And please spare me the vague answer of, if you can’t see it, I can’t explain it to you. That’s such a cheap way of dodging a question.
Should we wait for arteta to turn this team in Sheffield United 2.0? They have been over paying for average players, since the start of his tenure.
A post on what the process is, what type of players fit the bill, and when we can expect to see results would be a welcome sight on the blog.
At least it clarifies most of the question people have on this blog.
You guys are mad.
Conte is a great manager. He is also a transfer war chest manager.
No transfer funds, no manager.
And yeah, he wants really shiny, ready-made ones. He has no time for developing talent.
We were also the first club that suffered from a spout of COViD cases last year. It looks very much as though we can’t control our players and what they get up to. Evidence just the last couple of weeks is torreira posting from a. Spanish water park while we played Brentford and Willian liking Chelsea’s celebrations in the last game.
Where is the discipline? Who is doing the facial cock slaps in the shower these days? Holding? Chambers?
You can sack Arteta but you won’t end up with Conte thats for sure.
You will likely get another mediocre manager who can get you short term mediocre results better than Arteta but do nothing for us in the long run and get burned by the long contract we are likely to give.
We have been down this road. Remember Arteta’s first 6 months?
Moray, if come the end of the year, there have been no outbreaks, maybe you have a point. Footballers do dumb things, this won’t be the last outbreak.
Willian is out, so no wonder he’s playing up. Who care what he does as long as he leaves?
Dark Hei, agree. Think the club realize that as well. They’ll be hoping he sorts it out.
Anyway, I am left totally uninspired by Arteta.
Can’t bother to watch Arsenal now.
I don’t expect a victory. At least give us a performance.
I said Arteta is broken, not it’s broken, Pedro.
I get it you’re tired; mistakes are easily made when it’s time to sleep time to sleep.
Tomorrow when you wake up your troubles might be over learning that Arteta was fired in your slumber. Just kidding he’ll go during the international break.
Then we’d have a blog of love again or are you going to be the bitter spurned manager’s leader of the faithful? You know Like Pierre with Ozil and Wenger.
＃Top 4 or bust
＃Arteta and Edu out anyway
Haha Pedro.
I’m definitely just over emtotional when it comes to The Arsenal. Drama it is indeed. But when even Emery got closer to achieving our short term goal of top 4 it just takes its toll on you seeing all the random mistakes happen again and again.
I am keen to see how this season turns out. We either do well and we can all start to back Arteta. Or we continue to play poor football but hopefully see a new manager. Pretty much how it is.
Moray 😂😂
Duno what showers you were in 😂
Conte would be great but there are more realistic options for where we are now. Just reading above we see Potter, Brenda Rodgers mentioned to name just two. Both are streets ahead of Tets in terms of man management, tactics, buying players who fit. It’s not a question of Tets of Conte/Zidane. We just need someone who can manage a mixed squad with lots of promising young talent, make sensible and transparent decisions, buy the right players with suitable assets and have a clear style of playing. And show progress. Then we will get the points we are lacking. Even… Read more »
Goober, it was a famous incident with Vieira and Cashley back in the day. That little poofta was getting a bit big for his boots and Vieira truncheoned the cunt with his dick apparently.
Imagine comparing the first 6 months of Arteta to signing any other manager out there. Biggest difference for me is that Arteta was given the job with 0 experience in it. Maybe if we get a proven manager, we’d be making smarter choices than leaving the left flank open vs Reece James when everyone and their granny knew that we’ll be abused on the flanks, it’s why a ton of posters were asking for 3 CBs so we could deal with their wingbacks. Losing to a club who wasn’t in the EPL for more than 70 years also makes a… Read more »
Saw the most damning thing yet today from optajoe
-0.7 – Since Mikel Arteta’s first game in charge on Boxing Day in 2019, Arsenal’s Premier League opponents now have a higher expected goals return (78.9) than Arsenal do themselves (78.2). Negative.
Excellent work Almunia – you got me with pass the duchy
how to get Brenda now? He will not leave his current team
I rate him tho
Brenda will be pretty expensive – both to pry him away from leicester and to employ.
We need anyone Dani
Anyone but Mike…
I dream that KSE wakes up. Wants to win. Wants to spend. Wants to change.
Hire in Zidane. Hand him 200 plus M and then just sit back. Chill….
Top 4 a lock and more….
Revenue picks up
Merchandise gets sold
Sponsors come back
New fans get on board
Money to buy better players
Fans are happy
Winning makes money. Period.
KSE should just bite the bullet and go for it. They are in for the money, so spend it to make it
After 3 games,
1. Will we be out of the title race?
2. Will we be out of the tr4phy race?
3. Will our goal be Europa?
4. Will our goal be to avoid relegation?
With the above in mind, are we a big club or the comedy club?
Cc “I’m suggesting nothing regarding managers. Put whoever you want in charge and I’ll still be sat during a transfer window wanting to see Auba, Laca, Pepe broken up and replaced by players that have many more strings to their bow.” It’s all well and good to expect the attack in your instance (midfield in mine), but the manager of our team is the major reason our very expensive frontline have hit the worst form of their careers. Yes they are hitting the twilight years, but it’s hardly surprising considering Arteta plays to none of their strengths. Auba is a… Read more »
Something tells me Champagne Charlie will be rooting for the choker, Brenda, to get all three points against Norwich come Saturday.
Call it a hunch 😉
Agree – I’d take almost anyone over Mikel – he’s terminal, it’s over for him so we’re just wasting time.
Can’t imagine we’ll see movement though
Cc
Sorry need to correct “It’s all well and good to expect the attack in your instance (midfield in mine) *to be rebuilt*”
All I’m saying is this manager doesn’t know how to play to the strengths of what he has.
We can’t rebuild a whole team in one window we both know that.
But surely tets should be trying to play to the stregnths we have while we don’t have what he needs?
And even saying that. It’s definitely his squad now anyway
I can just imagine this place if on match day four Arsenal are in the 20th place are playing Norwich in 19th.
I mean we weren’t far off last season Tom lol
Arteta is done. I don’t know how he will turn it around from now till Christmas at least. There will be little margin for error because of the horrible start we have made to the season. We will improve with Partey, Gabriel, Lacazette, White and Odegaard all back to playing though. But not enough to stop him from losing his job. Norwich, Burnley and Tottenham aren’t easy games. May be Norwich will be easy but not Tottenham and Burnley. And after that we have Brighton, Palace, Villa and Leicester till the end of October. If he doesn’t win at least… Read more »
I’m focusing on the london 6 this season, currently 6th but with a bit of generational coaching I can see top 4. We should be able to overhaul palace and brentford but not the others, grim times but that’s where we’ve ended up after the last 7 to 8 years.
Pep needs three points to keep pace, so City can’t afford the take it easy on us like they did last season. One goal might just be too risky a proposition in case one of Tierney’s aimless crosses bounce off Ederson and in.
A respectable 2:0 City win will do everyone nicely.
Arteta can claim we were always in it, if only Mari didn’t lose his footing when Jesus corkscrewed him into the ground Mason Mount style.
Pedro, You are the one making the wild statement trying to prove that your new emperor Arteta is not naked. “Ben White is an elite CB who will help us play the Arteta ball.” As Jamie Carragher showed in his segment on Monday Night football. They replaced Ben White by Adam Webster and got exactly the same output and type of movement with the added bonus that he win most of his aerial dual. So unless you think that Brighton has a knack to find exceptional CB, The Occam Razor principle would suggest that the system and coaching that Graham… Read more »
Guernsey,
What about Watford or do you not consider them as part of London?
😁
It would appear Arteta has the backing of the board but… My view is that he will get as long as it takes the board to scope out who would be willing to take over. If Conte or Rogers are willing he will be gone sooner rather than later. I dont think the fans will tolerate the season being over after half a dozen games.
We love our youngsters, yes we wanted to see balogun play but balogun is a heavy load of shit that the toilet would smile when he comes around, he need to be loaned to experience mens football, sell auba for the cheapest of prices, get paul onuachu, his dream is to play here, with him all our ceosses will mean something, good in the air, his hold up play is excellent, better bully than lukaku, younger, his football body language will always be confusing to defenders….. but na mediocrity is here to stay
Valentin Ben white is a ball playing CB. Nothing Jamie Carragher says changes that. The fact that Adam Webster replaced him is also irrelevant. In fact it shows how Graham potter is a good manager in getting the best out of his players. Ben white was so great at leeds that they bid 25 mil on their return from the championship. Bielsa won’t bid that much if Ben wasn’t a ball playing CB. And there are many highlights and analysis that showed that. It is being disingenuous to say otherwise. But he is weak Arieally. His height doesn’t matter. Joules… Read more »
Good morning Paolo A lovely morning on the South Coast. My goodness, it seems that a fixation over one individual is clouding the judgement of some on here, I highlighted yesterday that, as it stands, there are not many teams we could beat in the PL. I also highlighted that, as it stands, Brighton are a better team. Apparently, at the end of last season, “we spanked Brighton” 2-0 in a game we wanted to win and they didn’t really have to. That in itself shows an ignorance of the dynamics of the game itself. It was like when some… Read more »
This blog has become one mans passion and desire to put an individual ahead of our club.
It is very concerning.
Habesha, Did you bother reading my comment? Where does it say that Ben White is a bad player? Nowhere. I criticised Ben White for his weaknesses: bad aerially, tendance to go to ground, can be rash and caught flat footed by dribbling winger. I explicitly stated that those weaknesses are emphasized in a back 4. I used Jamie Carragher, because I agreed with his assessment and he had video clips proving his case. Jamie Carragher made clear that Ben White is not a bad player, just not an exceptional one. At £50 millions or 6th most expensive defender you expect… Read more »
Graham62 I’d offer this advice. If you don’t like what’s being posted don’t read it. Secondly you need to lighten up, it’s football blog ffs.
Graham62,
I think that Brighton are a better team than their results showed last season.
Do I believe that they will finish ahead of Arsenal? No I don’t.
But not because of the managers, but because overall Arsenal have better player on the attacking positions.
If they can get Neal Maupay to put away more of their attack or buy a more clinical striker, they have a good chance of finishing in the top half.
Habesha
When Leeds offered £25 million for White the market was significantly inflated to the one in which Arsenal paid £50 million. Leeds bailed out getting into any “auction “
I agree 100% with Valentin’s assessment White is an average CD who gets away with many things because he can play a pass. But then so could Luiz and as we know he probably would have been better playing in a slightly advanced position. That won’t happen with White at Arsenal because he has been bought as a CD
The Bard
Thanks for the in-depth analysis.
Valentin
I’ll have a bet with you now. If Arteta stays, Brighton will finish above us.
How about a nice case of your favourite beer?
Don’t bet money!
Val, Watford is a bit of a stretch as london..although we might be able to finish above them….🧐
Valentin Teraloon I am not debating about the price. It is ridiculously overpriced. We should have paid maximum 35 mil. Do I think he was needed at that price when we had Saliba and when we had so many priorities more urgent, No. Do I think the Price is stupid, YES Do I think there was better value out there, YES. Do I think he is exceptional in playing out from the back, YES. Do I think he is the complete defender yet, No. But I think he is a good player. And now that he is here, I think… Read more »
If Arsenal don’t score against Man City then we will have to use our training sessions to find our Goal of the Month!
@northbanker just the way Arteta likes it. How they train is the most important thing at the moment as its still preseason until January 1st.
Pedro I remember how you used to go on about Emey’s lack of creativity, when it came to his tactics.
Getting the ball to Kolasinac on the left and getting a cross/cutback into the box. You said it was “predictable” and a lack of creativity from the manager.
Um, isn’t that the same thing your GeNeRaTiOnAl CoAcH is doing?? Only difference is it’s now with KT. I don’t see you putting any heat on him though???
@graham it’s all for clicks and site traffic. There’s no way pedro actually believes arteta is getting us anywhere at this point. It is working for him though as we keep coming back so good on him.
Sean M,
At least with Emery cutback we used to score…
With Tierney crossing, we never look like scoring. None of Aubameyang or Lacazette look like they know nor want to head the ball.
It’s becoming increasingly clear that the anti-Arteta brigade will be rubbing their hands in glee if Arsenal lose against Man C. Embarrassing and disheartening.
Gabriel, Lacazette and Odegaard in full training. Thankfully Martinelli and Tierney are also back in training. It was just cramps. White is still not involved. Partey is still recovering. There will be less and less excuses for Arteta starting from tomorrow. We need to be at least competitive against man city. If we roll over and get fucked then serious questions about sacking him must go ahead.
Englandsbest
It’s also becoming increasingly clear that the pro-Arteta brigade will never admit that he is the wrong man, regardless of the depths that he has us sink to or all of the metrics you could wish to have proving this to be the case.
I can only speak for myself when I say, I hope we get a result against City and that if we do, it can be the catalyst for a good run, but hope is not a strategy and I am prepared to be disappointed,
EB
If AFC win at City I am certain all readers and posters on Le Grove will be very pleased – and also surprised.
Englandsbest – that has always struck me about a lot of posters on here. They moan bitterly about Pedro’s agenda (the guy is providing us with a great service ffs) but all clearly demonstrate agendas of their own. They are now so anti-Arteta that it is clear they are desperate for bad performances just to “prove” they were right. I do think however that Arteta is way out of his depth. Putting aside his massive transfer mistakes (Emi, Willian) he needs to go back to grass roots to understand the basics of tactics and in-game management. The early two games… Read more »
We only have 3 competitions this season, if We st Brom knock us out of CC tomorrow, Arteta needs to be sacked on the spot.
Northbanker
So because Pedro provides the blog, we should all agree with this opinions! Honestly.
People want Arteta gone because he is a shit manager, way out of his depth and a mistake making machine. There is no agenda behind it. And as for people hoping we lose, get a grip.
It will be boring draws against Norwich and Burnley
You can take this to the bank
https://arseblog.com/2021/08/tactics-column-system-failure-as-arsenal-try-to-press/
This is why most of us are annoyed. We are not good at attacking. But we are also terrible at pressing as a team. It’s always individuals trying to do it all by themselves. I saw Martinelli trying to do it by himself multiple times. It points to a serious lack of coaching in pressing. If you press well then there will be chances because you are winning it higher up the field. It is just poor from Arteta so far.
Its clear The fanboys are getting desparate.