Sometimes you have to roll your sleeves up and make some big unpopular calls. Arteta is about to have to do some of that. The Everton result was not par the course this season, that was a throwback to December last season. The levels were shocking. The performance was incoherent. It was a throwback to the hell days of late Emery and Wenger.
Gutless, insipid, unfocused, meek… the list of unpleasant descriptors could go on for days.
Arsenal did what is true to our recent history. We rolled up the team bus and said, ‘Rafa, I hear you have a problem, may we assist you?’
Our team is better than that. There was no excuse for that level of mediocrity. We let the situation happen to us and there isn’t a specific place to point a finger… because all of it was shite.
You could pick on the starting 11 and say that Thomas Partey shouldn’t have started and he’s been 4 out of 10 dreaful by his own account. You could say it was too soon for Tierney. You could say Xhaka wasn’t fit. You could say Lacazette up front on his own is usually not great. You could list issues with every single player that started that game and you’d be right, because it was that bad.
The biggest issue for me here was that we can all take a loss. But that was more than a loss. That was a dereliction of duty.
At a base level, that type of performance should be so far beyond us right now.
Arteta has the players for a week at a time. They are all fresher than our rivals. How can he send them out so mentally weak?
There are levels in the Premier League. Our lows simply cannot be that low. It was so, so poor.
What I can’t fathom is how things can fly off the rails so badly. That was Everton. The team with the worst form across ALL UK divisions. They were shit. We simply have to be holding our players to higher standard.
Then there’s the players.
If it wasn’t obvious, Auba has not been behaving like a captain this week. He was benched. Eddie was picked ahead of him from the bench. That’s how bad he’s been. I can sit here and debate the merits of his football contribution, but why are we here debating his behaviour again? He’s not a leader, he’s a precious baby.
Lacazette, I love him, but that was the performance of a player who knows he’s out there looking for a new deal. Where was the fight? Where was the contribution to the team he’s been giving? He was painfully nothing.
Thomas Partey, our big man in midfield, was absolutely diabolical (again). He played in one of the most ruthlessly disciplined systems in world football. He was great. He comes to Arsenal, we give him more freedom… and he’s giving away possession from a throw in under no pressure. It is wildly unacceptable how awful he’s been.
How about Ben White? £55m. The vision of what a defender could be. Makes line-breaking runs for 30 yards, then passes 3 yards to whoever is next to him. Defensively, he was a mess. Why was he standing off like a frightened rabbit? He wasn’t doing that at Leeds. Not good enough. He needs to get better, yesterday.
I don’t want to go there… but Bukayo ain’t been right since he came back from the Euros. Another anonymous performance from him out wide. He’s barely showing for the ball. His confidence is shot. He looks tired. It’s very worrying.
Things were so bad we’ve got the Pepe-Ultras out suggesting he’d be the difference. No people. He’s had his chances. Eddie missing from one yard was terrible, but at least he was there showing for it (created 3 chances). What was the counterpoint? Auba. Threaded in by Eddie, missed the sort of chance Auba of old scores with his eyes shut.
We could talk about Mike Dean and his shocking officiating, but it’s not worth it, we put that result on ourselves. It was the worst performance under Arteta to date, and we’ve had some bad one’s.
We can’t stew on it though. It feels like a catastrophe because in its own way. It was an bad performance addict having a relapse. That was old Arsenal. The question is… can we deal with it? Can we show bravery? Can we bounce back?
There’s not really a choice.
Southampton is a must-win.
West Ham is a must-win.
Leeds away is a must-win.
Norwich away is a must-win.
Wolves is a must-win.
Do I think we win all those games? I don’t think so. We’ve gone from looking robust-ish, to looking like the start of another death-spiral is incoming.
There’s no defence for it.
These are his players.
He prepares them.
He coaches them.
He motivates them.
We can all take a loss, but it has to be glorious failure, it has to look sexy in places… not like what we saw today.
Arteta has to own it. When you staff the players yourself, it’s you, regardless of how bad they are.
We live in a world of extremes. The currency of the internet is outrage. People love to live in misery. The season isn’t over, we could still claw something back… but the biggest worry is Arteta is not shaking out patterns of play that would indicate there truly is a change in culture. Last night wasn’t about the lack of a striker. It was about sending a team out that lacked focus, fight, and the edge to find a way.
This moment cannot blow out into another December drama. There is too much riding on a Top 4-able season. He needs to find a solution fast, because time waits for no one.
Check out our On The Whistle Podcast. Thank you to all you lovely good-humoured weirdos that join the LIVE feed. It’s very fun. We truly appreciate you hanging around with us in the misery pool.
David I was about to say this sky scrutinising his tactics now
Under Wenger Arsenal had goal of the year candidate every other month.
Under Emery Arsenal had a couple goal of the year candidates too.
Under Arteta Arsenal have a save of the year contender every other game.
He just needs to replace the remaining 15-20 players for the offense to click……….. I wouldn’t worry.
Samesong
””””Do you remember this one CG? Arsenal 7 Everton 0”””’
You don’t forget games like this. That was perfection.
And what about the 4-1 , when we won the league.? The Tony Adams game.
I flew 16 hours to London specifically for that one.
I think , unless we have new owners soon these memories will be the only thing we will have left.
that sky sports article isnt that tough on him, just saying he needs to rethink tactics right now and i think everyone here would agree. doesnt overlook the poor output and leadership of senior players. its foolish to lay blame on one person for shitshopw like yesterday. he’s in charge and has to take th hits and come up w a better plan, thats how it works. if he cant he should go
Richarlison is overrated…..if he put himself about at Arsenal the way he does at Everton he would be red carded every other week . We should know by now that there is one rule for Arsenal and ons one rule for the rest .
He scores at a rate of about one every 4 starts which is hardly prolific…
He scores at a rate of about one every 4 starts which is hardly prolific…
That is better than what we have right
Zach
Sadly he will not go, we will win some, lose some and end up where we are again… maybe 7th this season but that will be progress in KSE eyes.
Of course the project is progressing!
Its so sad this state we are in. Once the mighty Arsenal, now mired in this medicority
Arsenal is a big club and have no business recruiting players that cannot deliver in December-January in the premier league knowing that this is the culture in England. Arsenal have no business recruting players that are not ready for the bruising in the premier league. Arsenal have no business recruting players that shy away from the fight. That nonsense during Wenger’s era of recruting players like Reyes who could not stand the agression must stop. Thierry, Patrick Viera, Emmanuel Petit were all foreign players that gave back hard knocks as hard as they received it. It is no secret since… Read more »
agreed guns. i am firmly of the opinion now that without top 4 end of season he’s gotta go. he’s done right by us so far, but we need to reset standards and if he’s a s good as his word he’ll know it. getting the feeling he’s starting to lose sections of the dressing room. fingers crossed january can change that and give us a boost with some fresh meat in attack
Definitely different since Wenger left. The thing with Wenger was that he seemed like a guy whose tactics was “go out there and have fun boys, do what u do best”. Arteta is trying to instil rigid tactics on the team. This doesn’t work with all players, and Arsenal are known for free spirited football and this is not it.
i’d take zidane. not sure how well that would go but wouldn’t mind seeing him in charge. an expensive experiment but why not if arteta can’t get our teams collective dick hard
Listening and watching Pedro’s podcast and reading some of what’s written on here one can get a whiplash.
Only if you thought Arsenal should’ve beat Spurs and Leicester 9:0 ( or whatever it was) combined the Everton game came as a surprise.
Eddie scores his header and Auba buries his 98th minute side footer and the narrative would’ve been Arsenal weren’t at their best but took their chances expertly and deserved the win.
tom that’s the small margins thing. should be the called the ‘that’s why any given day any team can win’ principle. off day amplified by the context. we needed that fucking win bad and lost it so ugly
Arteta had some basic decisions to make yesterday but did not address them, notably Xhaka remaining in the game until then end. Tactically if we’re to sit on a 1 goal lead for 45minutes you have to pull that trigger. Not saying I agree with that approach as i’d of absolutely preferred us to carry over into the second 45 hunting the killer blow. Only explanation for that is players are directed not to as its now trademark. So many issues in this side from Auba and Laca to Partey’s cliff dive with Ben White looking doped at times. No… Read more »
Funny enough VAR and officiating have been kind to us in recent games but still we found new ways of blowing results up in our faces.
A few months ago, the referees won’t really bother going to VAR to chalk off Richardilson’s first two goals.
Agree Bankz everything seems to be breaking our way recently from De Gea to Var and we’re still getting punished.
@zacharse We should stick with Arteta because who else is there? Well just brainstorming here but Ten Hag is on £2m a year. I’m sure if we were making a big offer he’d be interested at least. Or what about Amorim from Sporting Lisbon? First season in charge he took a team that finished 4th and which had lost their best player in Bruno Fernandes and won their first title in 20 years. I know nothing else about him as a coach, but that’s progress. Other names that always get bandied about and are available include Lucien Favre and Paolo… Read more »
Arsenal wont sack Arteta
That needs a 15 game losing streak. And I am not exaggerating.
Sal
“.So many issues in this side from Auba and Laca to Partey’s cliff dive with Ben White looking doped at times. No quick fixes to a broken spine that can function, thats management”
A spine built by Arteta with massive investment :
White : 50M
Partey : 50M
Odegard : 35M
Ramsdale : 25M
Auba : Contract extended by Arteta with wages upwards of 250K/week.
“We should just buy DCL and Richarlison,”
Now why would Everton want to gut the heart of their lineup? Sometimes some of you deliver head scratching moments in your fits of temporary insanity.
And yet again we have discussions involving Sean Dyche? WTF is wrong with some of you? We lost a game yesterday, not our flipping minds!!! Get a grip some of you!!!
“We should just buy DCL and Richarlison,”
Shame we don’t have someone in the organisation with ties to Brazil.
Arteta is so tightly wound to Josh, Edu that its going to be hard to fire him.
Him and Edu are same level. Mistake number 1 right there.
Its like if one goes, they all have to go to some extent.
Plus KSE loves him, and I am sure Edu wants him around, to only save his own bacon.
Its a mess….
Vinai is the one who can recommend to the board, for removal of Mike. Or Josh directly
Shame we don’t have someone in the organisation with ties to Brazil.
LOL
Ernest,
Lost my mind long time ago. But I have always rated Richarlison. I like the tenacity of south american players in general. He is an industrious and hard working forward. IT is what we need. If not him, then someone in that mold.
DCL- another one that we could benefit from. Or in the mold. Tall, strong, good hold up play and headers
These are the type of players we need
White is a decent defender who’s biggest strength is advancing the ball either with his feet or through long passes.
His defending has always been suspect except saying so on here was met with scorn and labels dished out Pedro and a few others for reasons only known to them.
His pace allows him to right many positioning mistakes but relying on your pace against equally quick players isn’t sometimes enough.
CG Did you go through a security check or did you just break Arteta’s inabilities to make things work is suffocating the club. Why talk about player performance when we have this gentleman in charge. I’m afraid my mind is made up and no amount of statistics and data will convince me otherwise. My Dyche comments haven’t gone down too well but as this is a footballing blog and not just an Arsenal blog, sometimes it’s good to highlight those managers with better managerial skills. Apparently though because his best mate says he’s a great coach, we have to take… Read more »
break in?
From Twitter :
Maitland Niles wins Man of the match against Watford, next 4 games:
Liverpool (A) – 37 mins as sub
Newcastle (H) – benched
Man United (A) – benched
Everton (A) – left out of squad ❌
Sambi’s last start against Newcastle – man of the match. He also has not started a game since.
Sal “Not saying I agree with that approach as i’d of absolutely preferred us to carry over into the second 45 hunting the killer blow. Only explanation for that is players are directed not to as its now trademark.” i wouldn’t take this as a given. there was a poster on here a few days ago saying ‘you’d never think that was the case the way he you see him screaming at the players throughout the game to push forward…’ then he asked how many people here go to games. doesn’t seem like too many. just an alternative perspective not… Read more »
So how are we doing compared with last season?
If you compare the same fixtures (replacing the relegated clubs from 20/21 with their promoted counterparts in 21/22) you find that:
In the same fixtures 20/21 we gained 29 points with a +3 GD
This season 21/22 we have gained 23 points and have a GD of -4.
By that measure results have been worse this season compared to last.
Tom “Eddie scores his header and Auba buries his 98th minute side footer and the narrative would’ve been Arsenal weren’t at their best but took their chances expertly and deserved the win.” I think the question is , why did it it take Everton to equalise before we started playing. Yes we were one nil up ,but were hardly good value for it. Everton had 2 goals disallowed for marginal offside decisions Everton equalised and suddenly we were moving the ball with more urgency and on another day Aubamayang and Eddie score , Odegaard also had 2 good chances, but… Read more »
From the Athletic written by an ardent Arsenal fan James Nicholas that says it all “Arteta has no coherent plan for Arsenal’s attack”. It is full of irony and digs plus a reality perspective. “If you were already concerned about the absence of a coherent strategy for Arsenal’s attack, then their performance in this 2-1 away loss to Everton will have confirmed some of your fears.” “That we are talking about this team’s attacking problems the morning after Everton had the ball in the Arsenal net no less than four times is indicative of the scale of the issue.” “It… Read more »
Graham ”’My Dyche comments haven’t gone down too well but as this is a footballing blog and not just an Arsenal blog, sometimes it’s good to highlight those managers with better managerial skills.””” Its never stopped me, say what you think at all times, (getting ‘cancelled’ or banned is the norm these days from the phoney progressives,) As for Dyche most supporters with he exception of the odd few on here, would not know a decent manager or what it takes to be a good manager if they lived to 250 . There is Dyche and then there is Ten… Read more »
Arteta’s bad performance level is lower than Graham ( apart from final season ) lower than Wenger and borderline with Emery . If he takes us to 7th again then he’s really at a Terry Neil level ,. If the ship starts sinking again I’d suggest getting rid
There is a disconnect with Mike and his post game interviews.
he always is saying that he wanted the team to go forward, to attack, etc.
However, on the pitch, not much else is happening in this regard
So, the players either dont understand what he wants or they are blatantly disregarding his instructions, or he is just BSing everyone…
Just take the blame Mike. End of.
The buck stops with you, so take the blame and fix the issue.
Or just shut up after the game and not say anything.
@Guns
You forgot the most important part for MA OR just fuck off.
TR7 Think i’m certainly is the minority on this site but i’ve zero issue with Ødegaard in the side, in fact if Arteta can’t find the balance between him, ESR and Saka thats fully on him. On another note those weaponising Dyche to illustrate how shit Arteta is bizarre thinking for me. In what world does any club in top 8 or there abouts hire Dyche with likes of Potter, Hassenhutl and Frank waiting in the wings. Not even touching on talent outside the Prem. It won’t happen and its not because of Dyche’s attire or speech or whatever else… Read more »
TR7, I think some of the selection decisions have been bizarre. I can’t find the rationale for starting Elneny at OT when neither AMN or Sambi had knocks. I’m beginning to wonder if Arteta has picked up Pep’s tinkering, over thinking bad habits.
The players seemed stuck to their respective positions last night with no one moving into gaps showing for the ball. Is that players letting the manager down or is it confused players?
Eddie to the left wing is just irrational. He’s leaving, he’s a poacher, there are others who can play there, so why?
Narcissist always think it’s not their fault.
It takes courage to take the blame, and it gets you respect.
It’s hard to think who could become our next manager, not Brenda.
@Pedro
“Arteta has the players for a week at a time. They are all fresher than our rivals. How can he send them out so mentally weak?
What I can’t fathom is how things can fly off the rails so badly. That was Everton. The team with the worst form across ALL UK divisions. They were shit.”
Let me fix that for you get rid of ARTETA!!!
Why? Besides your obvious admissions Arteta creates Ozil situation, Auba, Pepe etc.
“As for Dyche most supporters with he exception of the odd few on here, would not know a decent manager or what it takes to be a good manager if they lived to 250 .”
You just took dumbfoundedness to a whole new level CG…
“There is Dyche and then there is Ten Haag,.both the same age, both look the same.
Ten Haag manages in a Mickey Mouse league, Dyche manages in the prem”
No, take that back, you just breached the Kuiper Belt with your comical nonsense.
Geez but you are a total waste of otherwise decent education money.
Everybody is picking up on the shabby attacking numbers we have
Same time Pedro is using Pepe-ultras to described those that bother mentioning how Arteta has frozen out a player that scored 10 goals last season, in spite of his flakiness.
Hope Pedro is enjoying the Arteta horror who that’s being served.
At least no one will scape goal this crises with Pepe.
Only Die-hard Arteta.rists will deny that Pepe ought to be coming in from the bench to try to help the team.
Ask yourself who’s more likely to score?
Pepe or Eddie?
Pedro will say Pepe has had enough chances
How about Arteta has had enough chances?
19th for big chances created and we’re nearly halfway through the season. I’m sorry but this is Arsenal and that is just so far away from being good enough.
CG, you said ‘ Although he was not too sexy or good when Spurs beat his side in the European Cup semi final a while back’
I’d say getting to the semi finals of the champions league with a team from one of the weakest countries in Europe for club football is some achievement! Wenger hardly ever managed that even!!
The xG is showing that the league table is flattering us
The statistical probability that we will slide down the table is higher that the chances we will rebound.
Dyche strikes me as a BULLY.
Bit like Moyes when things are not
going well.
Man management is an art
I know we were spoilt in the Wenger era, blessed with top quality football for the most part, but I just find us such a labour to watch these days. If this is what ‘JCP’, or whatever it is, is meant to be, then I’d be up for a change in philosophy, absolutely. A lot of the stats in the SKY article are damning. Yes it’s a new team etc but there should be a fast uptake in there measurements than there is, given test time between games etc On another note, I was genuinely surprised that SKY even brought… Read more »
CG
“Unproven”
Ten Haag was next in line for Bayern if Nagelsmann wasn’t moving. No question he moves to the elite eventually.
Dudes played Dortmund twice in group stages this season winning both with a 7-1 aggregate, 5x played in the group 5 won already into the knockouts. Not bad for a manager from a ‘mickey mouse league’. Inches away from final couple years ago… but does have similar head of hair to Dyche that wont change even in the prem.
Would be a big step in right direction for me.
Messi is still the most beautiful player to watch and still scores the most amazing goals. A sumptuous goal again in CL. The tap in merchants have got nothing on him.
J. Wood
””””’Dyche strikes me as a BULLY.””””’
Like Fergie , you mean?
Do you think Dyche would allow his Arsenal players to be assaulted like they were last night?
That sort of nonsense would stop immediately
You think he would tolerate PEA as captain or sign William?
Jettison Saliba for Benjamin White?
Give bizarre contracts to players that want to leave ?( Xhaka)
I would expect a Dyche Arsenal team playing muscular, athletic and exciting soccer, exactly what D. Moyes is producing for West Ham United.
CG And there it is, because they are “perceived to be sexier managers”. Arteta is 39, a complete rookie, is considered sexy. Why? Dyche is 50. an experienced PL manager, is not considered sexy. Why? Potter is 46. also an experienced manager, is also not perceived to be sexy? Why Howe 44, again a very experienced PL manager, is also not perceived as being sexy, except to the Arabs! At 39, most people are well versed in the ins and outs of decision making. In fact at 39, you should be fairly set in your ways. That’s the worrying thing… Read more »
James
What is Arteta then?
A narcissist? A control freak? A bully? A poor man-manager?
Make a nice cocktail of all of that and I think we have our answer.
What do you think?
Arsenal’s last 4 games –
Everton 2 Arsenal 1.
Man Utd 3 Arsenal 2.
Arsenal 2 Newcastle 0.
Liverpool 4 Arsenal 0.
3/12 points.
If we had a half decent manager in charge, we should have got probably 7/12.
Never mind.
He’s still learning his trade.
Graham
””””Dyche, Potter and Howe are far superior coaches and managers, it’s an absolute no brainer.””’
Off course they are, it does not even have to be stated.
Burnley, Brighton HA and Newcastle would not want Arteta as their manager- so why is he earning £5 000 000 per annum as ours?
Most of this place is late as fuck to the poor attacking numbers, they’ve been constantly harped on about for 18 months by a handful of the same posters and it was met with dismissive hyperbole over the greatness of ESR, Saka, Martinelli, and Balogun. Never mind the comical overrating of Auba and Pepe. Dissenter you keep harping on about our attack being poor and Pepe frozen out as if there’s some link. Since he arrived we’ve scored 56 and 55 league goals respectively. Pepe isn’t answering anything in attack, certainly not ahead of Eddie or Martinelli who have more… Read more »
Can i just point out that no one was questioning our lack of creativity before Ozil was frozen out of the side 18 months ago.
Aubamayang covered up our lack of creativity for a couple of months with some henryesque type finishes during the FA cup run …but that was the exception rather than the norm…
Charlie
Probably better to question the manager’s coaching amd tactics as to why so many offensive players have struggled during the past 18 months…
Of course it could be just a coincidence that our creativity has nosedived since Ozil was frozen out for non footballing reasons..
Pierre Think I’ll stick chiefly to criticising the talent profile of our ‘elite’ players bought for massive money in the attacking third if that’s ok. Our young attackers have largely impressed under Arteta. Trouble is we all bought into the idea Auba, Laca, Pepe was something that could compete with the Mane, Firmino, Salah trios of the PL. Aged well. Does that absolve Arteta from failing to adapt, or recognise the need to invest in the right areas? Absolutely not, but don’t tell me another manager gets some magical tune out of those players mentioned. Not even going to dignify… Read more »
Pierre spouting ozil crap again let it go bro lol
It’s not as if he has been amazing since he left
He is not the catalyst of our downfall years of terrible buys and not replacing talent is to blame
CG 18.31
One thing for sure the football you talk about won’t happen
any time fast with DYCHE OR WITHOUT.
As I say man management is an art.
Charlie
Surely, you don’t think that Pepe can help the team out in certain situations.
Look at out chance creations and net expected goals, they are pathetic
You’re all for playing Partey even though he’s been shite but you want to single out Pepe for a different type of treatment.
Pepe scored 10 goals last season, even as he wallowed in shite. Where do those goals come from?
Arteta is the architect of his own misfortune.
*Surely, you don’t think that Pepe can’t help the team out in certain situations.
Charlie
“Trouble is we all bought into the idea Auba, Laca, Pepe was something that could compete with the Mane, Firmino, Salah trios of the PL. Aged well.”
Without checking , I reckon pepe, Aubamayang and Lacazette’s goal contributions were not far off the Liverpool trio in the period prior to the first lockdown .
Of course i could be wrong .
Nah, I don’t think we were ever this toothless under Wenger, even in his worst years.
CG
And as regards SALIBA who knows.?
Arteta man management skills are so underdeveloped it’s amazing I hear he was a right twat as a player and had no friends in the dressing room they even called him the gaffer back then.
Mr serge
“He(ozil) is not the catalyst of our downfall years of terrible buys and not replacing talent is to blame”
Must be just a coincidence …
Saladin no we were not you are correct we scored but we also leaked goals we now just leak goals
Pierre it’s not a coincidence he was shot as a player for a couple of seasons before he was ostracized
As soon as he got that mega contract he ended his career as a top player and he milked us for all it was worth
I have no respect for him for that
Do I think pepe is our answer? No. However, what do we have on the bench by way of goal scorers? Eddie is not going to be here next season, so that leaves Pepe. But, wait, Eddie gets picked ahead of him to play on the wing? Wait….. Huh? Its clear there is some management issues happening here with Pepe. If we are firing blanks, then why not give him a chance? Its like, he is getting the martinelli treatment- he is in the dog house now. Just like Gabby was… Almost like Mike needs to have a fall guy,… Read more »
Phew!
The joys of being an Arsenal supporter.
I have to say this but it will be a sad day when Eddie finally goes.
He’s beefed up over the past year and based on what we’ve seen of him this season to date, I think we’re going to lose out on someone who’s going to get you goals.
It’ll be interesting to see where he goes next.
Pepe will be sold in January and rightly so.
“Trouble is we all bought into the idea Auba, Laca, Pepe was something that could compete with the Mane, Firmino, Salah trios of the PL. Aged well.“ Charlie, that narrative died about three months into Pepe’s Arsenal career for most, and never really took hold for anyone who’s watched Liverpool and Arsenal on the regular. Auba could never be Mane or Salah and Laca could never be a Firmino. I suppose giving Arteta more funds to complete the squad overhaul makes sense on some level, but let’s not pretend he’s had the same grand vision from the beginning and a… Read more »
Ishola70 “But let’s not fall again into that old familiar trap of over-rating players yet again.” “It gets boring keep hearing fans on here defending under performing players.” Exactly, I am amazed at the conversations here on the board shuffling players around and getting new players in the January TW, it will NOT solve the problem it is Arteta. Sort of reminds me of the last days of Hitler when he was shuffling around imaginary divisions and military equipment, the end was inevitable, likewise Arteta’s end is inevitable. Last season Leeds was the flavor of the month, this season not… Read more »
“People love to live in misery”
Pedro, you have to decipher between misery and reality.
The reality is Pedro is that we have a substandard manager who is making some incredibly poor decisions.
The misery you talk about is actually those people who react to things in a positive and direct manner, mainly because they see the consequences of the way things are being run.
Others, on the other hand, live in cloud cuckoo land.
Mikel Arteta’s in-game management is under scrutiny after Everton inflicted their third defeat in four games on Monday Night Football; Arsenal are not clicking as an attacking force and have slipped to seventh in the Premier League table “I want more from my team,” Mikel Arteta told Sky Sports. The Arsenal manager offered no excuses for his side’s poor display in Monday’s 2-1 loss to Everton but to many supporters, the players aren’t the only ones underperforming right now. A third defeat in four games has left Arteta under mounting scrutiny. “It was a worrying sign, how they lost,” said… Read more »
@CC “Does that absolve Arteta from failing to adapt, or recognise the need to invest in the right areas? Absolutely not, but don’t tell me another manager gets some magical tune out of those players mentioned.” Well Tuchel resurrected Rüdiger’s career and he got out of Chelsea players performances that the rookie Lampard couldn’t get. You are hitched to the Arteta wagon that is speeding to an abyss. The mess will be solved ONLY one way get rid of the head of this abysmal body that masquerades as AFC. Just waiting for your other dry bedded a-hole Rich to show… Read more »
””””CG And as regards SALIBA who knows.?”””””
What we do know, J. Wood. is :
the way we are shipping in goals , Saliba is now an important asset to the club, where as Arteta is now a liability.
If you could do one of those online polls.
Keep Saliba or Keep Arteta?
98% Saliba?
2% Arteta?
Charlie
Had a quick check and for the seaons 2018/19 and 2019/20
Goal contributions
Aubamayang/pepe/Lacazette had a total of 131 goal contributions for those 2 seasons in league football.
Mane /firmino/salah had a total of 142 goal contributions in league football for those 2 seasons
So when you say ” “Trouble is we all bought into the idea Auba, Laca, Pepe was something that could compete with the Mane, Firmino, Salah trio of the PL. Aged well.”
then maybe you should understand that our trio were statistically pretty close to probably the best attack in europe
Not any more …
Dissenter No I don’t have room or need for Pepe anymore than Eddie or Martinelli. The latter two run, press and hassle players into errors. All three can finish chances. Everyone knows Pepe can finish his dinner, he simply cannot cook. Sure, chuck him in with 10 to play in hindsight, but don’t profess his absence and our poor attack are in any way linked. Tom Cmon, don’t act it. The Pepe sentiment went well into this past summer with the narrative being he was a valid RB away from unleashing the inner beast. Auba STILL gets a defence as… Read more »
CG 19.50
I’m not disagreeing with anything you have said.?
I just said DYCHE SEEMS A BIT OF A BIG MOUTHED BULLY..
Pierre
Auba went head to head with Lewandowski for the golden boot in Germany for a few seasons running. But I would hope you could come to the conclusion on your own as to who the vastly superior footballer is.
Output is very important, everyone is well aware. But well-rounded football ability is what defines good attacking teams.
We’re not a very good attacking outfit largely because our best exponents of genuine all-round ability are babies who are lovingly overrated by the home crowd.
Mr Serge
“Pierre it’s not a coincidence he was shot as a player for a couple of seasons before he was ostracized”
There is evidence that in Ozil’s last season under wenger he was the 3rd most creative player in europe
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3D0EWmir3z9Ms&ved=2ahUKEwjdhdCDvNL0AhVRXMAKHckJCZUQFnoECBIQAQ&usg=AOvVaw378TQwusZK-vl3lwXBvXBX
There is also evidence that Ozil in the 2018 world cup created the most chances per minute than any other player.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.givemesport.com/1358727-mesut-ozil-stats-from-the-2018-world-cup-emerge-after-he-quits-international-football%3Famp&ved=2ahUKEwiTw6fcvNL0AhUFhlwKHTiWDlEQFnoECAsQAQ&usg=AOvVaw0ac27Y_cgbRqeF88bNHuBz
Always better to produce evidence , just a pity we hired 2 managers who put running stats ahead of technique and creativity..
Charlie
“We’re not a very good attacking outfit largely because our best exponents of genuine all-round ability are babies who are lovingly overrated by the home crowd.”
And yet our “not very good overrated babies” were statistically almost as good as the best attack in europe during the 2018/19 and 2019/20 seasons
How does that work out.
Charlie
“Auba went head to head with Lewandowski for the golden boot in Germany for a few seasons running. But I would hope you could come to the conclusion on your own as to who the vastly superior footballer is.”
I can’t remember comparing Aubamayang to lewondowski, but i can remember you sneering at the comparison between the Arsenal trio and the Liverpool trio.
The fact is , for the past 18 months under Arteta our attacking trios goal contributions have nosedived .
You lay the blame at the players feet, I’m not so sure.
There’s a lot of weird things written in support and in criticism of Arteta…proper weird shit. It really needn’t be so weird. I think what I’ve been wanting to see from Arteta is a discernable style of play (preferably attractive) consistency applied. Lose, win or draw I’m not that bothered. For example, I enjoyed watching Brighton last season despite their lowly league finish. Can anyone say there is a discernable supportable style at Arsenal under Arteta? How many good matches have we had in the league this season? Tottenham (H) and arguably Leicester (A)? That out of 14 matches? This… Read more »
Solid post Pedro
Last night performance was a sequence of all the generational drivel we have been promised.
The chickens have come home to roost
Say no more!
“And yet our “not very good overrated babies” were statistically almost as good as the best attack in europe during the 2018/19 and 2019/20 seasons“ Follow the thread a bit. Nobody is calling Auba, Laca, Pepe babies are they? And don’t misquote me. I didn’t say our babies weren’t very good, I said they were overrated. Huge difference. “I can’t remember comparing Aubamayang to lewondowski,“ You’re comparing Auba, Laca, Pepe to Mane, Firmino, Salah based purely on goal contributions. It’s the exact same argument for comparing Auba and Lewy, except any sensible football fan can pick the vastly superior player…….aka… Read more »
The thing that shouldn’tbe overlooked is that we have a very decent side with very decent players ..
I like partey and lakonga in midfield, i like both our left backs , i like our centre backs and right back and we have enough attacking talent to hurt the opposition.
We are in danger this season of throwing away a golden chance of champions league football, not all is lost ……….yet
TYAG
Personally, I think”Arteta’s in-game management” is absolutely appalling.
No one can convince me otherwise
Charlie “You’re comparing Auba, Laca, Pepe to Mane, Firmino, Salah based purely on goal contributions.” Keep with the thread charlie , it was you who was making sneering compatisons “Trouble is we all bought into the idea Auba, Laca, Pepe was something that could compete with the Mane, Firmino, Salah trios of the PL. Aged well.” And yes our trio were competing statistically with the liverpool trio and no , i wasn’t comparing them like for like. Let’s be honest , we would love to see our offensive trio (whoever they are) return figures from the 2 seasons i mentioned… Read more »
Ben White has gone from playing in a high tempo and positive structure at Brighton, to a slow and negative structure at Arsenal.
From Potter to Arteta.
Must be shocked by what he’s experiencing.
This from Charlie: “Auba STILL gets a defence as mud to throw at Arteta. The trio [ Auba, Pepe, Laca] are a mess for what they were intended as, that’s the uncomfortable truth to matters.“ And this from Arteta: “We have had many discussions with Pierre, his family and his agent, and I am pretty positive we can find the right agreement for all parties,” Arteta said. “I think it’s our responsibility to make him feel this is the right next step in his career. In order to do that he needs to feel valued. “I think he needs to… Read more »
Pierre
There is no honest comparison of the trio, the fact you’re trying to suggest their goal contributions creates an equivalency is pathetic.
I don’t like the narrative that signing a bunch of new attackers will somehow make us a chance creating, goal scoring team under Arteta. It is pretty clear we need to get rid of Auba, Laca and Pepe. But replacing them isn’t a guarantee of success. The football is atrocious under Arteta. There is no plan. If Arsene Wenger was delivering ridiculously good football with the likes of Chamak and Bendtner as forwards for long stretches of the season, then we can do better with Lacazette and Aubameyang. The point is this, having players of a bit lower in quality… Read more »
Also the defensive side of his game isn’t as impressive as people think. Yes we are conceding less. But we put every man behind the ball when we defend. We hardly press collectively. Big teams of recent years like Man city and Liverpool have a concrete plan to press. I haven’t seen any pattern of pressing since Arteta took over.
Habesha bringing it ^^^^