I would normally do a riposte article to the xG counter-argument that went off yesterday… but there wasn’t need for one, I think most people seemed pretty fine with the reality of our messy data this season.
There were two common comebacks.
‘You just don’t like data that doesn’t align with the project’
MOST IMPORTANT METRIC: 5th in the league.
‘Stop manipulating data to suit your agenda’
MOST CLEAN METRIC I HAVE: 5th in the league.
You can get angry that I put some context on the xG, but the most important metric right now is that we are 5th in the league. If you’re using data to delegitimize a young team doing really well under tough circumstances, may I show you a delightful bin you can get in.
Some other interesting metrics.
We’re averagely conceding 12.77 attempts at our goal per game with the new defence, with 4.2 shots per game on target. Skewed quite heavily by bad days at Brighton and Liverpool away. Plenty of work to do there, Chelsea and Liverpool are conceding 9.7… City, and incredible 6.3. But, not bad considering the newness of the defence.
To be honest, I actually thought the most interesting splicing on data was the table since the new team started.
5th for goals scored.
3rd best defensive record.
Joint 2nd for points accrued.
That is quite spectacular when you consider:
1) It was basically 6 new players.
2) They were all under the age of 24.
3) The mood around the club was absolutely grim.
HARSH REALITY
Our attack really needs to kick up a gear. There’s no denying that.
There are two ways that is going to happen.
1.Auba is going to click with the system and start getting into the right positions. Arteta can gamble on the 2018-19 superstar coming back to his best. He’s said a few times that the goals will come. How long will he hold out? Things are so bad, he’s even missing penalties this season.
2.Arteta is going to try something different.
The Liverpool game showed the way for other teams. Lacazette dropping deep has been a huge part of our resurgence over the the last 3 months. His 95th minute goal saved a point against Palace and after that, we never looked back. He set the tone for aggression, his confidence and experienced allowed for him to seamlessly link defence to attack, and he made a difference.
Liverpool sussed that at the weekend and we didn’t really have an answer.
Is it time for something different?
We haven’t seen much of Martin Odegaard this season, the form of an older head playing for his future has been too much for the Norwegian. He’s not a sulker though and he is more than capable of opening up teams on his best days. Could he be used to make us a bit less predictable in build up play over the next month?
Nico has been sat on the bench, for good reason, but it’s hard to deny that on his day, he also offers us something we’re lacking: Final ball and finishing. He always delivers good numbers, even if he is generally very inconsistent and infuriating. He was nothing at the start of last season, then he came back into contention hard. He’s also not a sulker, he works hard, can we roll the dice on him again?
Gabriel Martinelli has been poor this season. He’s been given chances. He hasn’t taken them. But we know there’s a player there. Every young player goes through a slump. It’s about time he came out of his. What can he offer to our attack? He’s a relentless presser of the ball, even though we haven’t seen much of that in the last 6 months. Can he find that spark? Can he work with this team? Can he be the tip of our spear we lack?
There are two other options.
Eddie, who I thought was exceptional during the preseason games, but hasn’t been given much in the way of love. He’s not a fan of Arteta, I’m pretty sure he’s signaled he won’t do a deal, so the club might be resigned to losing him in January. Could we use his newfound confidence? Would it be worth a go?
Folarin Balogun has been in rip-roaring form in the U23s. His attitude has been so good. The horror show against Brentford cannot be laid squarely at his feet, he had no prep for that game either. Is there something he could do? Does he have the power? Is there an ESR moment for him?
December is the month for heroes. Last season, Smith Rowe broke the first team and never looked back. He did it against Chelsea. He showed the doubters what he was all about and now he’s an England player.
Who wants to be a hero this month? December is going to need the full squad. We play Newcastle (H) on Saturday, then we’re up against United (A) on the Thursday, followed by Everton (A) on then Monday. There will be minutes going around. Who will get them? Who will make a statement with them? How will this young squad deal with a 3 game week?
First, we have to deal with Eddie Howe taking to the dugout for the first time in his second game. He has a helluva job to do there. He has Steve Bruce players which don’t map to his system at all. The one thing they have going in their favor is that all of those players want to be there for the dazzling riches that are coming their way. It’s a big game for us. Will we be on our knees feeling sorry for ourselves like teams of the past? Or do we have the minerals to deal with disappointment?
We shall see…
We’re recording a podcast this afternoon, stay tuned to your phone for that when it drops, because it’ll be a damn cracker let me tell you.
BUT, before you listen to that, may I invite you to jump in on our latest after the Liverpool game. Matt and Pedro chatting the Liverpool game. We hope you enjoy it. x
ACAST | SPOTIFY | GOOGLE | CASTBOX
1st
And
My
3rd
Tr4phy
Damn you Samesong
Lucky #7
Good measured article after Liverpool loss and people being disappointed at the metrics and where we are right now. We are not on the same level as the 3 teams who have won the league recently but that’s not to say with this young team we can’t get there at some point especially if we can sort out the attack. I personally do have hopes for the future.
Great positive post Pedro.Hope the naysayers take a day off ,it gets just so tedious zzzzzzzzzzzzzz🥱
I think waiting any longer for Auba to come good is not good. Any one of Nketiah, Martinelli, Balogan would prove more effective in occupying the opposing defence, even if not scoring. Having Auba on the bench is better strategy, and a successful late entry against leggy defenders might even bring back his goal-scoring form.
It’s definitely Martinelli time.
Auba has been absolutely useless. Pundits keep highlighting his pressing but if that’s going to be his only contribution then we might as well give Martinelli a shot. He’s younger and I have no doubt that he can press better than Auba. And considering that he’s the only striker with a future at the club (not counting Balogun due to inexperience), he should get 2-3 games to try and find his shooting boots.
wht time is the podcaast on Pete ?
I am going to the game on saturday we need to slap them up 4 nil at least they are in dissaray and i want them relegated don’t want that dirty Saudi money being spent next season
@englandsbest,
Took the words out of my mouth. Against Liverpool, we pretty much were playing with 10 men. Auba doesn’t hold the ball nor does he have the guile to create a chance out of nothing or even hold the ball up long enough to enable our midfield and defence to push forward.
For all of Nuno’s mistakes, I’m glad he didn’t stop trying. In any other game where players showed for each other, he’d make the passes and we’d be carving open teams from his left to central drives.
When we tank, people say… the table doesn’t lie… etc.
It is then completely disingenuous then to ignore the table when we do well, just because one wishes to ignore the successes of the manager and the team.
Look at the table… and support the team!
Martinelli definitely needs to come into the fray. I’d also start bleeding Patino and giving Odegaard more minutes even as we look for a Partey partner. Flog Elneny and the other makeweights.
I think Balogun also deserves minutes esp if we are say 2 nil up in the 2nd half. It’s one thing to expect him to lead the line from nothing and another to build his confidence slowly as he acclimatizes to the premier level.
Lastly, do we have a proper sub keeper? Not seeing Leno staying in Jan.
“ Quite amusing that people like Chris are talking about mindless propaganda like the xG table is the truth.” Just catching up with yesterday’s post, but Pedro! You got the wrong ‘Kris’! That wasn’t me! 🙂 I posted the other day something along the lines of what you wrote in your main post, although you obviously went into far more detail! Xg + context + eye test pretty much covers it, footy is far too gloriously crazy for exact data sourcing practices to be applied to it, without taking in all the inherently unpredictable variables that go hand in hand… Read more »
We all saw what Martinelli was capable of before his injury but sadly we’ve also seen him since. Just like Bellerin and e.g. Pires, Diaby, some players just never get back to how they were pre-injury.
Don’t write off Ozil yet. He captained Fenerbahce on Sunday and scored in the win away at Galatasaray.
I don’t think Auba’s gonna suddenly turn it on. It’s been too long now. Martinelli was all kinds of exciting when he first arrived, but he too is also without any decent form for quite awhile now. Can Balogun step up to the senior plate and take on the responsibility? There’s a lot of hope riding on that outcome. Eddie looks like he’s on his way out. Maybe it’s time to give Pepe a run at CF. He likes to hold up play and he scores goals. Or stick with Auba and maybe he gets a hattrick against Newcastle, but,… Read more »
Martinelli has barely been given a chance this season. 12 odd games and he’s been lucky to play 180 minutes this season . When you consider how many chances Willian was given. He’s putting Martinelli on with 5 min to go, what the fuck us he supposed to do in that time.
I see ‘the new Mbappe’ doing the rounds in the rumours today well
Ianis Stoica that is 🙄
Midfield is key to our opportunities. Chances are created, and we’re really missing Tierney.
A youngster depends on the coach to set up an environment to succeed. Look what happened to Saka and ESR last game. Each time when Martinelli was subbed in, he was fighting alone on the left wing. I wonder what they do on the training pitch. They should build up some chemistry and practice some play to move the ball forward. MC is expert doing this. Every player moves into position to receive a pass.
When exactly has Martinelli been given chances this season?
Can someone please supply the relevant data.
Many thanks.
Balogun is also a strange one.
Last season in the Europa he looked good, but apart from the Brentford debacle, when have we seen him.
I also feel sorry for Eddie and can understand his decision.
Personally, I feel he’s been mismanaged.
Same with AMN.
Where’s the trust and belief from the manager. Both these players have, imo, been poorly treated by Arteta.
Aubameyang or Eddie?
Who would you trust most asked on what you e seen over these past few months?
Exactly!
based on what you’ve seen
I like how Pep and Klopp develop their youngsters. Each time, they start only one youngster to play with the regulars. They didn’t change the formation. A youngster can integrate much faster that way. You don’t start Martinelli and Balogun at the same time and the team was confused with the new setup..
Does anyone have the stats on Martinelli’s game time this season?
Graham62
You been down to Woodside Road this season? It was a disappointing result on Saturday but still stop of the league!
The point is, can anyone actually see our manager dropping Aubameyang and trying something else? He’s not exactly Mr Flexible is he – he can’t even arch those starchy little sculpted eyebrows of his.
The only auspices under which Martinelli or Pepe might replace Auba would be an unspecified illness of injury. That way, no one loses face which is a sign of how egos still dominate. Remember all those little colds and viruses that the bug-eyed waster Ozil used to get before away trips to Burnley etc.
Long time appreciator of the blog here, but this whole xG-bashing has left a sour taste. Firstly, I want to say I’m optimistic, and hope Arteta is the man to lead the club back to its former glory (I have my reservations too, but at least we’re not United). Even so, I don’t agree with what you’ve said. You say xG lacks the sample size, and yet you use 5th after 12 games as a measure of performance. Surely looking at the results alone is misleading. This position could be luck, ease of games or a number of other factors.… Read more »
Kroenke, the criticism last year was he never had the same starting 11.
Now he’s rolled with a consistent 11 for 9 games, you are saying he’s inflexible.
Which is it?
Nelson, the team was confused by the setup because 24 hrs before the game, we had a covid outbreak. The issue was so bad, the players didn’t travel together and the results of the tests weren’t known until the afternoon before the game.
Context.
Arsenal integrate more young players than any club at the moment. Not sure we’re having an issue there. If someone isn’t playing, it’s because there’s a better option in the side.
Sorry Chris! I knew I wasn’t writing to you, poor typo on my part there.
Leeds, agree.
Though I do think the table can lie (or mislead). Brighton weren’t 16th bad last season, you knew the pattern was they’d blow at some point.
xG is a great tool to find a deeper story if there’s one to be had.
We aren’t attacking well this season, we know that. But I don’t think there’s a ‘this is a false position’ vibe going around like there was under Emery.
Need to create chances, how is Martinelli going to get service in a packed box? Not our midfield. Play with static players, with slow build up, into a set defense is a recipe for no margins. Need goals, won’t get them this year. 538 has us ending the season 6th, is that progress? I do not think we will even end up in that position. Not in my world, but hey let’s give the most boring coach I have watched lately, another 38 games and Europe to figure out our scoring problems. watch manure pick up Pott and make a… Read more »
‘Play with static player’ oh my word. Your histrionics are painful reading. Referencing a prediction table like it’s gospel as well.
I think the issue is we need a striker who has the ability to make the ball stick when it is played into him. At the moment, the only person capable of that is Lacazette. The ball bounces off Auba, Martinelli and Nketiah. That’s why none of those three are the solution. Matinelli needs to play on the wing because he isn’t good in the crowded centre. He’d also need Laca as a focal point in the attack for him.
Now he’s rolled with a consistent 11 for 9 games, you are saying he’s inflexible. Pedrito, What? The point I’m trying to make is about Auba. Of course consistency is welcome but that’s a rather different issue than sticking with a player when he’s clearly not at his best and is starting to lose his powers. He seems scared or at best reluctant to substitute or drop his captain which his baffling given how little Auba provides a lot of the time. Auba did well against Spurs and in other little cameos, but he’s not enjoyed stellar form since the… Read more »
I agree that Auba is well past his best. Unfortunately, by dropping him, another problem is created. An unhappy £350kp/w player nowhere near the team ring any bells?
Ultimately, Pedro has said it himself, we need to find a striker with the qualities of both Auba and Laca (good luck to the guys in charge of that!).
Auba will play against Newcastle. He has an excellent record against them. If he fails again, however, someone else should get a turn, preferabley Martinelli after 60 minutes.
“MOST IMPORTANT METRIC: 5th in the league.”
Thats quite funny Pedro. Seems to me that when i brought up the standings last season you poo-pooed me then and stated that the xG was where it was at and the standings were essentially a false barometer of progress (the these arent the droids you are looking for Jedi mind trick). What happened, xG suddenly no longer applies??
Seems to me that double standards may be at play here my good man?
Pedro, Yeah, like Vegas betting odds are always way off. Look at a few sites, most have us finishing 6th too. Problem identified to hindering our chances at top 4….Scoringgggg. Seriously Pedro, not picking a fight, do you watch other sports? If so, watch the GS Warriors in the NBA and get back to me. Their motion offense is a site to behold. Or watch any great NFL offensive coordinators use a motion offense to get the 1X1 match ups needed to maximize time and space. Just talking about the way coaches utilize off the ball movement to create gaps,… Read more »
ernest
to be fair it isnt really a double standard to not live in the past, to understand why the table looks like it does. someone harping about the table a year ago had every right to be bummed out, but there were mitigating factors, which seems to be the real issue the anti mikel side can’t wrap their heads around.
if you see support and optimism for your club as having a double standard, maybe look for an answer outside this blog and football in general
Aaron
comparing the warriors to arsenal right now is hilarious.
i live in oakland and i went to the games 15 years ago WHERE A YOUNG TEAM GOT BUILT, that ethic was there a few seasons before curry arrived. like when we upset the 1 seed mavs
Pedro Arsenal are focussing this season on the EPL and when you are unbeaten and playing reasonably well that limits the number of changes you are going to make to the team. The defence has been unchanged apart from the left back position where Tavares replaced Tierney when he was injured. I expect Tierney to come back this weekend.. Partey is an automatic selection when fit and Xhaka until he got injured would have been considered his automatic partner with Lokonga coming in as substitute for either player. Three positions in our attack are more or less unchanged with Smith-Rowe,… Read more »
Hahaha defending the hypocrisy. What a proper laff
https://www.yahoo.com/sports/as-nf-ls-billion-dollar-mediation-with-st-louis-begins-team-owners-could-wage-war-against-each-other-062242924.html
Can we address the elephant in the room. We lose to the teams that are better than us. There are more than four teams better than us. Ergo, we will never qualify for the CL. I’d assume that qual for the CL is paramount for the rebuild. Winning eighth place, a Makita Tournament and the odd Runners up in the caraboo cup won’t cut it.
Not sure where the breakthrough is. Know what I mean?
Zacharse
“you see support and optimism for your club as having a double standard, maybe look for an answer outside this blog and football in general”
Hahaha.
So it’s ok to take digs at the arsenal manager when it’s not Arteta?!?!
Looks like there will be a repeat discussion here regarding Auba after being benched and no scoring of goals in the same fashion when there was no creativity and Ozil was either unused or not in the squad. Who will be Pierre for Auba and K’Phobe for anti Auba? It is obvious that the playing into the last 3rd and the finishing in front of goal has not really improved since last season and because of the table position Arteta is too afraid to experiment. So far it looks like the passing is back to the giant U that it… Read more »
GOH called Lacazette and Auba as fucking rubbish over three years ago.
Highlight reel players. No class. Powderpuff stats boosted by terrible teams.
Look at Messi now. Complete and utter trash.
Zacharse,
Not comparing an apples to a lemon:-)
Just observing how of coaches do things to improve their teams and make them exciting to watch.
And Kerr and co. went from basically last to 1st in less than 2 seasons, with a few trades, and without Klay and Wiseman yet. Have been watching them since the Al Attles days.
Watch a Leeds game and get back to me. They have been doing it for 2 years now and with players who are not as talented as the kids we have!
“if you see support and optimism for your club as having a double standard, maybe look for an answer outside this blog and football in general”
Sorry Zach but i have to call you out on that statement. Supporters are supporters, they have their ups and downs and this blog is King for welcoming all supporters whether you like it or not.
And as for the Bedwetters claims that some love pumping, goes both ways with those on the opposite end coming off as Constipated Old Bitties
Whats your gut feel on the A’s staying in Oakland, Zach? Its not looking ideal.
Chris
Unfortunately, I haven’t but I intend to go before Xmas.
How’s life with you.
Positive sheep, trying to live in his cult wonderland where the only opinions are ones shared by himself.
Good for ewe mate
Pedro
My point is that we shouldn’t judge Martinelli and Balogun based on that game. They were put in a position to fail.
They were put in a position to fail.
And here’s me thinking they were the only available strikers.
There are lies, damend lies and statistics. In keeping with earlier games against Man City and Chelsea, when we are pressured we are not very good. We always try to play out from the back but if you come against a more physical imposing side who hunt you down in packs then this is what is going to happen. You will be rushed into stupisd mistakes and cough up ball. We do not have a plan B of going long and holding up ball further up the field. We just don’t have that type of player. We cannot go long… Read more »
Ok.. so im gonna take a left field… flyer.. I think we need one of Lokonga or AMN to be our hero in December. That will help our attack in itself. But if you rmaking me pick an attacker. Then ok.. Martinelli.. However, I still don’t think Marti is a like for like substitute for Auba.. so if thats how we use him it will fail, in my opinion. I still think he is better coming from outside to in and with enough space to dribble.. Somewhat like we are using ESR now. I think if we move ESR more… Read more »
There’s a justification for everything on here when it comes to Arteta.
Question:
What’s the feeling in respect to Arteta’s handling of Nketiah, Martinelli, Balogun, AMN, Pepe and a few others?
Do his actions fill you with confidence?
Oh that’s right, we have to trust in the process.
.
Eddie- I believe if memory serves Arteta was the one to give Eddie a bunch of games when Arteta first got here right when he took over and it made a bunch of people mad. Eddie didn’t really take the bull by the horns that first season. Now he wants out. Marti- As I said above it’s complicated. Balogun… Had a chance … I think he will get more. It’s a big step up.no doubt. AMN_ we should play him more, in my opinion. Pepe- Slows our attack down.. and we tend to lose when he plays. I dont think… Read more »
Midwest, there is always a collection of people that create victims out of players that aren’t in the first team.
AMN over Sambi? Not sure about that
Martinelli over… anyone? Not sure about that.
Eddie, without signing a new deal? What’s the point in developing him for his next club.
People whining on about trusting a process that has us in 5th with a team of new players really is sight to behold.
Peds- Yep.. it’s not a straight forward decision. If we do A then B will happen. Its not an excuse it’s just the way it is. There is no team out there that develops every single prospect on the team all at the same time. Pulisic is an amazing player in my opinion and he can’t even break into the Chelsea starting lineup. It’s not a starightforward I have talent so I should play thing. The manager is trying to win games is the bottom line.. I just don’t believe Arteta is deliberately trying to lose to prove an ego… Read more »
Graham,
Speaking as someone who doesn’t trust the process, I’d still say that Martinelli is the only one in that group of players who should have been treated better. Balogun should have gone on loan in the summer but it seems like he’ll go in January so no big harm done.
AMN was behaving like a massive muppet up until the end of the TW. as soon as his behavior improved, the chances came.
Pepe deserves to be benched. And so does Nketiah. No sane manager would give him minutes since he’s leaving.
What I would like to see JUST ONCE is an offensive 4 of saka on the right , Martinelli on the left, Smith rowe in the hole and Eddie up top…and Newcastle would be the perfect game for Arteta to try something different.
Of course, It won’t happen but how nice would it be to see it JUST ONCE, what is there to lose.
Think we should take a chance on pepe as striker, how bad could he possibly be? He has pace, skill, finishing and has increased his work rate. He is also more of an aerial threat than Auba and can play with his back to goal. In my opinion we wasting him on the wing, playing him ST may end up saving us a lot of money and saving face if he turns out to be great.
love sausage
“And so does Nketiah. No sane manager would give him minutes since he’s leaving.”
ah, yes
Eddie was offered a contract extension, he declined
Eddie refused to move to Palace in the summer and preferred to run down his contract
I wouldn’t play him if I was Arteta.
Pedro
“Eddie, without signing a new deal? What’s the point in developing him for his next club.”
We’ve already developed him for his next club
I also .. am on record as saying I thought the Club should have let Arteta go at the end of last season. However, they did not and backed him in the last transfer window in a big way.. and gave him this season to prove himself. So far he has in my opinion. I still think we need a couple more players though this Januaury .. the list of above players for me doesnt solve our issues fast enough, if ever.
Pierre
“We’ve already developed him for his next club”
Same way other clubs develop their players for us
We will still get something for Eddie by tribunal because he’s an academy product leaving before the age of 24 years and was offered a contract.
Dissenter
“Eddie was offered a contract extension, he declined
Eddie refused to move to Palace in the summer and preferred to run down his contract”
Players all over the world are running down their contracts and are still selected to play , there is a long lists of them , Lacazette is one…
If our attack was firing and scoring goals it wouldn’t be an issue , but unfortunately the opposite is happening and has been happening for too long .
Midwest, Agreed. We’re in a pretty crappy situation as far as the strikers go. Only two players have a future at the club but they’re not ready to carry the team. And unfortunately, we create very few chances in open play so we need someone who can carry us. I hope the club goes all out for Vlahovic in January. Even if he prefers Juventus, I’d like to see us have a proper go at him. But Arteta should also adjust the tactics. I see people shitting all over Ode but to me, he’s an underutilized asset. He’s just not… Read more »
Pierre,
IMO, Eddie should only get minutes as a last resort. Martinelli has a future at the club so he should have priority. If he’s given a few games and still not performing, then you’re left with 3 players who will all be gone soon. And if Eddie can score a few on his way out, fine.
“Think we should take a chance on pepe as striker, how bad could he possibly be? ”
Thats just so wrong on so many fronts. You have genuine striker options sitting on the bench and yet you think Pepe somehow should be given a run? Not a hold up Striker for absolute certain. Pretty much guaranteed to be muscled off the ball at will. I just dont see Pepe as an option for much these days.
LS-
Havent seen enough of Vlahovic. to say… I like Isak.. I like that striker at Real Madrid Jovic. Anyhow, I think we have options that could improve us.. whether we get it done in January or not is another thing. And I would like to fix our midfield pivot.. I keep dreaming about Tyler Adams in an Arsenal Shirt. Hahaha Sadly, that probably means I think about Arsenal a little too much to be healthy.
Pierre
I agree.
It can’t continue.
Ronaldo just scoring his 14,000,000,000th CL goal
Eddie has visibly beefed up these past few months.
He looks stronger, faster and hungrier.
I’ve a feeling he’ll be an asset for any team.
Midwest,
Vlahovic is a beast. For the crowd that likes calendar year tables, he’s scored most league goals in Europe this year. Not bad for a 21-year-old in a midtable club, in a league that’s notoriously defensive.
Isak is a good player too, would surely make us better.
Wouldn’t say no to Adams either but I’d be disappointed if we spent on a MF in January. Solving the attack should be top priority.
Oiuerre
Laca wasn’t offered a contract extension, unlike Eddie
Not that I want Laca to be offered an extension.
Eddie has laid his bed, he gets to sleep in it until he leaves in the summer.
I would prioritize Martinelli over him just because he’s still in the Arsenal project
… and all the best to Eddie, he’s made his choice.
That was for Pierre, not “Oiuerre”
“MOST IMPORTANT METRIC: 5th in the league.”
Unless it’s Emery in which case it’s a sacking offence.
I did like the “Since the new team started” table though, that’s a new one. Not exactly headline news that ‘Team Spends £150m and Improves’ though.
Pedro’s full range of creative talents on display today, bravo!
I’m not sure why pedro gets his knickers in a twist whenever he hears a few home truths about Arteta. We all know it’s not an easy job atm , what with chelsea,liverpool and city probably being the 3 best teams in Europe with the 3 best managers . For me , i think Arteta wasted 12 months by going down the experienced road , at least now he has seen sense in realising that youth and energy is the way forward. I just think arteta now needs to bite the bullet and admit that the experienced players are the… Read more »
What we need now is another knee-jerk move from United as they give Carrick the manager’s job on a permanent basis.
Andy,
From your lips to God’s ears. Not putting it beyond them. Especially once his pundit buddies ramp up the propaganda, the way they did with OGS.
Since Manure is winning, Michael Carrick may be able to keep his job for a while. Sancho seems to come alive. He looks dangerous when he cuts in from the right.
“What we need now is another knee-jerk move from United as they give Carrick the manager’s job on a permanent basis.”
Actually it will save them the bother of appointing Steve Bruce as a caretaker manager
@Graham 62
IAT-RobbieNovember 13, 2021 13:00:37
Let’s be real here. Since his return from injury, has Martinelli actually been given any decent playing time?
20/21:
Premier League – 589 minutes [2G/1A]
Europa League – 108 minutes [0G/0A]
League Cup – 48 minutes [0G/1A]
FA Cup – 57 minutes [0G/0A]
21/22:
Premier League – 160 minutes [0G/0A]
League Cup – 180 minutes [0G/1A]
Those minutes are equivalent to 12.6 full matches in about 9 months of football
andy1886November 23, 2021 19:42:06
“MOST IMPORTANT METRIC: 5th in the league.”Unless it’s Emery in which case it’s a sacking offence.I did like the “Since the new team started” table though, that’s a new one. Not exactly headline news that ‘Team Spends £150m and Improves’ though.Pedro’s full range of creative talents on display today, bravo!
——————
When I said Pedro was wasting his talents in advertising I wasn’t sniping at him.
His future is in PR.
He’d own that industry.
Pierre wants an all academy attack because that’s his fantasy come to life.
Won’t matter against Newcastle, they have Joe Willock so we’re already up against one of the most prolific CM in the league. Be hard enough keeping him quiet, he might just make it 57 games in a row with a goal.
Heres the thing though.. If Martinelli had started every game this season instead of Auba would we be better off in points and goals? Or might we be worse. And if not Auba who is he starting for.. ? Lacazette? ESR? So to me it’s a pointless discussion his minutes until we get a striker who we could pair him with. Unless as I mentioned we play him in the midfield which would mean Saka would get less time. Martinelli’s best spell came under Emery when we played him on the left wing or as a sub for Saka. Pierre’s… Read more »
Pierre, basing your entire team building strategy on youth for a club like Arsenal is doomed to fail.
You don’t have three years for theses youngsters to mature together because nothing stands still and the PL even less so.
Every successful club has a mixture of players in their prime, players just coming into their prime, and a bunch of talented youngsters just starting out.
Arteta wasted a year not because he went for experience, he wasted it because he didn’t get the right players with experience.
Testing
I despair when some on here call Arteta ‘inflexible’
At most two of the current first team pick were first team pick when he came two years ago. That makes him more flexible than any other Arsenal manager that anyone of us can recall.
Robbie
Thanks