ARTETA STATEMENT COMPLAINT ABOUT SQUAD GOES AWRY

by .

Let’s get the Alka Seltzer in the cup right away, Matt from the podcast neatly surmised that:

‘If you are going to exit the cup, better now than at any other stage’

It would have been nice to win it, sure, but we didn’t, so going out now preserves legs, heartache, and allows us to focus on the two trophies we have left.

Your head is still spinning right, that didn’t help? Ok, understood… let’s get into the meat of our embarrassing loss. There are two ways I’m looking at it that both have an element of truth.

The first is that this is part of the turbulence of having a young team and a thin squad. We know that when certain players are missing, the Arsenal we’ve grown to love is hard to identify, that happened yesterday. We’re a long way from having a squad that can compete on two fronts.

Yes, we should have beaten Forest with any line-up we put on the field, but the attitude wasn’t there, inexperience and general awfulness won the day, we deservedly lost to a well-drilled side.

The second way I’m looking at things: this performance was partly intubated by Mikel Arteta as he danced a dangerous ensemble to make a point to the hierarchy about how skinny his squad is.

Yesterday, I applauded his ruthless attempt at engineering a player crisis by binning Auba, not signing Jack, and sending Ains out on loan. Today, can I really ignore the fact that a lot of the breathing difficulties were of Mikel’s making?

We’re caught between two truths here. I don’t think Arteta thought there was a chance this rag-tag group of players would tank quite as hard as they did, which is why he panicked in the first half and subbed off Tavares. He knew from the 3rd minute he was in a dangerous moment because there was no fight, no curiosity, and a painful lack of cohesion.

… but he could have done more to avert that disaster. Jack Wilshere should have been signed to a short term deal if we were going to have to play a side like that, because we lacked leadership and calm that he has. We could have kept Ains until the end of January if we were going to have to play someone as painfully shocking as Cedric Soares, who let’s be real, looked like he was doing the dishes poorly so we’d release him to Atletico Madrid.

Arteta cut off his nose to spite his project yesterday, it was an arrogant display from him, which felt like the move of a manager who is maybe leaning into his fan capital a little too hard. Now we only have one way into semi-decent-Europe (not Conference League), this week starts to look like the beginning of a very painful few weeks, we could be in a bit of bother if our best players don’t dig us out of a hole.

The Nuno Tavares move looked very odd to me. The player had a nightmare, he lost the ball 9 times in 34 minutes, his pass completion was 65%, it was really horrible to watch. He was well, well below the standards we need at the club. Arteta pulled him off early for Kieren Tierney. It was a humiliation move designed to crush him. A lot of people are with Mikel on it, including professionals like Ian Wright and Roy Keane. I just wonder if that sort of move is good for squad vibes. In the real world, if you ream someone out in a meeting, it might feel good, it might be deserved, but everyone who wasn’t the target also realises that they could be subject to that at some point. Sometimes it’s motivating, sometimes it’s demoralising.

‘Couldn’t you have done that in private?’ is what most people are thinking.

KT will pick up an injury, we know that, how is Nuno going to play when he’s asked to do a job? I thought the move was rash and panicked. It was also hard to marry binning Nuno while Cedric stayed on until the 88th minute (most pointless sub of the game). The worst thing about the humiliation sub… it didn’t move the performance. Nothing changed. Nuno was bad, but he wasn’t the catalyst for it, he was just the fall guy for a squad that underestimated Nottingham Forest.

There are pockets of good news. Granit Xhaka, who we missed last night, failed his COVID test before the Liverpool game, so he should be back. I think Tomi and ESR were cautionary. We should have the rest of our defence back in place, which makes a huge difference. I love Rob Holding, he’s clearly committed to the cause, he’s trying to elevate his game, but watching Nottingham Forest give him all the time in the world on the ball because they saw that as a weakness was painful. We need Gabriel back yesterday, and someone needs to put Arteta in a video room to watch the progress of Saliba this season, because we are a pinged hamstring away from a very shoddy defence.

The Liverpool game away from home this Thursday now goes from a game where Charlie Patino might have played, to a full-on first 11 run out… because that game sets the tone for the Spurs game at the weekend. We can’t get walloped. We have to take at least a draw away. I’m still very angry that Liverpool are now saying that they had false positives in the camp. Arsenal were absolutely rolled on that cancellation because Liverpool didn’t want to play a form side with injuries. That is a corruption of the rules, signed off by an exLiverpool employee, and it is yet another example of Arsenal being played by the system. Why didn’t Vinai get Brentford cancelled?

Back to Arsenal. I wrote a week ago that we have to expect results like the Everton game. I can’t be reading the usual suspects say things like ‘Ugh, this always happens with Arteta’ like the hope was we’d just sail through the next 6 months winning games without the hiccups. This is the process people. The bumps are painful. But managers we dreamed of at other clubs are like Tuchel are also going through their own process issues, because Arsenal are close to them in the Premier League. If we beat Spurs, we’re 6 points off Chelsea. That’s your perspective.

If you want to see Charlie Patino at the carpet, you have to be prepared to see him struggle. That is part of the deal with young talents. Not everyone can land like Bukayo or Smith Rowe. He’ll learn, get stronger, and come back a better player.

We have to accept that it took 18 months to get a 15 that could fight at the highest level. Our second string is going to take even longer to get right. We’re not there yet. When you are second string, there are questions over attitude, technique, and overall suitability for the club. Cedric Soares isn’t built for Arsenal, Bukayo was telling him off for his hospital passes, he is a relic of ‘contacts’ scouting. But he’s our reality right now because Ains didn’t want to do his job.

I really want Eddie to be the one, but when you are asking Arsenal for big money, and you can’t be seen against Nottingham Forest, it’s hard to see how you deserve it. Another missed header from 5 yards that kills the game? That’s not good enough. He might score that at Palace, but he’s not doing it for Arsenal when he’s given minutes, and that’s the difference between Arsenal taking a chance or Arsenal letting the contract expire.

You also have to accept that Mikel Arteta is not the finished product. He pulled a move Conte and Jose have pulled for years. In fact, Conte pulled it this weekend, his team went off to boos at home against the Shrimps, which is the statement he wanted Levey to hear… then he smashed them in the 2nd half. The difference with experienced managers is they wouldn’t kill a path to an important objective they have. Arteta danced with the footballing gods and was struck by fire, I don’t think he mitigated risk last night, and the failure doesn’t strengthen his case for more money… it narrows it because now Josh has a weaker case when going to Daddy for Vlahovic money.

We have the chance to rectify things on Thursday. Let’s hope everyone is fit and we’re not gambling on long-term fitness. It’s a big week, Arteta just made it harder, let’s see how he can manage himself out of this corner.

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WengerEagle

Yep, Utd getting away with murder here. So poor.

Imagine that they paid a combined £170m for AWB, Maguire and Lindelof. Have literally never seen a worse backline for such money.

IAT-Robbie

“There really are some morons on Le Grove. It’s ok when San Marino plays Azerbaijan but you think people don’t have lives when they watch Afcon?”

Some people just live for the “thrill” of internet beefing. Why else would someone make comments like that without being provoked. I can’t imagine that all that pent up anger is coming from a happy place.That’s for sure

Almuniasaynomore

Wenger Eagle,
It’s pretty bad when spending 20 mill on Dalot.is the best bit of business in your back 4. That Ramsey for Villa is impressive isn’t he? Seems to have a bit of everything about him.

Dissenter

Alumniasaynomore
The advantage of spending so much money js that eventually, you get it right
Dalot does looks like a good signing

Mr Serge

I love watching Emi looking bemused after a loss

Mr Serge

Man u are so shite

Almuniasaynomore

Diss,
It’s strange how many they’ve got wrong though isn’t it,regardless of the money. Long may it continue!

andy1886

VARchester strikes again.

Meanwhile Pierre’s been on the port and lemon again.

Pierre

Weagle
“So Pierre is a fan of Micah Richards as a pundit (makes sense, he also has a dense view on football), rates the Milk Cup (Likely because it is the only competition that Nketiah is prolific in) and enjoys the mid-season scheduling of AFCON.”

Weagle in full jackanory mode.

Tom

What a system at work when after 5 minutes of VAR the tv commentators still don’t know why a goal was disallowed.
Can’t think of another sport getting away with this much arrogance.

IAT-Robbie

Into the red,

We turn so many corners under Arteta, that our journey just becomes a full circle. I am sure there will be some better results soon enough. Lather, rinse, repeat.

Unoni

andy1886January 10, 2022 21:58:19
VARchester strikes again.Meanwhile Pierre’s been on the port and lemon again.

Sounds rather enticing I say

Unoni

IAT-RobbieJanuary 10, 2022 22:11:15
Into the red,We turn so many corners under Arteta, that our journey just becomes a full circle. I am sure there will be some better results soon enough. Lather, rinse, repeat.

What’s that? Arteta turns more corners than a London bus driver?

Tom

Vlahovic on 300kpw would definitely force the club to raise Saka’s wages some……… nothing crazy, just enough that next time he goes up against the lower league sides hell bent in kicking lumps out of him he still fells motivated to put in a shift.

Unoni

How good is Vlahovic? Never seen the lad kick a ball

Unoni

Let me have a little gander at YouTube
I’ll know all I need to in 3 mins or less 😉

HerbsArmy

Cheers Robbie. I did promise Pedro I would try and be more positive, so to keep that promise… I was really pleased with the spirited, no fear performance against City, and sincerely hope this is engrained into the clubs philosophy going forward. VAR stole a point from us. Yesterday exposed the clubs lack of proper planning and poor squad building, with our midfield decimated as well as an impotent attacking unit, but both of these can be addressed, it is crucial that Arteta can prove the City performance was more than just a one-off, and his players repeat these performances… Read more »

Mr Serge

He scores a lot of different goals seems a massive upgrade to what we have

Unoni

Looks much more explosive than I thought he would considering his size
Like a quicker Giroud.

IAT-Robbie

“Can’t think of another sport getting away with this much arrogance.”

Boxing, Formula 1, Tennis?

Unoni

Not that a YouTube video tells you anything but certainly not as lethargic as I thought he’d appear. These days I have very little to offer on olayers of the world as I watch fuck all football outside of arsenal these days. And the international tournaments involving England

salparadisenyc

VAR available for certain games and not others is just beyond the pale.
Nothing level about this competition, the FA has become so cringe in bias.

Unoni

This place used to come alive at night.
😞

IAT-Robbie

“What’s that? Arteta turns more corners than a London bus driver?”

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Mr Serge

There are a few that come on here after dark still UN

Tom

“Can’t think of another sport getting away with this much arrogance.
Boxing, Formula 1, Tennis?”
——-
Seriously ?
Villa scored two goals in 90plus and nobody knows why one of the two was disallowed but the ref and a handful of players. That would be like taking away the whole set from a tennis player and keep the entire TV audience in the dark as to why.

IAT-Robbie

“Conte’s Tottenham is the perfect place to pick up where we left off against City (the scoreline in our favour, naturally).”

Yeah I am really looking forward to that one, it’s as good a litmus test as any for both teams.

Mr Serge

What happened to Hamilton IN F1 was far more corrupt

curse

Art imitates life… A few days ago I watched suicide squad. Then Sunday, watched a suicidal squad wearing a kit manifested by the guy who starred in the movie! madness. I feel sorry for Idris… He should have factored in all the elements when it comes to the Game of Transfers. Instead, he became a victim of chess. I’m not surprised, new players playing with players who won’t be playing here for much longer playing badly together? shock horror! It was surprising horrible Saka was though, almost looked instructed… If your gonna throw a game then why not the one… Read more »

Unoni

curseJanuary 10, 2022 22:40:40
Art imitates life… A few days ago I watched suicide squad.
Then Sunday, watched a suicidal squad wearing a kit manifested by the guy who starred in the movie! madness. I feel sorry for Idris…

Curse
This Saturday make sure you watch the invincibles season box set then followed by the great escape

Tom

Mr Serge, I’m assuming you do know the reason for the Hamilton decision by now.
The British really need to get over that seriously……. no one cares,
Kinda like I don’t care about the Villa United score but want to know why it was disallowed.

IAT-Robbie

Tom,

Lol.Fair point. It not analogy. I was thinking along the lines of officials “self-correcting” themselves. In tennis, chair umpires rarely overrule the line umpire’s call and they just don’t give a damn whether a player protests, pleads, challenges or yells (unlike in football).

Unoni

TomJanuary 10, 2022 22:49:31
Mr Serge, I’m assuming you do know the reason for the Hamilton decision by now.
The British really need to get over that seriously……. no one cares,

Erm Tom, we like Hamilton less than you do mate.

IAT-Robbie

*It’s not a straightforward analogy

curse

unoni, will do, right after I watch Blade slice up a few shadow dwellers.

IAT-Robbie

“Erm Tom, we like Hamilton less than you do mate.”

Haha, speak for yourself Unoni. My older brothers are pretty big fans of Lewis Hamilton.

Anonymous Commentator

Stuivenberg no doubt a better manager than arteta.
It’s like watching a slow plane crash where the pilot has all the options to rescue the plane and his passengers but opts not to.
Loans out AMN instead of patino? It’s just a fucking joke and the manager has frankly been given far far FAR too much rope already, hung himself twice now.

Unoni

Haha, speak for yourself Unoni. My older brothers are pretty big fans of Lewis Hamilton

Yeah but he’s no Ricky Bobby

Unoni

How can driving even be classed as a sport anyway? It’s not a sport. Throwing darts is more of a sport than driving. It’s a hobby. It’s fun. But it’s not a sport. Same a snooker. Bloody pub game.

curse

unoni, not a fan of formula one either but you might be surprised how fit you have to be to become a driver, similar to being an astronaut. I agree though, snooker and darts are games not sports.

Dissenter

Formula one and all the other motor sports are more a sport for the engineers and technicians, that the driver.
That’s a astute point.

Tom

My wife is a huge fan of Mercedes ………..has no clue who Hamilton is.

LoveSausage

I hope we’re not seriously considering giving Vlahovic 300k/week. We’re just getting our wage bill under control. Put a 21 year old on that money and you need to put Saka and a few others on 200-250.

On the flip side, it might just be his agents putting pressure on us through the media. Which is hell of a lot better than the “he’s not picking up the phone” BS.

Nigel Tufnel

I just finished reading yesterday’s misery comments here. The angry little men love to take over after a loss. I think was Tony who asked me about Liverpool… who cares? I already said here before yesterday that I don’t care about the cups this season. Anyone with a strategic brain, or understands finance at all can tell you why prioritizing top 4 is smartest. We have a chance. I’m more concerned about the next prem match against Liverpool than this thing on Thursday, and of course the scum this coming weekend. I won’t be cheering if we beat them without… Read more »

Guns of SF

I Know he is talked about a lot but lots of tap ins and set piece goals. How is the guy going to bring anything else we need? headers, dribbling, pressing?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fT1sbajvvw

Guns of SF

EPL aint no serie a

Mb

“”Are people seriously watching Gambagon Vs Morbombom on AFCON? Don’t you have lives””

Lolol… What the heck are you people doing? Discussing football on a football blog…

bacaryisgod

Just watched a replay of the 2020 Community Shield penalty shootout with Liverpool. By the end of this summer, it’s possible none of our penalty takers will be with the club.

1-Reiss Nelson
2-AMN
3. Cedric
4. Luiz
5. Auba

Guns of SF

Vlahovic looks heavy for a 22 year old.. might get away with it in Seria A but not EPL
Anyhow, I would rather get Calvert Lewin or someone in the mold who can score in the air. Aerial threat is what we need. We have none that Luiz left and Gabriel is ok, but we need more

Sid

He is Not 22

TallestTiz

Almost 22

Muppetman

Guns of SF is that your expert opinion after a 3 min YouTube clip?

Just Another Customer

that’s how galaxy brained Arteta is to throw the game to send the message to Josh that we need bodies in midfield ASAP

all according to plan

Sid

All Comoros first team players including the head coach Amir Abdou were born in France.

Francombombom!

The Bard

I wonder whether this loss might be a blessing in disguise. City, Liverpool and Chelsea are nailed on top 3. Utd are in a worse state than us but they will spend in the summer under a new manager. This might be our best chance for a top 4 finish. I would trade that for an early FA cup exit. Its paramount that we make good use of the transfer window.

Guns of SF

muppetman,

Yes, and I did watch more clips…
You gonna tell me that a serie a striker will bang in 20 some goals in the EPL?
When was the last time that happened?
You remember a Shevchenko? who else? hmmmm lol

Id rather take an EPL tested player or someone from a faster league.
Yea he will score some but not like seria a

Unoni

Guns of SFJanuary 11, 2022 07:01:27
muppetman,Yes, and I did watch more clips…
You gonna tell me that a serie a striker will bang in 20 some goals in the EPL?
When was the last time that happened?

Sf
Lukaku, Ibrahimovic, Ronaldo, Alexis sanchez.
All came in after stints in serie A and all scored goals.

Dark Hei

Uno

Lukaku is tanking it. Ibra can hardly be called a resounding success. Ronaldo is on his retirement run while Alexis isn’t a striker

Sid

Since we are focusing on 4th, Arsenal should let the FA aware of this and award the Carling cup match to Liverpool.

Ray+in+LA

For me the impact of losing the way we did against Notts Forest is that all the hope that was building after the Man City game disappeared and it became obvious that the City game was an exception not something to expect

It immediate brought back the ManU and Everton games

I now have nothing but dread about the upcoming three games and hope we escape without too much humiliation

The one thing that might save us is we’re too inconsistent to play that badly twice in a row — even if we tried 🙂

Mr Serge

now that Liverpool have admited that the tests were false positives they have basically scammed the FA into postponing last weeks match shuld they now not be kicked out of the tournament like Leyton Orient where last season.?

Mr Serge

I am not watching any of the AFCON is anyone shining so far I hear Francombonbob are pretty crap 🙂

michael hearn

Well well well who would have thought it……..

Liverpool told a little white lie and got a game they certainly didn’t fancy playing postponed..

Turns out… false test results.

Game set and match to Liverpool …..congratulations

Terraloon

Mr Serge now that Liverpool have admited that the tests were false positives they have basically scammed the FA into postponing last weeks match shuld they now not be kicked out of the tournament like Leyton Orient where last season.? As I pointed out before 1) The PL themselves test players every 3-4 days irrespective to suggest that Liverpool’s medical team falsified any of their in house tests is possibly an attractive approach but to suggest they knowingly falsified is dangerous territory. I am not naive enough to say that things don’t happen but what would have been the reason… Read more »

Sid

Like i told y’all yesterday, from the inventor of the PCR test

“It is important to note that detecting viral material by PCR does not indicate that the virus is fully intact and infectious, i.e. able to cause infection in other people. The isolation of infectious virus from positive individuals requires virus culture methods. These methods can only be conducted in laboratories with specialist containment facilities and are time consuming and complex.”

Sid

I know several people that have had false positives

Sid

A false-positive result was defined as a positive screen on a rapid antigen test and a subsequent negative confirmatory PCR.

Unoni

Dark hei
All had successful spells in serie A. All had success in the premier league as goal scorers. Ronaldo still scoring for untied. Ibrahimovic scored over 20 goals when he came to the league
We all know Alexis scores goals