Well good afternoon my darlings. How have you spent this weekend? I slayed a dragon in Elden Ring, leveled up my character, beat Godrick the Great. Life is good in my fantasy world.
… but on the round table of Arsenal, it’s not great.
Our season isn’t really in the gutter, it just feels like it. We have 8 games left of the season, we’re 3 points off 4th having played one game left than Spurs, we’re not just technically competing… we are competing.
Do I think we’re going to make top 4? No.
Do I think we’re going to make Europe? Yes.
How many points do we need? I reckon we need 9.
We’re in the business end of the season now, this is where the pound notes are made, time to deliver.
Arteta has absolutely messed his pants 5 minutes before a food court stop on the M1, we’re struggling with major injuries, form has dipped, confidence has dropped… but there’s IS a way forward with the team we have. Arteta is going to have to hope he hasn’t bruised too many egos to get what he needs.
At a base level:
Play your players in their best positions.
Wild concept, right?
Arteta should take Nuno to Sega World in the London Trocadero (young people like arcades, right?), pay for his popcorn and arcade tokens, tell him he’s really good over and over. Then inform him he’ll be getting the rest of the season as left back.
Speak to Granit. Apologise to him for putting him at left back and tell him he needs to take Sambi Lokonga under his wing and let him thrive for the rest of the season under the guidance of the Swiss midfielder.
Pull Sambi to one side, tell him we need him flying at his best with ambitious passing, clever dribbles, and aggression.
Up front, we need to be a little more creative. Lacazette should not be starting against Southampton, he’s done for the moment, the big questions is who replaces him.
Eddie needs a next club, he hasn’t done much this season to show that he’s capable, so if he’s giving minutes, he will probably show up. If he’s in the right headspace, give him the rest of the season to shine.
If he can’t shine… then maybe we need to go galaxy brain. Gut always says Martinelli through the middle because we saw what he did when he was 18 years old there. However, this might be a good chance to see what Smith Rowe can do in the Lacazette position. He can connect play, he’s faster and more powerful, he has height, and he has what we need: GOALS.
All of this seems very simplistic, maybe even a little naive… but one thing is for sure, you can’t keep rolling with the team over and over and expect something different.
The fans need to see that there are consequences for being shite. The players need a different idea because they aren’t doing well with the current one. The season needs to finish in a respectable manner so we can put the #ArtetaOut weirdos back in their box for another 6 months.
Short post today, WATCH THE DAMN POD, see you lovelies tomorrow x
Bankz is here for the tr4phy again
Let’s do this!!!
groovey come outside!!
((((BOOOOOM)))))
Saw Aubameyang has scored 10 goals since joining Barca while Arsenal have managed 12 goals since he left.
Not replacing him in January has to be one of the dumbest decisions since letting RVP join United
Pedro
You are obviously intelligent and a skilled writer, but you will never write honestly about Arsenal until you learn their history and understand where their culture originated from.
“The fans need to see that there are consequences for being shite. The players need a different idea because they aren’t doing well with the current one. The season needs to finish in a respectable manner… ”
Well put Mr Pedro. This sums up the past 8 days
Pedro, Your post today reminded me so much of the movie Downfall, where Hitler with his self created title, Greatest Field Marshall of All Times, during his last days in his bunker moved around imaginary and decimated divisions to win the war and blamed everyone around him for failure. You perceive Arteta as the greatest young manager in Europe and he likewise moves undeveloped or imaginary talent on the pitch to win games. Nothing will change until what happened in Germany will happen at Arsenal, The Greatest Fraud Manager of All Times, will be shown the door. But please may… Read more »
Yeah I can only agree, we signed Lacazette because Wenger couldn’t tempt Benzema from Madrid. He’s never hit the heights he did in France unfortunately. Auba has done exactly the same to us as he did with BvB, downed tools untill he was allowed to leave. Not a great attitude to have around the club tbh. Outside of Auba and Laca we had nothing, I think letting Balogun go on loan was still the right call. Imagine he stayed played and had 10 games like the one against Brentford. Wouldn’t have done his confidence any good. Now he’s at Boro… Read more »
RECENT POSTS
BACK TO BASICS – SOME POWERFUL THOUGHTS
BUILDING A BETTER SQUAD AND MORE MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS
ARTETA PAYS THE PRICE OF TRANSACTIONAL MANAGEMENT
‘WE CANNOT BE CRYING’
Mr Pedro your last 3 posts, excluding this one, will have one think you’re not sure of what to make of the state our team is in
James
I like Toney too.
Can’t get on board with batshit third reich analogies – but having said rector that we’ve got our pride back at the Arse, the past week has stung that pride so badly. Hoping what we saw pre interlull is where it’s at because Saturday was the pits and squarely on Arteta, Xhaka at lb really is bordering on sackable incompetence and we all cringed and feared the worst before a ball was kicked. Hi ho, stranger things can happen than a 4 or 5 game winning run against all odds so roll on the next game…
The 3rd Reich analogy fits, Germany was a militarily powerful nation, led into a war by someone who was a Corporal in WW1 who thought he was the greatest leader of all time. Arsenal is a big club with a lengthy history of accomplishments, led into the season by a clueless manager who thinks he is God’s gift to the club.
Peds.. It might be time to check into your local chapter of CGAA. (Computer Game Addicts Anonymous).. Just sayin … it’s like people addicted to poker always want to tell you about their “bad beats”… Nobody really wants to hear about your Elden Ring character development.
Say it with me… Hi I’m Pedro of Le Grove and I haven’t gamed in 2 days. Hi Pedro!!!
Pedro, killjoy said earlier today: Nigel, Arteta will cling on to his job like a piece of shit clings on to an asshole but eventually the stadium and the fans will smell it and will want to get rid of the stench. If they got rid of Wenger they surely will do the same to Mr. Mediocrity and then the Real Arsenal will rise from the ashes and I will be there to cheer them on. Nothing distasteful about that at all. Now 3rd Reich analogies because the hatred of Arteta is so strong and there’s an opportunity to attack… Read more »
Leave the 3rd reich metaphors in the rear view, its a football blog for fucks sake.
Leave the fckng nazis out of this.
Yep, Godwin’s Law. It always applies.
Didn’t Tets try ESR as a false 9 against Emery’s Villareal? That didn’t go well. 9 points will have us at 63 – a massive 2 point improvement on last season.
Killroy-TM
Man, you’ve been killing it for a while here.
I reckon you’ve decommissioned some of the ardent Arteta lovers on this blog for a while. You’ve torn off the epaulettes from their uniforms and turned them into privates.
9 points would be hugely disappointing and a collapse in my opinion. I mean we still have Southampton, Leeds, Everton and Newcastle on the list. Are we just giving up?
9 points for remainder would be so meek, 69 points looks quite possible if Arteta can rite the ship.
Wont be enough for 4th but that was likely bottled over course of last two.
Middy,
9 points for the rest of the season…..
Really feels as if Pedro has given up on Mikel and decided to retreat to gaming for the rest of the season.
More needless name calling in the post. That is a half decent post ruined.
Ye have no faith in the project then Pedro?
How can you honestly say that 8 games out with 3/4 point deficit and a game in hand that we have no chance of making top 4?
It’s unlikely but still very possible. We do have to do something that we rarely do mind and that is go to Spurs away and win.
Pretty telling that we need to finish well, not so we can play European games next season, but to make Arteta critics shut up.
Anyhow, I’m for trying ESR out as #9 but not now. Carabao cup would be my choice. If we’re switching things up, we should go with a traditional #9 and a player who knows what to do. My preference would be Gabi.
@Dissenter
I Feel the force
Memorable quotes from a beloved character:
For the Fan Boys:
“Once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny. Consume you, it will.”
For Nigel:
“The dark side clouds everything. Impossible to see the light, the future is.”
I think Martinelli through the middle and ESR on the left with Tavares as an overlapping LB is our best line-up for the run-in coming up.
ESR has scored 9 PL goals in limited game-time, it is bonkers to bench our primary goalscoring threat when we are hurting for goals.
WengerEagle,
Benching ESR was this season’s biggest galaxy brain move. Who cares about goal scorers when we’re playing such freewheeling end-to-end stuff every week. Oh, wait….
An ode to Guen
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/apr/11/matteo-guendouzi-marseille-emotional-ideological-leader-ligue-1
All I want is to finish the season with heads held up high. If they leave everything on the pitch for sure the fans will leave their voices in the stand knowing we gave it everything we had. If we get P4 I’ll be very happy. If we don’t – we’ll tough luck. I’ll be sad and a bit disappointed. The boys have given it their all – even the woeful Laca pushed us a bit for a couple of games. I hope they can push this thing over the line and give a season to remember.
Stands*
We all have solutions – despite knowing nothing of what goes on behind the scenes. So – in my ignorance I’ll stick to what I’ve been advocating: three men at the back, five across midfield, two front men. Control of midfield essential.
Gabby, Ben, Rob would be my back three, front two would be Eddie and Martinelli, middle Saka, Xhaka, Elneny, Ode, ESR.
Agree Eagle give me that front three, ESR/GM/Saka. Really doubt we’ll see it but makes us more dangerous going forward. Not a task on Laca form but the fear of change is so present.
For the mid best we have available has to be Ø with Sambi and Xhaka behind. And dear lord put Tavares at LB .
To be honest of the remaining 8 fixtures, if Arteta is the recipient of some enlightenment before the matches I can see a possible 11 points with nothing from Chelsea & the NLD (which really hurts but we played the COVID card earlier). Man Utd would be the bonus points. As already stated finish the season on a hopeful note it provides enthusiasm for the next season.
WOAB,
I read that earlier today. Not buying it. Feels like a hatchet job just because the journo knows there are a lot of unhappy Arsenal fans right now. I read another article not too long ago (might have been the Athletic) where they talked to OM fans. The take was basically that Guen is appreciated for his attitude and work rate but technically too poor to influence games.
I still think we dodged a bullet there. You can’t cure stupid.
Pedro,
“How many points do we need? I reckon we need 9.”
Tha’s classical Pedro reducing expectations to barest minimum by embracing mediocrity head on
How do you illustriously blog for 1.5 decades about Arsenal and then throw away everything you’ve championed just because you fancy the manager.
Finally out of the Stormveil Castle eh Pedro?
For me Europe and how he handles the loanees and the summer transfer window will be the last straw.
Almost 2 and a half season under him and we still weak mentally and physically. The strong mind is not there at all for how long now. I’m wary of implosion after yet another defeat.
LoveSausage,
Yeah, may well be a bit of a puff piece.
But right now it would be nice to have another body, any body, in central midfield…..
unfortunately the parallels with every season he’s been here are iron man levels of stark.
silly decision after retarded decision, why?
cos he’s just a very good coach…
in other important areas he’s a bit of a prick and pretty dense.
I refuse to believe that the Arsenal Arteta inherited was so bad that 2.5 seasons afterwards with £300 million sent, we are still in a position where qualifying for EL will be an achievement. What kind of yarn will Pedro use to spin this season’s collapse after berating Brenda Rodgers for falling short of 4th place for two consecutive seasons? We didn’t even sustain a challenge until May, we collapsed like cheap dominoes against two lower lower placed sides in early April. Before facing Arsenal, Brighton’s only goal in the preceding 7 games was against Norwich and even in that… Read more »
Realistic post Pedro
Arteta’s handling of our young squaddies does speak to a lack of intelligence/vision/ability with youth development and emotional IQ
He’s lacking in necessary ingredients for coaching greatness
These character flaws/deficits keep resurfacing
If he can stick to the team identity he took all of 3 years to build and use personnel appropriately we have a chance of a 5th place finish
Words on a blog. Thanks for the Guendozi Article. The two paragraphs I’m about to post hurts. This guy and Torreira shits all over Lokonga and Xhaka..These are the kind of players we should be entering the market for in the summer. It’s sad we had him and gave him away. ‘Much like club and player, manager and player are a perfect match. Sampaoli is not only coach but Guendouzi’s footballing spiritual guide. Their fast friendship was underlined by footage of a competitive but good-natured game of football-tennis in training between the pair, seemingly after everyone else had gone home.… Read more »
Thorough,
Arteta has been brutal, ruthless, in getting rid of players who didn’t “fit” or were too expensive relative to what they were contributing on the football pitch.
The expensive ones who had to go I don’t mind so much, though it was obvious that if you good rid of Auba you needed a goalscorer and if you got rid of Ozil you needed a creative replacement.
But I’m troubled by the others (Guen, Torreira, Chambers, Mavro, Saliba etc.).
We could do with one or two of them right now.
WOAB,
Yeah, hard to argue with that. We’re ridiculously thin and even that muppet would be more useful than Big Mo. Would have been even better if we’d actually been paid a proper fee so we could buy a replacement. Arteta has brought in some good players but he’s also presided over unprecedented asset value depreciation. I’m sure someone will do a study on it in a few years. By that time we’ll probably have sold Pepe for 8M plus a stack of ribeye steaks for Edu’s grill, which will be some sort of record.
Wish he would, but not sure Arteta will change much in coming games unless further injuries force his hand
Like Wenger, he will stubbornly stick with something clearly not working in an attempt to show who’s boss and prove he knows more than those demanding changes
WOAB
100% agree. Aside Guen and Saliba I absolutely loved Mavropanos and Torreira too. I have no doubt they’ll all have decent careers.
It’s just sad we can’t count on that circa 150mil worth of talent because our coach can’t stand ego in any form.
Dissenter No getting around fact Brenda has bottled top four in bookend fashion spectacularly. And look at this season, we are 14 points ahead of Leicester mind they’ve a game in hand but thats serious decline rocking a -3 GD at moment. I’ve no idea where Arsenal ends up this season but looks likely we’ll be touching 70 points if we find a pulse and thats an acceptable return taking all into account. I agree Mikel needs to soften, he rocks about like Stallone in camo if one look’s too long. Which certainly needs to be remedied, eventually the footballing… Read more »
I really think arsenal should’ve played spurs at that time when they were more bearable rather than trying to be clever and faking inability to play and have it postponed just so we could act like we’re as powerful as liverpool at the moment
I believe we’d have beaten them at that time which may have all but ended their belief in catching us. Instead we had to be clever and show we could ‘do a liverpool’ too and fake illness to get a game moved. I am concerned it’s going to bite us in the ass
This problem we’re seeing now of fringe players not being fit, sharp, loved etc is summed up quite beautifully by arteta having the Spurs game moved because we had all of 2 covid cases and a few first team injuries and he didn’t fancy using his bench or putting one or two youth players on the bench. I said at the time if I was one of our fringe players and saw that I’d be pretty fucking gutted. The manager would rather move the game than risk playing a few who don’t normally make the starting 11. It showed a… Read more »
Stopped reading when you said xhaka to take someone under his wing
Herbs army
You are obviously intelligent and a skilled writer, but you will never write honestly about Arsenal until you learn their history and understand where their culture originated from.
Lol, what sort of pretentious BS is this?
Pedro
You make some good points in the post but if we are honest, do we see arteta talking one on one with a player and saying what you wrote up there?
Nah, I don’t see it. All I see is him talking tactics.
2 problems of arteta has always been his in game management, and his man management
so apropos Mr. Boyle…I wonder if he used this particular analogy due to Xhaka’s obvious “bird flipping” tendencies…if so, kudos to you Pedro…as for the remainder of this exercise in lowered expectations, which was clearly written in a matter of minutes, likely on a half-soiled cocktail napkin, it’s evident that you’ve got about as much faith in our club’s prospects this season as the manager has in his presently available coverage options…in a not so surprising but oh so ironic twist the exact individual who delighted in the notion of calling anyone with a justifiable axe to grind against our… Read more »
a bunch of bedwetters…
Arteta urns his extra year at the club with the next 8 games. Simple as that. If he galaxy brains the next phase and continues with Xhaka at left back, thus rodgering our midfield and loses all 8 (i can see a scenario where that happens) he simply has to go and will have proven to the Arteta skeptics that he is a fraud. However, if he does go “back to basics” as Pedro says and gets us into 4th (Cant see that happening) 5th or 6th place (id take that but would be super pissed off considering where we… Read more »
Recently, ESR seemed lost on the pitch. Here is my advice to the coaching staff:
Watch replay of MC matches at least twice a day with ESR and demand ESR to study how Bernardo Silva works on the pitch. The rest of the day, he’ll practice it on the training pitch.
I find that ESR has the energy to play like Bernardo Silva. I remember that initially, ESR was very active making himself available.. Now our defenders couldn’t find him and pass him the ball.
Gonsterous If you have read some of my previous comments, you will know what I’m referring to. As ‘Thorough’ mentioned the other day, it’s about being honest with each other about who Arsenal are. The last time Arsenal had a really ruthless winning mentality was in the 1930’s, long before the majority of us were born. When Chapman died, Arsenal appointed a rookie manager, and they’ve pretty much done the same since. Arsenal only became risk-averse after the war, under the Old Etonians, and they are exactly the same under the Kroenke’s. Arsenal’s approach is always to convince the fan… Read more »
Herbs – thats utter tosh. George Graham and the Wenger Years of League titles are your “sporadic years” – even if that is the case. Liverpool went 20+ years without winning the title. Man U likewise.
“Arsenal are”;
1. One of the biggest clubs in England
2. Have an incredibly rich history of domestic success (consistent cup and league wins)
It’s bloody hard to win anything (just ask the spuds). Even more so when you don’t have sovereign wealth funds and oligarchs backing you.
This young team will win the league in the next few years. With or without Arteta
@Pedro
” he season needs to finish in a respectable manner so we can put the #ArtetaOut weirdos back in their box for another 6 months.”
Hahaha, get us some of what you’re smoking. Don’t be selfish and share that shit.
If that’s your truth, Stegs and you’re happy with it, that’s fine.
Liverpool have 19 titles and 9 European trophies.
It took Arsenal 45 years to win their first title, and they only won one in 35 years between 1953-1988, if you’re comparing.
George Graham lasted less than 10 years, Wenger was done after 10 years too.
Dear Gooners, please help me understand this. Most likely we will finish in 5th or 6th place. With suc a record and Artetas much documented regimented approach to man amnagement and squad management with no tangible success 1. why wouldn’t our youngsters look elsewhere when greener pastures beckons and in some cases actively courts you. Pls put yourself in the shoes of these youngsters and think 2. Why would any talented youngsters come to Arsenal with the track record of the past 3 years and more so if we limp to a 6yh place finish thi season. I believe we… Read more »
This young team will win the league in the next few years. With or without Arteta
How can you be so sure?
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10708089/Ashley-Cole-girlfriend-threatened-violent-break-home-court-hears.html
Honestly don’t think we win another game this season, Can see a return of 8 points, Hope I’m wrong but I have no faith in this regime, Owned, Run and managed by complete losers and phonies.
I would urge every Arsenal supporter to do a Google search of Arsenal managers after Herbert Chapman, particularly post WWII, and ask yourself if they are the appointments of a hungry ambitious club, and in keeping with where the club were immediately prior to the war.
So, now we are at Europa, Europa, and Europa is what the goal was/is all along? Put down the Meta goggles man, for real. We will not make any meaningful movement for 3 years if goals scored, conceded remain at the current averages and points at the end all this season are within 5-7 points. And everyone is supposed to believe that Lord mikeL will take everyone to the holyland next year with the additional burden of Europa? Galaxy brain better get to 70 points or 4th or he needs to go. It is still possible, but he needs to… Read more »
Xavi is 15 games unbeaten, longest in Europe. tRust the PRocess
Aaron
Agreed with your points.
I am actually sad that it didn’t work out and honestly I am not sure if it will.
Still, like it or not, we are stuck with Arteta barring a 9 game losing streak.
End of the day for me and not feeling good after reading that Spuds scored more goals under Conte since November, than Arsenal scored all seasons. Our attack is in a mess and hasn’t gotten better this season. 7 goals by Arsenals forwards and wingers. Mikel Arteta cost Arsenal chance to have “one of best midfielders in the world” reads the headline in the Mirror. How is it possible that one manager rates Guen as one of the best midfielders and another couldn’t wait to get rid of him. Are they fielding players in different sports? https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/arsenal-arteta-midfield-guendouzi-transfer-26679255 Arsenal are said… Read more »
no to ESR through the middle, he’s been shitting the bed worse than laca over the last 2 games. super disappointed like everyone else! i certainly don’t think arteta is fucking up as bad as almost everyone else, but he certainly needs to figure something out fast.that will determine what happens next, what i think about him – it’s not a static thing that he’s amazing ewtc. life keeps going and if you can’t step it up you don;’t deserve the job. he’s done well rebuilding the spine of our team this season, but it’s being stressed right now in… Read more »
Madhu
I think all fans see and feel this.
Arteta for me is at a critical crossroads. If he fcuks up, which is highly possible, the fans will react. No hiding place this time.
Pedro is such a talented writer but he’s writing as if he’s explaining things to a group of ignorant folk.
How can you justify Arteta’s methods when so many failings are just not being rectified.
9 points from 8 games pedro? That is terrible. Even winning half of our games we would get 12. It is like accepting mediocrity. The way we are collapsing doesn’t point to Arteta being a too manager that is going to lead us to top 4 and beyond to the promised land. But it doesn’t mean he did a terrible job in the grand scheme of things. This squad might be ready to win in the next 2 to 3 years. And he built the squad and for that he deserves credit. I am just not sure he is capable… Read more »
Graham62. 100% at a crossroads. This is it for me. I’ve supported him this far but you cant keep making the same errors he does (specifically at squad management and human relationships) and nothing happening.
@Samesong – cant be certain of anything. much like you cant be certain what the result against Southampton will be. But there is a wealth of evidence that the young squad we have, with the right manager (this may or may not be Arteta) has an excellent chance of winning the title. there are some very very good players in this squad.
Arteta made some glaring mistakes. He might be more sold on the vision at the club than his own self survival or he has a huge ego at this moment it is not clear to me. Arteta has done what he can do with what he has at his disposal. However, it is a situation he finds himself in. All the decisions he has made are tough calls he wins them on the side of prudence. The challenge is the current situation is unbearable. To be fair Arteta needs to be judged when the season ends. This summer will be… Read more »
HerbsArmy spot on mate. We moan about this player or that but the club don’t have the ambition or vision to be anywhere other than below elite level and as you say haven’t for decades. The youth project is a PR stunt to persuade the fans that glory is down the road. The much derided Conte seems like he might make our season a whole lot worse.
We sold Iwobi for 40m, more than Generational will get for Auba, Guen, Mavro and probably Saliba combined.
Let the process sink in.
……………. ‘This young team will win the league in the next few years. With or without Arteta’……….. Saka and Martinelli will win the title in the next few years without Arteta………but it will be with Man City/Liverpool. The rest of us will have a yearly 6th place battle whilst Arteta sees out his new 4 year deal before moving to his beloved mid-table Everton, where 8th-10th place finishes will be seen as a decent result. Whilst Arsenal will see Pepe leave on a free as no-one wanted him and Mo Elneny will be handed a new 1 year deal at… Read more »
Mediocrity is allowed to manifest when there is no accountability. Every single post on here over these past two years has centred around one thing, accepting mediocrity. Arteta is and never was the answer to our problems. Look at Conte. He is a winner and if you go out to win you wouldn’t accept your own failings let alone the failings of others. Arteta makes basic mistakes. He’s a 40 year old, experienced professional footballer. Even if he wasn’t a coach/manager I would question his decision making.process. How can you trust in someone who has no true concept of man-management.… Read more »
If Arteta stays we will definitely lose Saka, Martinelli, ESR over these next few years.
Martinez Guendouzi Saliba Nketiah Let’s see how their careers flourish ( or not) in the next couple of years.. They could have been the backbone of the Arsenal team for the next 7/8 years ….what a waste. And i still believe Martinez is the better keeper than Ramsdale. I’ve always said that Arteta’s tenure as manager could turn out to be a period of regret..Arsenal fans will be watching every man of the match performance, every international call up , every goal that Eddie scores , and use it as a stick to beat Arteta with , just like they… Read more »
Martinelli at LB was up there with Nik Bentner at RW
Saka seems a good fit in Artetas style of play but would leave to win trophies he would fit well at City. ESR however seems a bad fit and maybe better suited to playing under Klopp.
Sid
“Xavi is 15 games unbeaten, longest in Europe. tRust the PRocess”
Will just point out that prior to the first lockdown in march 2020, Arsenal, with Arteta as manager , were the only unbeaten team domestically in europe in 2020….12 games unbeaten.
Who were in the side
Eddie had started 5 on the bounce (5 wins)
Leno in goal
Ozil
Pepe
Aubamayang
Guendouzi
Torreira
AMN
Luiz
and many more, in fact the ony player who was a regular starter then and is still a regular starter now is XHAKA…
We have spent hundreds of millions to replace a team capable of 12 unbeaten?
Let the process sink in
Peter Wood should take Arteta as his middle name like Brooklyn Beckham has taken his girlfriends name. Poor thing.
Arteta may have not understood the challenge of the Arsenal job. He came in to a whirlwind at the Arsenal. However he saw it as a hurricane and imagined new problems that did not need solving. Many players that left the club genuinely wanted better for the club but didn’t know how to perform. A period of stability and truth finding was required. Blame games and cut throat politics ensued. Challenge at Arsenal is not the players are bad is that a lot of the goodwill from the players has been lost. Arteta has his work cut out he probably… Read more »
I don’t see the young players leaving this summer UNLESS we royally fuck up. i.e miss out on Europe altogether through an absolute collapse of a run-in. I think Saka et al will hang around for one more season after this for sure. Like i said were at a crossroads now. If Arteta fucks up this run-in nobody decent will come to us in the summer. That then has a knock on effect the whole of next season with our current Superstars (Saka, ESR, Martinelli, Odegaard) looking elsewhere. Conte was / is not the answer at Arsenal. He has Harry… Read more »
Pierre
Define “a good coach”
Imo a good coach should be all-encompassing.
Arteta therefore is not a good coach.
Arteta probably got an A* in his theory exams.
From a practical standpoint he’s no more than a C.
Tim Stillman asked a question on a pod. Has Arteta genuinely improved any youngster by coaching. This question would be asked by everyone and will reverberates across the TW wgeb we approach anyone for signing. Coupled with this the record of his treatment of youngsters put him in a difficult position. Arteta has made his own position tenous by his decisions and his belief that he is the next pep. He may well be but he should have behaved more maturely till he won something of substance before being rigid in his player management. One player that fascinates me is… Read more »
Ask any player why they’d want to go and play for Liverpool and they’d give the same answer.
Klopp.
Steg “As for mediocrity – it seems that unless we’re 1st, its mediocre?? What a bizarre concept. you can still be 2nd 3rd or 4th and not be mediocre” This is very true , but this all comes about from a new breed of fans being spoilt by the wenger glory years and failed to recognise that Chelsea’s and city’s billions were nigh on impossible to compete against as they could afford the best players in the world and more importantly afford to make mistakes in the transfer market whilst at the same time poaching our best players What we… Read more »
Nine points from the remaining 8 games I doubt will get EL qualification particularly if the two games against Utd & WHU result in losses.
I said months ago be prepared for EL Conference and I think that is still a huge possibility
Pierre
Don’t make me bite.
Cheers!
I would love someone on here, anyone, to give a detailed list of all the positives of Arteta’s on field coaching skills.
Don’t go overboard on it.
Zacharse
You can’t compare ESR to Laca. Laca is old and slow. Now he is finished physically. ESR was badly managed by Arteta. Initially, he was very active in the buildup of our attack. Then he became a bit part player for a few month. He lost the chemistry with his teammates in the last two games. `Now that we have injuries, we have to help him to rediscover his game.
Steg where is your evidence for that definition of mediocrity. Its certainly not mine. I dont remember a single post on here suggesting that not being 1st is considered failure. You’re talking out of your backside. Arsenal have been mediocre in their ambition for more than a decade and a half. It hasn’t changed under Arteta.
The situation Arteta’s Arsenal finds itself in really distills the issues and concentrates the mind: 2:defeats in a row against mid table teams, but still fifth, and three points behind Spurs with a game in hand and 8 games to go. If Arteta manages to solve his problems at left back, centre mid and at striker, and finds away to get the handbrake off and to get back to winning ways, whichever way he solves them, then in my mind at least he will have earned his stripes as a manager. I’d be happy to forgive the long list of… Read more »
Many on here keep harking back to the Jan window as if we were unaware that it was a major cause of recent defeats. What that window told us – and what Arteta has confirmed – is that there are far bigger priorities than where Arsenal ends the current season. Come summer, we will all learn what those are.