Arsenal continued their solid run of results with a win against Leeds at home. That has taken our unbeaten record to 8 in all competitions. Not the be sniffed at.
The club struggled with a non-covid bug going around before the game. Pablo Mari and Benjamin White had clearly been sharing cheeseburger, the Spaniard missed the game entirely, White had to come off as a sub after a storming performance.
I’d call the League Cup starting 11 a serious team. It was a blend of fringe players and first-teamers. The objective clearly was to win the game and progress.
My overall view of the game is that we saw a vindication of the summer moves. There are certain players that stepped in tonight that can’t do the things that the new first-teamers can. Concentration, bravery on the ball, and movement was lacking in certain moments.
Nicolas Pepe had another night to forget. His pattern is to frustrate with the basics, then make a contribution to the result. His header to Cal Chambers broke the deadlock. It’s a real struggle for the Ivorian. He’s clearly very talented, can do things others can’t, has worked on his defensive game… but he’s can’t pull the package everything together into a consistent flow. Still, he’s working hard, there’s always hope.
Martinelli also disappointed. He’s lost his zest. The bang-bang player we loved has gone into his shell. Confidence is low. He’s a far cry from the player Klopp called a GOD OF MEN. He’s young though. It’ll click at some point. Every player goes through it. Part of it will likely be that he’s having to reimagine his game to suit the needs of the team.
Eddie was really good again. His link-up play was great, his touch was really sharp, and his goal was good. A little lucky after he scuffed his shot, but it went in. Arsenal are keen to tie him to a new deal, but I’m not sure the player will have any of it. Which is a bit of a shame because I suspect he’ll go on to score a lot of goals wherever he goes next.
Benny Blanco was a standout for me. Cries of ‘HE WASN’T WORTH THE MONEY’ are looking like they were very much formulated in a vacuum of ‘I HAVE NOT SEEN HIM PLAY.’ Still, if you’re an Arsenal fan, the best type of humble pie to eat is on a saucy centre back that has extremely unique skills. It’s like having Aaron Ramsey in defence. If you press him, he can power 50 yards past you. If you sit back he can find people from distance, consistently. It makes him a tactical nightmare. Against his old club, he was a nuisance all evening. You can see confidence is starting to seep into his game and players around him are starting to understand how to work with him.
Couple of other notable points.
Bernd Leno was superb. He kept us in the game in the first half with some very clever saves. That’s how an ex number 1 needs to roll. Like a total pro. I also loved that he dropped a daisy-cutter through the middle like Ramsdale. He’s been working on that move now he knows what gets rewarded in the new system.
I also thought Bob Holding was good. He’s not a sulker, he puts it all on the line, and did you notice he went on a mazy run like Ben White? Very fun. Good competition improves everyone. It’s great to finally have some.
So we progress to the quarter-finals of the first cup of the season. Two games to get to Wembley (I think?). That’s a nice reward if you can do it. Competition gets harder now as teams begin to take things a little more seriously.
The big one is Leicester at the weekend. Hopefully, we’ll have a full squad of players to choose from. I can’t wait.
West Ham vs City penalty shootout now on Sky
Foden shanks it wide
2 more shots!!!
Weat Ham needs one more!
Yeah! City is out!
Now, let’s see what happens to Leicester City.
Maupay. A monumental wanker!
Maupay hits the crossbar
BHA is out.
Some tough sides in that qtrs draw. Good to avoid chelski, pool, leicester- and ideally get a home draw against whoever.
Either that or get one of the weaker teams left in- sunderland will do, but lets hope its the spuds.
Bedwetting; Buddhism; discrimination; mortality — the whole shebang on here tonight 🤣
KB: U okay mate, you’re a tad agy tonight, if you don’t mind me saying so?
Matt B
KB: U okay mate, you’re a tad agy tonight
Always. And nothing wrong with that. Are you feeling a little dyslexic?
KP: I’m not dyslexic, just a tad pissed, sos
Hahaaa — yes mate!
Good to see the Arsenal fandom coming together in harmony heh 🤣
Imagine if we’d lost to Villa and Leeds 🤣
Arsenal continued their solid run of results with a win against Leeds at home. That has taken our unbeaten record to 8 in all competitions. Not the be sniffed at
Well you sniffed at Emerys 22 game unbeaten run so after only 8 games for tets, I’ll continue to sniff.
Surferx
Nicely put mate. Reasonable & articulated well. Pretty much how I think the vast majority feel.
Don ++++++ = Canonball
Cannonball the only name caller on an otherwise peaceful blog chewing the Arsenal fat and with all manner of sensible agreements and disagreements.
Oh well most of it was good reading with my morning coffee.
Hate waiting for games.
Why do people keep comparing sexuality to race?
Millions didnt get shipped from their lands to work for free in far places because of sexual preference.
Millions didnt get butcherd after Von Bismark and his cronies shared out their continent because of sexual preference.
The comparison is was than the fact that the whole issue is taken casuslly.
Sid
You do make intelligent comments and sure fire predictions about Arsenal.
Do not let other pedantry overshadow that nous. . Those others don’t judge, at least for that reason you have no right to judge others too
Once blame enters the conversation its followed by statements about how no one is perfect a secular version of dogma so the conversation ends.
With blame you never have to ask hard questions about society.
Well, secularism is another fake thing!
People feel personally attacked, throw whataboutisms so we dont ask about social structures that caused it.
Sid, like race, sexuality isn’t a choice. So alluding to it as a lifestyle is really fucking crass. If you think the queer community has had it good over the past 1000 years, maybe you are reading the wrong history books.
Pick it up man.
Lets keep it football, supreme leader, your opinion on the sexuality topic is whose than your football opinion.
Im telling you for free!
Sid, indeed. Let’s keep it to football.
A bit of history for you,
For the record in Africa and some Eastern european countries women who could not bear children married child bearing women, it served a purpose,
the societies that believed racial superiority are the same ones that persecuted LGBT
Let that sink in!
Sid, I read a lot of history. No country has a clean conscience. But we are talking about the now… and right now, I don’t want to read anyone questioning the legitimacy of being queer. Take that shit to reddit.
Noted, sweetheart!
Sid
🙄
Sid why are you talking about sexuality and race when it’s a forum dedicated to Arsenal.
If your position is you’re against open sexuality then there’s plenty of places ( Daily Mail / Daily Express / Telegraph) to express this , go knock yourself out .
Lots to talk about on the football front including an 8 game run, a team camaraderie which shows the fringe players wanting to perform, better atmosphere in the ground . It’s all happening right in front of your eyes
Barcelona looking for a new manager.
Hopefully they’ll be looking to former graduates of la masia (albeit not properly successful ones like full fat pep, xavi and iniesta).
I’ll spend an extra hour on my prayer mat today hoping they opt for the diet version.
Pedro
‘Lol, Tom and CG talking about 10th after 9 games… not 3 points off 4th, 6 points off 3rd.’
In the spirit of fairness, we may be 6 points off 3rd but we’re also 6 points off 16th.
Liverpool, Spurs, Leicester and Chelsea left in the quarters. Would be good to avoid Chelsea and Pool. Other than that all the teams left in the competition are beatable. I don’t know if Arteta has got the balls to do it though. Westham are also on a giant killing run. Brentford aren’t pushovers either. That means we only have Sunderland as an easy draw. We will have to earn it from here on out. Ideally the easiest in succession would be Sunderland, Brentford, Spurs, Leicester city, Westham, Chelsea, Liverpool in that order.
Xavi looks like an excellent coach. He has an identity of football. His Al Saad team looks like prime Barcelona the way they move the ball. He didn’t need to work under pep as a coach to get his method. He is applying it just from the ideas he took as a player. Barcelona would get lucky if he said yes to coaching them at this time.
Anyone who touches the Barca gig at this point needs their head examined.
Xavi isn’t that kind of fool, surely.
Jamie
I think it’s a perfect time for Xavi to take over. Low expectations, unpopular predecessor, club in financial crisis etc. He’ll never become the boss over there when expectations are lower than they are now.
With MC out of the Carabao Cup, it’s anyone’s to win now.
I’m not convinced, Bac.
They’re broke, some of the remaining seniors will leave the club for little to no money.
Dembele, Sergi Roberto, Luke de Jong all free agents in 8 months.
Depay, Coutinho, Aguero, Busquets, Neto, Umtiti need to be extended before summer 2023 or they’ll leave on free transfers too.
There’s very little money for the next guy to spend. If AM and RM get their shit together, either one could dominate La Liga for the next 4 years imo.
Fair play if Xavi thinks he can turn the ship around.
It’s not all doom and gloom though.
OGS will be available soon, and the most elite student of the game knows that he’s an excellent manager.
Bacra CL winners 2023 with Ole at the wheel.
Sid
Okay, football
Arsenal is a lunatic asylum run by the inmates
Feeling better?
There has been too many posts on matters unrelated to Arsenal and Football Matters.
It is high time that we confine this website to what it was set up to provide.
If you want to discuss your personal life, politics or any other controversial matters why don’t
you do so on another relevant website, twitter or facebook where it will be more appreciated.
“It is high time that we confine this website to what it was set up to provide.”
Why, so you can post the worlds most long winded diatribes that essentially say nothing, ES?
Invariably this blog is about football and the characters who participate in it. If it bothers you that much, take your encyclopedia strolleratica elsewhere. Or better yet, come up with your own blog. Going to say it, get over yourself, Stroller.
“If you want to discuss your personal life, politics or any other controversial matters why don’t you do so on another relevant website, twitter or facebook where it will be more appreciated.”
Oh the irony.
People have personalities, ES, try one you might enjoy the experience. Sargent Major is so passé these days.
Koeman sacked by Barca – his was an odd appointment to begin with. Amazing how dysfunctional Barca are these days; in total self-destruction mode.
Habesha Gooner
You’ve caught the China1 disease of stating the obvious.
Ernest Reed
The pot calling the kettle black
Barcelona are a mess, goes to show that fan/members ownership, isn’t all that it’s made out to be
They’ve currently got a wage to turnover ratio of 95%, had they kept Messi, it would have been 110%
Complete lunacy
Jamie “Anyone who touches the Barca gig at this point needs their head examined.” Absolutely. The cupboard is bare. Barca have somehow built up debt levels of over £1.2bn. Laporta said that the team’s salaries exceeded 103% of its income in August, which is between 20%-25% higher than any of their competitors. La Liga put their foot down, Messi had to go and Laporta went on record as saying it would take approximately 18 months to resolve. That was optimistic because revenue was already 25% down and is going to drop like a stone without Messi and as results decline.… Read more »
AFC Forever
It could get much worse if they lose CL revenue, which looks like a real possibility
They need to go out and get a top director of football, Barcelona will always be a big draw for players
Not sure how they got in such a mess with revenues exceeding €800 million, Arsenal have been run badly in recent years, but Barcelona are on a whole different level on incompetence
Tony
I have a very wide range of interests, which are not confined to football, but I don’t discuss them on Le Grove.
Ernest Reed
That is your opinion. If you don’t like them then don’t read them. What exactly do you contribute to the website. I have yet to read anything worthwhile from you.
Rich Absolutely. Dropping out of the CL would be a disaster for them. The problem was they were able to get away with it for years. La Liga finally got a grip, the impact of the pandemic forcing them to face up to reality. Football is a business. Unfortunately it’s not been run that way by a lot of clubs. I always said the financial doping wouldn’t end well because all it does is creates an artificial market. Barca and Real couldn’t sustain the debt they were building up to keep ahead of each other and up with the oil… Read more »
“The pot calling the kettle black”
Says LeGrove’s resident village idiot, EB
AFC Forever
Real Madrid and Barcelona were never genuine businesses. They were regarded as institutions
in Spain and Catolonia to be propped up by the state, local government or banks.
Both clubs have been mismanaged over a very long period of time.
“What exactly do you contribute to the website. I have yet to read anything worthwhile from you.”
I contribute what i choose, but at least i cant be accused of putting everyone to sleep with 46 paragraphs of ramblings in each of my posts. Are you even capable of getting your point across in less than 25 words, ES?
Emirates “It is high time that we confine this website to what it was set up to provide.If you want to discuss your personal life, politics or any other controversial matters why don’t you do so on another relevant website” Well said ES. Some unpleasant ego’s on here far too keen to force their opinions onto other people about everything! It’s always about them, intolerance is their virtue. The self promotion and narcissistic traits are evident. These people aren’t interested in Arsenal, our players or what we all think, they just want to be right about everything to feed their… Read more »
Ernest Reed
I have never posted 46 paragraphs, but if you think writing a one line soundbite is productive
then please do so.
Lets face it you are pig ignorant and leave it at that.
AFC Forever I disagree about the inflation in fees + wages, because things usually go full circle The best thing for inflation, is usually more inflation As talent becomes more valuable, the market will natural produce what’s valuable in much higher quantities We’re already seeing it with the amount of quality young players now being produced in this country, and I expect this to go into overdrive over the next 15-20 years The more talent we produce, the less valuable talent becomes, and fees + wages will naturally balance out Talent will then naturally filter downwards, making the league naturally… Read more »
You are right ES, you go your way and i will go mine, but calling me pig ignorant is false and you know it.
Ernest Reed
I did not start the personal you did.
For the record I suggest that you look at my posts over last two weeks. The vast majority of my posts are no more than two or three paragraphs.
personal attacks.
“The best thing for inflation, is usually more inflation”
Jesus fucking Christ.
Cannonball preaching ethics to anyone, now thats when you know the decline of civilization is complete.
Again ES, you go your way and i will go mine. I am respectful enough of you to stay clear – our opinions differ and thats Just the way it is. I mean no ill will towards you and that is where i stand.
Incredible to see barca like this.
Looked so invincible for such a time ….
Cannonball
Is that really the best you can do? A 12 hour lapse followed by that? I’ve shit worse insults than that before breakfast. They put you back in that straitjacket in Strange ways and upped your medication didn’t they.
As an ardent red-devil, you need to be exorcised from this site again. Swivelling head, project vomit the whole shebang. Get thee behind me manure man…
Not impressed by the racist undertone with two erstwhile players who also happen to be islamic and the magic carpet but that’s your shtick you fucking sad clown.
ES
A humble apology for straying from the Arteta adulation narrative we’re supposed to be following on here. I’ll do better next time if you promise to ban racist cannonball, Don, aubergine.
Hi Jamie
He’s right – look at the Weimar Republic, Iraq, Zimbabwe, any tinpot Latin American dictatorship and you’ll see how well they all ended.
An economic pygmy who admitted he doesn’t read books. All you need to know.
ES “Real Madrid and Barcelona were never genuine businesses. They were regarded as institutionsin Spain and Catolonia to be propped up by the state, local government or banks.Both clubs have been mismanaged over a very long period of time.” Absolutely. Interesting story about the training ground. The Galactico period under Perez was paid for by the Spanish Government through corruption. The re-zoning of the land rand the e-valuation and direct proceeds that followed, wiped out their debt, finance the Galactico period and improve the stadium considerably. How they did it. The land surrounding the RM Ciudad Deportiva training ground was… Read more »
Kroenkephobe I try not to engage in “personalised” attacks unless they are directed at me an are both persistent or unwarranted. I have never complained about anyone having a different opinion to me nor do I object to constructive criticism even if it is not merited. For the record I was in favour of Arteta being appointed Head Coach, but I felt that his appointment as Manager was premature. There are very few people who have played or worked alongside Arteta who do not rate his coaching ability. The idea that at 38 he was neither experienced enough nor ready… Read more »
“It’s not all doom and gloom though.OGS will be available soon, and the most elite student of the game knows that he’s an excellent manager.
Bacra CL winners 2023 with Ole at the wheel. “
————————
Jamie, wasn’t 2023 supposed to be our turn ?
Although without Willian in the squad I’m not sure Arteta can pull it off now.
Is Kronkephobe Bamford?
He used to always put ‘Do Tell’ on the bottom of his messages.
Jamie Inflations usually happens when there’s a shortage of something in the market There’s pent up demand, or protectionist policies The reason we have mass inflation at the moment, is because we’ve had de facto communism placed across the western world for the past 18 months, where the governments have controlled the market, decided what can open and what can’t, they’ve stopped training drivers, and this is the result of idiotic and power mad bureaucrats, trying to control something, that can only really be managed If there’s a shortage of something in the market, then a truly free market will… Read more »
To anyone who says judging people is wrong – why are you judging others for their judging? And why are you exempt from your own bullsh1t statement? And the pearler of the day – science has proved there is no such thing as free will. Firstly, science does not prove things. It amasses evidence and uses experiments to form solid, working hypotheses. Secondly, your statement is patently false. Science has never, ever proved that free will doesn’t exist. Ask any neuroscientist or game theorist. Some atheist scientists have been desperately trying to get rid of free will, but to date… Read more »
RichOctober 28, 2021 11:51:39 “The best thing for inflation, is usually more inflation” —————————– JamieOctober 28, 2021 12:00:45 “The best thing for inflation, is usually more inflation” Jesus fucking Christ. —————————— Why are you exactly surprised by said poster’s comments Jamie..?At least he’s consistent and has form…Just to be clear,let’s look into his ramblings over the last year at the very least.. Lol.. Here’s a few legendary comments from said poster (see below) over time… ———- RichMarch 16, 2021 20:54:59 Kroenkephobe Economics is an exact science, the same as mathematics There’s only one version ————————– RichMarch 16, 2021 23:21:11 The… Read more »
Kronke A kafir mocking using a prayer mat is far more offensive. What’s a magic carpet got to do with a prayer mat? That’s on you and your pathetic outlook Cannonball As the Sun might have said, ‘gotcha’. You’ll be out of here by the time I return to read this over a late afternoon cup of tea. I guess it was just my turn to spotlight what an awful man u supporting arsehole you are. Can’t say it’s been nice knowing you in this guise either. Oh, by the way, a prayer mat is non denominational you ignorant twat.… Read more »
Kronke
Are you Bamford?
Blog of lube as usual. 😂
How do you not understand that if something becomes more valuable, then the best way to make it less valuable, is to create more of what’s in short supply, in higher quantities That process will happen naturally, because people usually invest their time + resources, into things that are becoming more profitable The more people who fill that pent up demand, the more prices naturally balance out, as that demand reduces If then too many people enter that profitable market, prices won’t just balance out, they’ll go down, because people will be desperate to dispose of the surplus The market… Read more »
Emiratesstroller
Defending yourself against chroic name-callers is like Neville’s chat with Adolph: a total waste of time
Rich
“If there’s a shortage of something in the market, then a truly free market will make up that demand”
There’s no such thing as a ‘truly free market’. Start your investigation there as to why that is and work backwards.
Report back with results.
RichJune 6, 2021 22:23:08
“I got kicked out of school at 14, not being educated by the system, and not being well read, is one of my best qualities”
—-
Think this sums up the poster in a nutshell..No need to add much more.The total state of it…
englandsbest
I did not defend myself.
I reacted, which perhaps I should not do.
However, its clear that even Pedro has grown sick and tired of those posters who have
constantly attacked him and also reacted.
Jamie
So you disagree with my opinion that top talent will be produced in much higher quantities over the next 20 years, due to talent becoming so valuable?
That talent will filter downwards as a result, and to some degree negate the benefits of additional revenue
And that will create a system where a higher wage bill will actually become a hinderance, rather than an advantage, as surplus will become almost impossible to shift?
Rich –
“So you disagree with my opinion that top talent will be produced in much higher quantities over the next 20 years, due to talent becoming so valuable?”
Define ‘much higher quantities’.
Juego de Posicion works fellas.
Go ahead and try it out on the other half! It has our saucy minx Tets’ seal of approval and more importantly- Sids.
‘Are you Bamford?’
Nope, not even close to enough ‘dipshit’, ‘cheers’, ‘wagers’, mentions of being a Harvard grad/student of the game, Ole’s eye colour/general essence and the word ‘twat’ doesn’t even begin to feature in his vocabulary.
He always makes sure to censor his swears too as he is a teacher of kids for Christ sakes. Not because he is a pumped up, grossly out of proportion, richter scale obliterating Fanny that is tipping over the State of Florida.
But most of all, no mention of his true love, the Opera/Lemons as per his fascinating Twitter feed.
WengerEagleOctober 28, 2021 14:16:04
——
All that said-tell us how you really feel?
Lol.
Good to see you back,albeit with a solitary comment.
How are things PHD? Lot of football related shit to discuss:
– JDP/The Arsenal
– New signings
– Bantersville over at OT/Nou Camp/Spudland
– Rafa and Everton
– Benz and Real
– Paddy V and Palace
– PSG’s front 3 struggles
And much more. More talk of flying carpets and economics on here today though! 🤣
Vardy is available
Jamie In the hundreds certainly, maybe even a few thousand, definitely enough to fill out all the PL squads with exceptional talent, and consistent match winners Then when you take into account the superior revenues of PL teams, they’ll also able to pick off players from any clubs they want outside 10-15 clubs across the entire world If you look at the collection of young talent this country is currently assembling, it’s already in significantly higher quantities than at any point that I’ve seen it The next generation of talent will be even better IMO I don’t think Arsenal picking… Read more »
WE
“He always makes sure to censor his swears too as he is a teacher of kids for Christ sake. But most of all, no mention of his true love, the Opera/Lemons as per his fascinating Twitter feed”.
That is priceless. How on earth can anyone with his personality defect teach kids? As for the Opera and Lemons are you sure it’s the same bloke? If it is, he’s not mentally sound to teach kids. I find that shocking.
WengerEagleOctober 28, 2021 14:25:09
How are things PHD? Lot of football related shit to discuss:– JDP/The Arsenal
——-
Not bad over this side of the sea.
What about you?
How have you been keeping?
Spoilt for choice,on the topics you listed….
Haha..
Tough choices to pick..Let’s maybe start with..Hmmm….
1)JDP/The Arsenal…?
2) Paddy V and Palace
3) Rafa & Everton
4) Bantersville over at OT/Nou Camp/Spudland
Not sure if you saw this post(see time post below) before during your time out,check it out and what’s your take?
PhD2020October 5, 2021 08:02:43
‘Vardy is available’
I’m not as worried about him as I would have been last season.
In my opinion, Tielemans is the one that you have to keep quiet, he makes them tick. Does his job without too much fuss and finds pockets of space to hurt teams.
https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11685/12453335/west-ham-czech-billionaire-daniel-kretinsky-close-to-buying-27-per-cent-stake-in-club
PHD Will check out that post, always enjoys reading yours. Re us: – Have to hold my hands up on Ramsdale, he has been very impressive and I did not want him in the summer gone. Long may it continue but a definite upgrade on Leno right now and seems to be made of the right stuff. His presence reminds us all of dare I even mention his name? The Argentine PK jock. – Like the look of Tomiyasu, he started strongly vs Norwich/Burnley but has faded in recent weeks. He is definitely a CB playing at RB as he… Read more »
When has Ben White said he dislikes football?
In the quotes I read he said he loves football, but doesn’t feel the need to sit watching games when he comes home after his day job.
Dislikes watching it Karsa, you’re right.
He doesn’t actively follow it at all or have an interest outside of playing it. Still not ideal for your lead man at the back to have little to no idea who he is coming up against each week.
@WengerEagle
Agree with you on Ben white. You look at the way Saliba played against PSG and Mbappe and then compare it to white against Brentford and Norwich. I have to give credit where it’s due on the other signings as it’s a vast improvement on previous seasons, and 4 of our signings I’m impressed with, but I’m also not convinced about Ben White either.
@WengerEagle
Also agree with you about Ramsdale. So far he’s been a breath of fresh hair and he and Arteta have proved me wrong.