ARSENAL FIXTURE PILE-UP – MOVEMENTS OUT IN JAN, WHERE TO LOOK?

by .

One of the big improvements Mikel Arteta needs to make in 2022 centres around how we tackle the top 2 sides. We show far too much respect to City and Liverpool. It wasn’t like that during his first season, but lately, those games have felt like a loss before we’ve kicked a ball.

Well, guess what, it seems like the first two fixtures of next year are likely going to be: Manchester City and Liverpool.

We drew them in the League Cup. Brendan Rodgers team gave up a decent lead last night and lost on penalties. Our semi-final with them is slated for Jan 4th.

Liverpool might be the best semi-final. They played second-string against Leicester. I’m not sure Jurgen Klopp really cares too much about winning that trophy because he has a genuine chance at CL and the League this season. Not the same for Arsenal. I’d be surprised if Arteta took it as lightly. He knows that a League Cup is massive for a young side. It’s an opp to galvanise the fan base, the players, and the club around a fat new contract for himself.

Still, it’s a lot to ask in the new year. City and Liverpool twice. Two losses there and everyone starts to get a little bit shaky going into a very tough Phase 5 of the season.

PHASE 5:

Spurs (A)

Burnley (H)

Wolves (A)

Brentford (H)

Liverpool (H)

Watford (A)

Leicester (H)

Villa (A)

I’m getting ahead of myself here, we’re still in Phase 4 and we have 3 games left of the 10. I think we were aiming for 20 and we’ve been a bit all over the place. Painful losses to Liverpool, United, and Everton have made it tough. Below is where we are compared to everyone else.

We’re sitting 3rd over this period, which is great, until you realise that there are quite a few teams that have had games cancelled. So those three losses could weigh quite heavily on us if everyone around us wins their games.

The team I’m worried about is Spurs. They’ve dropped out of Europe, Conte is a top manager, they are team that has tasted the top 4 in recent history. There will be tough days for them. Their Italian super manager is a brat though, if he starts losing, he will point the players, demand money, and not worry if things go off the rails. So I wouldn’t count on them being elite just because he’s there.

The job is quite simple for us, we’ll drop short of our 20 point title because the last game of our run is Manchester City, but if we can win our next two, we’ll finish the session with 18 points. Could we nick a draw against City? Doubtful, but we can dream.

Overall, we have to look at the bigger picture and the mission. Be within spitting distance of top 4 by the January 2nd. Win our next two games against Norwich and Wolves and we’ll be there. Then we can start thinking about goals for Phase 5 of the season, which will be tougher, but you’d have to be more confident with a team that knows who they are and where their level is.

The sub-plot is how we deal with the fitness of the squad through this current period. Our injury list has been shy of names this December, thankfully.

Will Arteta use Norwich and Wolves to rotate? Did Pepe or Eddie do enough to merit first-team action?

We shall see.

Arteta’s press conference didn’t really give much insight into how he’s thinking.

It doesn’t seem like Patino is an option to replace Thomas Partey.

I think it’s unlikely Jack Wilshere is going to step into the fold, despite the .com giving him a lot of camera love lately.

Arteta has said there could be forgiveness in the system for Auba. I’d take it with a grain of salt. He has to say that. If players think there’s never forgiveness for mistakes, it can be demotivating.

It also feels unlikely we’re going to spend big money on anyone… but who knows there.

The most action might happen with players leaving the club.

There are lots of clubs in Europe that need goalscorers to push close to their objectives. We have Eddie and Lacazette with 6 months on their deals and we also have Auba who could be pushed out on loan to get him out the hair of the training staff. That is quite a lot of uncertainty… but there could be movement on all of them. Lacazette, oddly, seems like the least likely to be moved on at this stage.

Bernd Leno can’t possibly stay on for the rest of the season. He’s an international keeper and he has World Cup ambitions. If he leaves, that leaves us with a very inexperienced back-up keeper, so we’d have to move on a replacement.

Then you have the tantalizing prospect of Newcastle in the market. They need defenders, midfielders, and attackers if they’re going to stay up. Will they come knocking?

OMG I HAVE NO IDEA BUT I’M EXCITED.

Patino has been linked with Barcelona. What, they think because he has Spanish parents, that makes his DNA anything other than red&white? Bitch please. Charlie is ours. He already has a song. There’s no better club in the world he could be at right now for his development.

Right, short one today, I’m still testing positive…but that line is getting lighter. Will there be a Christmas Eve miracle? Pray to the gods of football my friend.

… if praying isn’t you thing, just tune into our podcast below.

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Raulishuss

Bamford sid gucho da silva

Rich

Pierre I was at that game in Cardiff when Walcott scored against Chelsea, we’re long overdue a League Cup win, hopefully we get over the line this season 🤞 I think Eddie will surprise a few people and become a top PL striker, he needs consistent minutes though, and if we don’t give them to him, I can understand why at 22, he’d look to get them elsewhere Same with Willock, he’s still raw in many aspects of his game, but I can see him developing into a good player over the next couple of seasons with consistent football He’s… Read more »

TR7

Raul

No, not looking for any argument or debate especially not the one which is clearly settled.

Not really sure who I like the most between Saka, ESR and Martinelli.

TR7

Let’s hope Saka, ESR and Martinelli become the mini version of Iniesta, Xavi and Messi.

Habesha Gooner

Pierre You are very annoying. I didn’t say everyone was better. Edouard is better. That is just were they are right now. It doesn’t mean Eddie can’t get better. Min to goal ratio or not there are a lot of strikers that are better than Eddie. If Eddie backed himself then he would sign a contract now. Auba is probably leaving and Lacazette is definitely leaving if Eddie is staying. So it means he doesn’t back himself to compete against the new striker that is going to come in. His stats aren’t that great if you take out the weak… Read more »

Graham62

So “Edouard proved himself in Scotland”.

I rest my case.

Eddie would score more than a goal a game in Scotland.

Just saying

Graham62

Habesha

Why exactly is Edouard better?

Habesha Gooner

Torreira has been fantastic for Fiorentina. They will exercise the € 15 mil euro option. He scored and assisted Vlahovic the other day. I think Italy suits him.

Habesha Gooner

Graham
Scotland isn’t a weak league. VVD, Tierney, Robertson and a lot more classy players have shown it it isn’t a weak league. Ask anyone that is objective and isn’t an arsenal fan, they will say Edouard is better right now.

WengerEagle

Waited 2 years? I have always said that Martinelli was a much better player than Eddie, have never rated Eddie since his Leeds loan days where Bielsa dod not fancy him either and he has yet to prove any different that he is cut out for PL level. “Probably just better to say that every attacking player in the premier league is better than Eddie and be done with it.” Nothing like middle ground for you is there? Incapable of grasping any sort of nuance it seems when it comes to your pet Eddie. It’s ok, Martinelli will continue to… Read more »

WengerEagle

Eddie’s average goal distance is under 6 yards, 6!

This isn’t 2001 where you can get away with such a ST at the top level.

WengerEagle

£25m was top business for Willock, £20m would have been great business for AMN and we should have cashed in on Eddie while he still had value before running down his contract.

Not every academy product is going to make the XI, that is just a reality that some will have to accept. It’s rare to even have x2 making it like ESR and Saka have, neber mind that they are our two best players.

Nelson

With the sparks generated from the difference in opinions, wishing all Le Grovers a merry Christmas!

WengerEagle

You too Nelson.

I’m off here till the New Year. Happy Christmas to everyone on here (Pierre included)/Happy Holidays for those who do not celebrate Christmas. Hope the Fat man brings you everything that you’re after.

Here is to some seasonal booze, family fall-outs and most importantly 6 points from Norwich and Wolves! Would be an added bonus to see some aesthetic football too.

Another year Pedro congrats my friend, still the best football blog around never mind just Arsenal.

Samesong

Scotland isn’t a weak league.

Scottish League is poor.

Bob N16

Just because good players have played in Scotland it doesn’t follow that it’s a strong league.

englandsbest

Pierrre

I have you right again on the wrong tactics first half against Sunderland. Control of midfield is key IMO, and in particular for Arteta’s pressing style. Xhaka made the difference when he came on to help out Elneny. But I think Arteta’s intention was to start with AMN (who became unavailable).

On Arteta, I always thought he was the right man for the job, but as a rookie he had to learn on the job – which he has done pretty much. But like you, I believe midfield needs attention.

Mr Serge

Our midfield and front line need attention
I would say we buy a cm and a striker now for that top 4 push
Why waste another season when we have a chance this season
Especially with all the big teams coming to the Emirates still

Karsa

Shifting Covid regs, and countries having varing degrees of lockdown, may make the January transfer window less straightforward than usual.

G

‘’ Wenger wasn’t forced to field a young team. He cost us that trophy’’
Wenger rightly didn’t give a shit about that trophy, he probably surprised himself in getting to the final

S Asoa

Arteta on being asked if he was too harsh on Auba “ I don’t establish my authority by being dictatorial or being ruthless. I just ask for one thing, respect and commitment. At this level, if I don’t get that I pack my bags and go somewhere else because that is the minimum I can ask for. I am going to expect that from everybody who works for the club, first of all myself. To be successful you have to be passionate about something and, if you want to represent a club of this size, that is the minimum standard… Read more »

Karsa

So Arteta is saying Auba has shown no respect or commitment. Pretty much what everyone has been saying for the past 18 months.

S Asoa

Karsa

If Aubamayeng has been totally banished, not allowed to train with a team, that appears a power trip rather than commensurate punishment. Arteta does not realise how much such dictatorial intransigence will cost him in any future job which is not Kroenke’s Arsenal

englandsbest

S Asoa

Always a follower never a leader?

Any decent follower respects and commits to his leader. To be honest I expected Arteta to be ruthless with wilful Auba. It never pays to handle someone like him with kid gloves. The contract, the wage, the captaincy simply fed his ego. He ought to have been binned and dusted long ago.

Nelson

I read that the whole Arsenal board agreed to punish Auba. The decision was not from Arteta alone. That was the same situation with Ozil.

Karsa

Aubamayeng has been totally banished,

You say this yet it’s been widely reported that it was a mutual decision?

Jamie

Look, only Valentin knows what really happened behind the scenes.

Everything else is speculation.

Karsa

only Valentin knows

Exactly this.

Karsa

It will be interesting to see the team selection with two games so closely scheduled.

I would play the strongest team in the first match and see how things stand after that.

Champagne Charlie

😂😂 ahh Jamie, too true.

Chris

‘Arsenal ranks second in all time Boxing Day matches points totals’

Let’s keep this trend up! I’m general very confident of 6 points against Norwich and Wolves, even if they are 49 hours apart each game.

Bob N16

Although Karsa, Norwich are struggling with covid and may well be the easier fixture with Wolves a better team and fresher.

Bob N16

Chris, apologies for being a pedant but the Norwich game finishes around 43hrs before the Wolves game starts!

Chris

Haha no worries Bob. I meant to say 48 hours but checking back I typed 49!

I always like hearing the number 49 mind you!

Bob N16

Coutinho anybody?

Karsa

Bob

That’s true. I’d rather get the points secured, and make some subs if possible.

Wolves are the better team but are struggling for goals atm.

Nigel Tufnel

We get so caught up in arguing here that we end up being overly harsh against our own players and manager, just to prove a point. Another classic legrove move is to talk about other clubs players as of they’re so perfect and slate our own over any fine detail. Example… People going back and forth putting down Nketiah, Martinelli, Xhaka, etc, But then making grandiose statements about a guy like Edouard. What the fvk has he “proven” ? Who the fvk is he.. for anyone to be going on about here? As far as proving himself in the premier… Read more »

Emiratesstroller

Nigel Tufnel

Nketiah is not the option for First Choice Centre Forward at Arsenal

No-one would argue that Nketiah would be a good option as our second string CF.

The problem is that Nketiah wants and expects to play regularly in the starting lineup and I
am sorry but that is unlikely to happen at Arsenal.

He is in the same boat as Emiliano Martinez where Arteta is unwilling and unable to offer
him a starting place in team.

Rich

Bob

I like Coutinho, he’s a top player, but if we go for a player in that position, my guess is Kulusevski, signing a 29yr old with injury problems, seems way outside our current business model

Unless we sell either Pepe or Aubameyang, it seems unlikely though, numerically we’re not short

Seen we’ve been linked with Sergino Dest from Barcelona, but so have Chelsea + Bayern Munich

Mari back to Brazil, and Dest in from Barcelona maybe

China1

ES it’s not the same as emi

Emi was hands down our best keeper and had a perfectly legitimate claim to be the established #1. Eddie looks like a much improved player this year but has not yet (perhaps through no fault of his own as he doesn’t get any actual games…) not yet made himself a proper contender as a starting 11 player at this level. Emi had already done that and arteta didn’t want to commit the starting 11 spot to him. It’s not the same

Tee

“Remember Lampard. Try packing bags and see if he can get any deal as sweet as Arsenal”

Your take on what you quoted is a reflection of your view on anything Arteta which explains your daily rant on here.

China,

Please, can you name the cm we are linked to? I want to watch the YouTube vid

englandsbest

I doubt whether any player in Arsenal squad demands a starting place – I’d say they are happy to miss a game here and here. With Emi it was different, he had been neglected for years and years, and he thought he was far better than his only rival, and feared he might be neglected again.

Neketiah has not been neglected, just waiting for his turn. With Auba gone, and Laca on his way, or at most a secondary choice, Eddie’s turn has come. I think he will stay.

Rich

EB

Unless we sign another striker, Eddie will definitely get plenty of opportunities over the next month

Seems certain to start 1 of our next 2 league games

Nigel Tufnel

Emirates, I just said earlier that I think Nketiah would be a great sub striker for a change of pace when chasing a game, when we’re putting in crosses in the last 10-15 minutes. He’s not ideal as a starter in the system we’re building. He is talented and will score a good amount if he’s on a decent team. If he had one more year on his contract, I think we’d have a chance to show him that he could be very valuable as a second choice, on our good team. We are definitely going to be a good… Read more »

Nigel Tufnel

Svanberg mf from Bologna.

Terraloon

China

nobody forces you to pick a strong team

Strangely enough it’s in the rules of the competition that you “must play” your strongest team

It’s rarely been enforced but it could be

Venga, Dani
englandsbest

Both Martinelli and Nketiah have impressed these last few games. The enforced absence of Auba has opened up space for them, something many of us have hoped for all season. The two are improving game by game, growing more experienced, more confident. The temptation to play them both will become irresistible – a dynamic duo. Let’s hope it happens soon.

englandsbest

Saka and ESR – and now Nketiah and Martinelli – hopefully as a dynamic duo. Xmas presents to us all. Have a merry one.

Raulishuss

Merry christmas pedro and le-grovers. Here’s to a smashing new year for the arsenal and champions league football.

Zacharse

Here here

Zacharse

Btw eagle
The number i see thrown out for torr signing by fiorentina is 12m£ thats 15m€
Come on, he aint worth a whole Lot more than that. Thats how much lokonga cost…
The one i agree with is mavropanos and ive atill never even seen him play!

Champagne Charlie

Merry Christmas Pedro and Le Grove, 🎄 I think that’s me hanging up the moniker for good with this one, thank you Pedro for offering a corner of the web for us to talk nonsense in. Appreciate the chatter along the way from the many different personalities that I’ve been privileged to have come across. Good, bad, or indifferent you’ve made a great contribution to this space and I thank you for your part in keeping things interesting most of the time. Best wishes to everyone, and here’s to a prosperous future for the Arsenal. Starting the second half of… Read more »

Zacharse

Anyone thinknwe may see benny blanco at RB?

Rich

CC happy Xmas, don’t go too far pal, we need as many sense talkers as possible….

Happy Xmas Pedro and the rest of the Le Grovers, hopefully we can pick up 9 points over the festive period

Bob N16

Come on you rip roaring reds! Enjoy!

SurferX

Pedro my old China- cheers for yet another year of top quality blogging- and thanks too to Johnny & Matt for making itbthe place to go after match. Highlight of the year for me was the 3-1 mauling of the spuds (should of been 6-1), closely followed by your appearance as an extra in a jean-luke godard film in the last on the whistle 😀

Hope you, the bear & family have a top one- onwards & upwards for the Gunners!

Surf

Rich

Not sure about that Ramsdale interview, downing tools at Sheffield United to force a move through to Arsenal

Not sure he’s covering himself in glory there

Leedsgunner

Happy Christmas to one all.

Keep safe and tell the ones you love that you love them today.

Here’s to a better 2022!

Karsa

Wishing you all the best guys.

Zacharse

Rich
Think ram made it clear the club were lying to him while trying to extort us

zacharse

keep forgetting its a lot later there

Le Sauce

Happy holidays Le Grover’s. It’s been a wonderful year having to go through all things arsenal on this part of the web. Enjoy the celebrations and please stay safe

DivineSherlock

Merry Christmas y’all !! Spread some love and dont get so miserable about Arsenal xD Enjoy the festivities .

Crimson

Beep boop.
Unicorn mug.
Love you grovers
Merry fucking Christmas

China1

Merry Christmas you pack of dry bedded or moist sheeted assholes!!!!

China1

Take care Charlie

Merry Christmas

TallestTiz

Merry Christmas Gunners

Lost my dad earlier this week after a long battle with stroke.
Nevertheless, I’m still trying to be cheerful, and the boys are delivering good results – although I only watch highlights these few weeks.

China1

Tallest really sorry to hear that. Wish you and your family the best

China1

Pedro can we please have almunia and kroenke back as a Christmas gift? Need your Christmas spirit!

china1

Tony what do you usually do for Christmas down in Thailand?

Is it odd having warm weather? I’ve never been able to process Christmas in a warm climate haha

So much so that originally we were supposed to go on holiday to The south China island of Hainan last week but changed our plan to shanghai instead as it’s colder and more christmasy 😁

china1

Like Christmas is fooking summer in Australia. It’s wrong all wrong!!!!

Luteo Guenreira

Merry Christmas, you filthy animals.

Tallest – my condolences, our thoughts are with you and your family. Here’s to your father then! Cheers.

TallestTiz

Thank you China1 and Luteo G

Graham62

Merry Christmas Pedro and to all LG’s.
Tallest, really sorry to hear about your father.
Rest assured he’s in a far better place.
A permanent VIP box in heaven or, better still, a permanent VIP box at the Emirates.

china1

Luteo my 5 year old watched home alone 2 for the first time the other day. The next day when we saw my ex colleague on a shop he said ‘merry Christmas you filthy animal… and a happy new year’ 😂😂😂😂

Samesong

Tallest my heart goes out to you and your family in this difficult time.

Northbanker

Merry Christmas Le Grovers

TT- sorry to hear about your Dad – rough week

CC – please take a break rather than leave – we need all opinions and thoughts on this site and your posts are one that I always read

TheLegendaryDB10

Merry Christmas to you Pedro and all Grovers and Gooners across the world!!! I hope that you all have a great day!!

//

TallestTiz

My sincerest condolences to you for what must be a very difficult time. RIP to your Dad.

Sid

Take heart TalestT

Sid

ChampagneC

Don’t come back
Gwan, go
Don’t come back
I won’t cry
I’ll be fine
Don’t come back
(Anytime you’re ready, when you’re ready, you’re free to go)
Don’t come back
No bother make the door reach you where the good Lord split you
Don’t come back

Ustyno

Merry Christmas everyone

TallestTiz receive strength at this point in time

Ben D

Merry Christmas Le-Grovers!!!

Mb

Sorry to hear that, Tallest. Strength to you and your family.

TheLegendaryDB10

New Xmas post!!!