Well good morning my dears, what do we have to complain about today?
SAUCE.
No, not the sauce that comes with a good manager. Actual sauce.
Antonio Conte has banned sauce in the changing rooms. The kids that like calling things elite are calling this move elite. The Italian stallion who likes to win harder than peak-Churchill has made moves on the HP Sauce.
But here’s a secret…
It’s bollocks.
It’s not about performance. There’s no marginal gain to be had by taking sauce away. It’s a power move.
They say that Wenger banned it, but everyone I speak to says there was plenty of sauce around Colney. I believe Don Unai tried something similar banning juice from the players.
Whatever… it’s a weird thing to do to a broken dressing room straight off the bat. Imagine Harry Kane eating a dry sausage sandwich tomorrow morning? SAD.
We’ll see though, if they manage a shot on target in their next game, we’ll know he was right.
You know who does have sauce? Arsenal Women. They dropped an away day masterclass in front of an impressive 500 away fans. They won 5-1 in the Champions League, a stunning way to warm-up for a NLD derby this weekend.
On a roll of sauciness, isn’t Ben Foster’s Youtube channel good?
I love this interview with Aaron Ramsdale. They talk about the technical aspects of THAT freekick save. He also talks about ‘spray canning’ balls into midfield. Is that Sheffield for daisy-cutter? Amazing that when he first started doing that most of us thought he was duffing passes and getting away with it. Big questions here… is he the best distributor of the ball England has ever produced? Could be. I’ve never seen an English keeper pass like he does
Scott Willis over at Arseblog News had an interesting stat that might tell a story we might have in our head but can’t quite articulate. Arsenal have the 4th best xG when we’re at a stalemate in a game. What is this nonsense? Well, our overall xG has lagged this year. Despite us battering Spurs, we did badly because we sat into the game because we were so dominant. Well, apparently, when we are chasing the lead in game, we’re 4th best. When we’re losing, we’re pretty bad. When we’re winning we’re average.
If your strategy is to score early, then I guess this stat is kind of the new table post-Christmas?
As the team develops, what you want to see is that we get better xG when we’re winning. This is an experience thing. When we first started going into the lead in game day 4, we’d panic. Drop deep. Try and absorb that game. That improved as the games rolled on.
Where you want Arsenal to be is absolute smashing teams when we’re winning. A bit like City or Liverpool do on a good day. Plenty of time for that to happen.
I cannot believe this slipped the radar… but without libelling myself.
Think about Victor Oshimen moving to Napoli.
Then read about an investigation after an internal body of the Italian Football Federation, the Supervisory Commission on Professional Football Clubs, passed on a report to the Italian FA regarding suspicious transfer activities in the last two years.
“COVISOC has informed the FIGC of possible capital gains by inflated valuations, highlighting, among others, Victor Osimhen’s move from LOSC Lille to Napoli and Juventus’ exchange deal with Barcelona for Arthur Melo,”
“Included in the long list published by Il Tempo, the controversial negotiation that helped the Azzurri sign Osimhen is of course the standout case.
Oh my word!
Thank the lord Arsenal never purchased a player from a French club for an eye-watering fee that looked overvalued in the extreme. You’d have to sack someone for stuff like that. Could never be us.
Right, that’s me done, see you in the comments.
LISTEN TO THE PODCAST. Many nice comments. Gearing up the next Arsenal legend… it’ll be of a different sort, but a cracker as well.
ACAST | SPOTIFY | GOOGLE | CASTBOX
https://www.90min.com/posts/mesut-ozil-issued-warning-unhappy-fenerbahce-president Former Real Madrid and Arsenal star Mesut Ozil has been told to “think about contributing to Fenerbahce” in a stern message from the club’s president. The 33-year-old joined the Turkish giants in January 2021 to bring an eight-year spell at Arsenal to end, but things haven’t really worked out as planned. Instead of becoming a marquee star for Fenerbahce, Ozil, who signed a three-and-a-half-year contract upon his arrival from the Emirates Stadium, has instead played a bit-part role for the club, and has shown petulance in recent weeks during a couple of on-field incidents. But if it was sympathy… Read more »
SurferX
Why should we be surprised?
Hahaha So glad Ozil is somebody elses problem.. now. I have been saying for years now … once we get rid of the Axis of evil…. Mustafi, Ozil and Xhaka we will be better off and progress forward. We are finally there..almost. And I’m more then happy about that.
SurferX is brave, I’ve heard if you mention Ozil 3 times in a Le Grove post in a negative manner
Then Pierre appears from nowhere and butchers the perpetrator
Pedro glad they are in hiding the negativety was tiresome
Glad the fans at the ground are supporting the team properly
I think we will get a result at anfield and can’t wait
Nice run of games after including Newcastle Southampton and west ham with a visit to OT as well
We could be too 3 by mid December
I know I am being bloody optimistic lol
Ozil the gift that keeps giving even Pierre must rid himself of his man crush now
Personally, I don’t miss some of the chronically miserable people who don’t post here anymore. But right now the negative tone on here is 9 times out of 10 set by the self appointed thought police who just can’t accept that there are people who are still not convinced by Arteta. Even though most of those people (myself included) are very happy with the team’s results. But no transgression is too small to trigger the thought police.
Ozil was always going to be shit anywhere he went
An attitude problem never leaves you
Love sausage what’s the thought police ?
Serge,
Not what, who. People like EB, Nigel etc who can’t engage with anyone holding a different opinion without resorting to name calling.
I’ve always preferred Le Grove to all other Arsenal blogs because it was never a circle jerk or either positivity or negativity. There’s always been a vigorous debate going on and many of us have probably gone too far on occasion. The heat of the moment and all. But there’s a handful of people who’ve made it a habit.
Mane went off injured tonight, Firmino already out, Milner + Keita big doubts
All we need now is Van Dijk + Salah + TAA + Fabinho to pick up injuries, and Partey to be fit for us 🤞
Pedro, loved the podcast. Loved hearing Perry make it all sound so simple
Rich,
Almost too good to be true. I wouldn’t wish a long term injury on anyone but wouldn’t mind if Mane spent a couple of weeks in rehab.
LS
I wouldn’t lose a second of sleep if they were missing 11 first team players against us
We got screwed against Brentford + Chelsea with injuries + illness, swings + roundabouts
Amused by Mid West Guns comparing of Rhys Jagger to the Uni Bomber , I realised of course that he used to write for the Yuppie lifestyle ex hippie Myles Palmer.
I decided to look up Rhys via Google . It appears a Rhys Jagger is very talented on the Gay Porn film scene ! Are they by anyway one and the same? I lead a sheltered life so cannot report on what the “Rhys” was doing with his talents
Rich,
Fair enough. I hate seeing good players get long term injuries even if they’re not ours. But maybe it’s some sort of karmic justice considering our Covid shit show.
LoveSausage
Just to put you straight, I never resort to name-calling.
And wouldn’t you agree that using the term ‘thought police’ (YOUR term) is name-calling?
Nor do I understand what you mean by ‘convinced by Arteta’. Convinced of what, exactly? Kindly enlarge on that. Where has he disappointed you? Did you expect more from him?
Fair criticism of Arteta is fine. But blaming him for everything and crediting with nothing is not.
LS – trouble with not being all in with Arteta is that you get flak from both sides!
But too many mistakes for me to be totally convinced
That said very happy with our shopping last from the Summer. They did get that absolutely spot on
Love sausage I get you I like the fact we have all got differing opinions but work them out as we have a common bond
Very happy to disagree but no need to be a jerk about it
I think I have only fallen out with Sid on here but I forgive him lol
Northbanker I am with you but I really like what’s happening right now if we go get a proper striker and a replacement for xhaka I would be delighted
SurferX, who coudl have guessed Mesut would go on to behave like that at another club? I thought Emery, Freddie and Arteta were the issue.
LoveSausage, you spent 3 months among a group of people telling me daily this site was finished and ‘when are you going to admit you were wrong’ after every post. You can deal with a few people feeling smug right now that their views on Arteta, when he was supposedly down and out, were closer to the truth.
EB, The term “thought police” describes a certain behavior where people with differing opinions are accused of all sorts of things. Usually starting by making your own exaggerated interpretation of their opinions and using it as fodder. I trust you know exactly what I mean. As for “convinced”, it’s pretty simple. It’s about whether you believe he’s the right person for the job. His track record before this season was two 8th place finishes, some terrible management decisions and the most miserable football I’ve seen Arsenal play in my life. This season, the track record is some very smart player… Read more »
Northbanker, I never really get the too many mistakes line. We hired a young coach, gave him a bag of shit to work with, with the hope that he’d grow with the team.
Not many coaches in the world were picking up that Arsenal squad and coming through it making no mistakes.
The most important thing is always: How quick do they learn from them?
Arteta seems to learn quite fast.
He’ll still make mistakes, because that’s nature of the beast, no one is perfect.
Yes Pedro we were for sure and I also got lambasted for daring to not go with the herd
The only time I wavered was the Brentford game
As soon as we put our new players in we were a different animal. Like I said all song you can’t judge MA until he has his squad in place
All along not all song
Pedro,
I’m with you on quoting old posts so I won’t do it. I’ve disagreed with you plenty but I’ve never said the site is finished. Nor did I ever imply it. Despite it all I enjoy both the site and the podcast. Wouldn’t be here otherwise. I stand for what I’ve said but don’t put words in my mouth.
LoveSausage, 2nd most points since December 26th last season, 3rd best defence, 2nd most goals… but all the data experts on here were convinced that 60% of last season wasn’t a big enough sample… so being where we are right now is kind of bang on if you’d paid attention for the last 11 months.
We have to factor in he had to get rid of some total wank in the team
Ozil
Mustafi
Miki
Bellerin
Pedro,
I appreciate that trends matter. And the things you highlight are great trends. In the end it’s about producing results over the course of a season. Something I sincerely hope Arteta can do. If he’s successful then we’re successful. I’d rather not have to go through another manager change because it’s disruptive.
LoveSausage, for sure, needs to do it this season. This calendar year, so far, we’re 5th.
https://twitter.com/LeGrove/status/1458925856877735944?s=20
Pedro,
Very encouraging. But frankly, for me, the best thing he’s done is bringing in this group of players. They’ve been exceptional so far. They make it a lot easier not to get upset by day to day stuff. Whether we finish fourth or not, and whether Arteta is still here next season or not, we’ll still have a very exciting group of players. Which is something I haven’t felt since 2010 or thereabouts.
LS: Do you expect any and every Arsenal manager to be in the top 3 from August right through till May?
That (silly) discussion about kilts and Tony’s birthplace got me thinking about an all-time Scottish XI.
1. Bob Wilson
2. KT
3. Scott Marshall
4. Trevor Ross
5. Frank McClintock (capt.)
6. Willie Young
7. Alex Cropley
8. George Graham (player manager and team treasurer. 💰)
9. Charlie Nicholas
10.Paul Dickov
11. Peter Marinello
Phew! Up the McGunners. Amazing how few Scots there have been considering the high number of quality players around from Scotland over the years. Considered Tierney for the Armband but it HAS to be big Frank.
Matt B,
Considering the investment we’ve made over the last couple of seasons, I’d expect us to put up a real fight for 4th spot. What’s your expectation?
KP: Glad to see big Willie Young in there — never forget the indignation of the commentator when he hauled Alvin Martin (aged 17 I think) in the 80 FA cup final!
LS: I thought we might get 5th, but I’m thinking there’s a chance we could get 4th…
3rd in 2022 😃
-23
Matt B,
We should have a good chance of 4th if we’re in the mix by Christmas. The top 3 are just way more mature teams than we are and that’s fine. On the other hand, if Josh decides to put his money where his mouth is over the next 2-3 TWs, we might catch up quickly.
Lovesausage
Thanks for defining ‘thought police’ -‘someone making exaggerated opinions of their own opinions…etc’. Strangely, he sounds remarkably like you. Does that make me a name-caller?
“(Un)convinced by Arteta’ implies that you tried hard to be convinced. So I ask again ‘where has he disappointed you’ and ‘did you expect more from him?’ From what you write it appears the only criticism you have is the time taken.
Pedro you’re a funny man! This cracked me up
“Well, apparently, when we are chasing the lead in game, we’re 4th best. When we’re losing, we’re pretty bad. When we’re winning we’re average.
If your strategy is to score early, then I guess this stat is kind of the new table post-Christmas?”
Also just like to say was only the 2nd time I’ve listened to the podcast; it was brilliant with Perry Groves. Will have to listen more for sure.
Good work
That Ramsdale interview is great. So good to have a squad of such likeable young players
Boop boop
Unicorn mug
hats off if this club can grab a pair of fast, young, 6ft plus, Swedish attackers by the end of next summer.
soft factors fc.
EB, I know the notion of changing your opinion will probably be strange to you but I was very much Arteta In. Up until early spring this year, at which point I switched opinion based on the results he produced, the quality of football and his treatment of players. Same reasons that I’ve now switched opinion from Arteta out to something like “I don’t really care one way or the other, we’ll evaluate later”. Your comment “only criticism the time it’s taken” says it all. Time matters. It matters more than most other things in football. There’s no point being… Read more »
Matt B
Not sure it was Alvin Martin big Willie brought down. I think it was Paul Allen, a relative of Martin Allen and that treacherous bastard Clive Allen. A pretty shocking challenge and result! And then it was the CWC final against Valencia. Terrible week for club.
EB
Have you read 1984 by Orwell? Tells you all you need to know about the thought police. Best novel of the 20th century IMHO.
Crimson what are you on about?
Good morning all very little news today or this week that affects us in the coming months. Gerard to Villa could be interesting. I put a case forward before Arteta was hired, as Gerrard being the better punt because he had garnered winning experience from the Scottish league. Putting that into perspective, I also wanted Paddy, but I think that probably was the wrong thinking, as Paddy likely needed his time in France to hone his managerial skills after managing in New York. With Paddy you could see what he was about from the first game and the players had… Read more »
Tony,
I have to say I’m skeptical to bringing back legends like Paddy to the club and giving them management jobs. Amazing if it works out but a nightmare if it doesn’t. It’s too emotional to get rid of them. Plus, nostalgia just leads to inertia. Look at United. Football reinvents itself every 6-8 years and there they are, trying to turn back the clock. It rather look for innovation.
Love Sausage I’d agree with most of what you say, but it depends on the character of the manager. Pep has done well with Barca and it will be interesting what Xavi does. I think Paddy is one of the few greats from the past who has it in him to manager us. Henry, no, Bergkamp, no (mostly to do with flying) Tony Adams, no and so on. Von Bronckhorst I read some time ago was doing well as a manager I believe in France. Paddy has aways been his own man and the only Invincible I believe could manage… Read more »
TONY
YAWN
Tony, A few days ago Pedro shared a link with this guy Goldbridge who runs a United YouTube channel. He had some interesting reflections on the topic. He was talking about how difficult it was to get rid of OGS partly because of his status but also because of all his old team mates who are now pundits and basically churning out OGS propaganda everywhere. We’re not there because Arteta never had that sort of status as an Arsenal player. But I could see it happening if we had an Invincible as a manager. I love Paddy and wish him… Read more »
Raulishuss Skip my posts if you feel that way or does your intelligence not work that way? Are you compelled to read every word posted here? Probably, because I’m not waxing lyrical about Arteta you got triggered. Sensitive soul, are’t you? Fair enough LS we all have our thoughts and positions on management, so here we’ll agree to differ and wait to see what the future holds. I prefer to see what my eyes tell than read other team’s blogs and YT channels. I’d only want Paddy if he put up a compelling argument backed up with managerial credentials from… Read more »
I wasn’t sure of GVB’s managerial CV.
011–2015 Feyenoord (assistant)
2015–2019 Feyenoord
2020 Guangzhou R&F
I must have read something quite a while ago that he was impressing people. Maybe when he took over as manager of Feyenoord.
I assume money was his motive to go to China.
I liked his character when he played for us. Solid player and was sorry to see him go.
Pedro, Met Parry Groves years ago in a pub near Lords cricket ground he had been at Eng v SA test match. He sat down with me and a couple of mates not all of us Arsenal fans and had a couple of pints with us,very down to earth some good stories about how he had a love/hate relationship with the Arsenal fans at times. Very much an Arsenal man and said how well the club looked after players and how GG was respected by the players who wanted to run through brick walls for him. Met Ray Parlour as… Read more »
Two points off Liverpool and three off City after 11 played is nothing short a of amazing achievement and most likely above and beyond what anyone might’ve expected at this stage.
Fair is fair.
Can we sustain it?
There’s a huge chance that we will lose against pool, but let’s try to keep the score line respectable. Losing by 2 goals should be the max.
A draw would be massive, so fingers crossed for that. But I won’t go into the game with too much expectation
Under Arteta it was always a youth project, buying players like willian , mari and cedric and giving new contracts to Aubamayang, Elneny and xhaka was just a very clever ploy by our management team to give the impression that we were clueless….and it worked . It fooled nearly all of us, including our own players, with the exception of a few very perceptive posters on Le grove , namely Engladbest, AFC forever and Pedro who saw through this cunning plan by Arteta… Genius is what i call it, I don’t mind admitting that it fooled me , send all… Read more »
Pierre, my dear… could be a few things:
1) Could be Dirty Don Raul was booted and the club was allowed to do something smart. Nearly all the dodgy signings, a few of which you admired, happened on his watch.
2) It could be that some coaches make shocking mistakes and change course
3) A combo of the above 2
Decent opening bit from Pierre.
Jamie,
Pierre has lots of good content… but he still can’t handle that maybe his view on Wenger was shocking… and maybe his view on Ozil will age like milk in the sunshine.
Bar that, mostly good.
Yea, jamie. If you like to hear grandpa moan
Pedro –
It’s true, a lot of his content is decent when he isn’t talking about/being blinkered by his absolute faves.
I’d yellow card him though for including you in a list with EB and AFC.
Pierre knows the game only through ozil and wenger
Jamie, i can’t yellow card a man that came here to get yellow carded years ago to prove a point to his mates at Untold… then stayed, because he liked it.
Raul –
I share some of Pierre’s concerns. We should’ve gone full project youth after (or even during) Emery’s reign.
Arteta needs to continue being courageous even if the results take a dip at some point. That means leaving Xhaka on the bench and further developing other midfield partnerships.
Nice to see that Tom has converted as well.
Welcome to the light, Tom.
Remember Joe (the Canadian fireman)? What ever happened to that dude? He took Emery’s sacking almost as hard as Bam.
Jamie, I banned a lot of them, they’d pile up in the moderation section after a loss…. But none of them are around right now.
Such a shame.
Peds
I am not sure. Goal difference is usually a better yardstick for team quality.
We are clearly far and away from Pool, CIty, Chelsea and even West Ham.
Decent opening bit from Pierre.
Jamie
Agreed. As irony goes, I thought it was comparable with peak Jane Austen.
But Xhaka shouldn’t be left on the bench… He should be sold if the sad portugeezer can somehow hold on in the eternal city til January. It’d be a miracle from god and I’d be voting to canonise Jose if he splashes out.
Pedro
Did you ever consider banning yourself after that doom laden assessment of our chances pre-Villa?
It was astonishingly negative. In fact it gave me pause for thought that you’d finally (and permanently) had your Artetesian epiphany!
Morning kp –
Absolutely amazing if Mourinho takes Xhaka. Even for £10m at this point.
It’s still incredible how many players we have on the books who we don’t use because they either don’t fit the system or aren’t of the required standard, or players we don’t need because their wages don’t even remotely offer value.
I count at least enough to field an 11:
——-Leno (too expensive for a backup)
Hector — Cedric — Mari — Kola
–Guen — Torr –Elmo — Xhaka
—Pepe —one of Laca/Auba
Criminal.
Nigel, I didn’t realise you were a card-carrying member of the Arteta Church of Worship. I shall try not to besmirch his holy name so I don’t offend you. I haven’t been on this website for long but I take it you’re the incumbent keyboard warrior around these parts? Hopefully the irony of lecturing people about misanthropy and how to be “real fans” wasn’t lost on you when you typed that. I wonder if your ongoing “internet beef” is as much a stress reliever for you as it for the people who are unfortunate enough to actually know you in… Read more »
Good article in the Athletic about how the team has evolved during Arteta’s first 100 games.
https://theathletic.com/2946671/2021/11/11/analysed-how-artetas-arsenal-have-evolved-in-his-first-100-games/?source=user_shared_article
We have a few tough games coming up where we need to do whatever we can to survive. But against weaker opposition, we need to see an improvement in xG.