Good morning my darlings, here we are, basking in Monday morning glory, does it feel good? Of course it does.
… but don’t get top 4 complacent.
West Ham looks in a perilous state when it comes to the league. They have no centre-backs, the focus is on the Don Unai Cup, players will not be worrying about Arsenal.
… but that is where the danger lies. Chelsea took until the 90th minute to score. There are NO easy games in the league. Though I do take heart from the fact Chelsea had 26 attempts at their goals.
The players need to leave complacent ideas at the door. There are easy games in this league.
I do want to cast my eye to some of the mess that’s going on over at Manchester United. They’ve signed Ten Hag, the Twitter choice, and they’ve done it over Pochettino who is out at PSG.
Now, there’s no doubting the job that Mr Hag has done at Ajax. He rebuilt two teams, did huge work in the Champions League, and the football his sides play is quite simply some of the sexiest work you’ll see in Europe.
… but.
Ajax has a very deep understanding of who they are as a football club. There’s a total football DNA. There’s infrastructure and a built-in patience with the fans. They don’t have a clueless Class of 92 poking their noses in.
There’s also this: He has no experience in the Premier League. He looks great on paper, but the idea that he’ll just work over here because he’s done good work at Ajax is a touch fanciful. This is no mugs league. Peter Bosz (65% win rate at Ajax) moved to Dortmund and had a nightmare because he couldn’t program the fitness of the players, Holland to Germany isn’t the jump from Holland to England.
Then you have the big one. He has no track record with megastars. There is no way United clear out all their problem players in one hit. Big names have different mindsets. At Ajax, the players are young, their careers depend on the coach. When you move to a big Premier League club, these guys are eating regardless of performance. Ten Hag is going to have to deal with leakers, players that don’t want to learn new things, straight-up arsonists, and egos that think they rule the roost. Mikel Arteta was nearly downed by Ozil, Mustafi, and a group of internal monsters that wanted the worst for him. Ten Hag is going to deal with the same issues Rangnick and OGS dealt with, and be real, his profile won’t impress big names in a league that has Klopp, Conte, Tuchel, and Guardiola.
Now let’s talk other issues. Ronaldo is on a two-year deal worth £600k a week. He’s their top goalscorer and their biggest Premier League liability. Where else do you think he’ll get money like that at 38 years old? Nowhere. Can a new manager that plays a vicious pressing system afford to bench Cristiano? Now multiply that issue across the club. What are United going to be able to do that Arsenal couldn’t? Who is taking their mega earners on? United might be rich, but they can’t clog the squad if no one exits.
Jadon: £350k p/w
De Gea: £400k p/w (Ten Hag needs a keeper who can do Ramsdale things on the ball, good luck)
Harry: £190k p/w
Varane: £340k p/w
These are monster deals that no one else will pick up.
Then I see they are looking to fix their midfield with Frenkie. The first move of their new manager might be to take a £70m punt on a midfielder that is being benched by Xavi in a Barcelona side that just lost three successive home games in a row for the first time in history (check out how Barca fans feel about Auba now)? I’m down for it. No doubt there’s pedigree there, but outside ‘brand’ there’s not a lot I’d like about a £70m reboot.
So… this could all be wrong. United has to get it right one day. But listening to all the ‘it’s over’ chat because of one signing reminds me of the Conte, Jose, Ralf, and Carlo fans that said the same when those, far more successful coaches, landed at their respective clubs.
Pochettino was the bigger worry. Charismatic, experienced, took a Spursy culture to the Champions League final, very experienced in the Premier League. ‘He fucked it at PSG’, honestly, who doesn’t these days? They spat out Don Unai, Thomas Tuchel, now Poch… it’s a poison club. Only one man wants that job and he’s sitting in the Spurs dugout for 5 more games.
Finally, before we go, there’s more talk about Gabriel Jesus. I am fully prepared to take a massive L on this one, but rather than embrace it now, I’m going to dig in a little deeper.
I think his primary motivation is to stay at City and sign a new deal
He only joins Arsenal if 1) We make the Champions League 2) He is a wide option for us.
He fits the profile of signing, young, hungry, experienced, with a year on his deal. I’m just not so sure this noise is about our ambition or the player trying to ask probing questions of Pep G, who looked very pissed about the line of attack from journalists.
Jesus is a top player, he plays for City, he’s won loads of things, he seems a total professional. I would just be very surprised if Arteta pivoted from bidding £60m for Vlahovic and agreeing terms with a 6ft3 striker, to deciding his ideal man was a small striker with a very limited goal impact up until the Watford game.
Still, no one in the Premier League is better equipped to judge the talent of Gabriel Jesus.
Remember, clubs play the game with journalists, the more stories in the ether, the better for Arsenal. Don’t fall in love with a a rumour yet.
… but be fully aware of this one fact.
When David Ornstein announces we’ve signed Gabriel, I am going two feet into stories like ‘HOW SHORT STRIKERS ARE THE NEW FRONTIER IN AERIAL THREAT’
I’ll flip harder than a drug dealer caught in an undercover sting. You have been warned.
Right, we have some extra content for you today.
Here is Pedro talking to Latte Firm. Top channel. Subscribe. They have a Gabriel breakdown tomorrow.
Then we have The Arsenal Opinion.
Jim Lahey-yep.As Arrogant as they come Jim.Twenty years in the wilderness for them would be wonderful.
Pierre, I’m not defensive re Ode………. I watch his play with a critical eye more often than not, but some of the things you’re asking him to do are things you would never ask of Ozil in his pomp. As a matter of fact I was defending Ozil against the very same criticism you’ve just levelled at Ode, way back when people said at 350kpw he should be taking games by the scruff of the neck etc. As if he could somehow channel his inner Gerard…….. before his 16 operations and the titanium screws. It never happened with Ozil, and… Read more »
Pierre is right in that it’s not when the sun is shining that we should really judge players but when the chips are down We’ve seen how good the players can be on a good day. To become an elite player you need to frequently hold that level even when your team mates are having a bad day. I think besides Saka and Ramsdale not really anyone else has been usually good even when the team was doing badly (they’ve had bad games too but less) This is why I think someone needs to step up to be captain. But… Read more »
But it’s honestly bizarre in the extreme that Pierre would criticize Ode’s weaker performances when the team is behind considering he found Ozil, the ultimate time tested and original ‘vanishing man’ who only could be arsed to even show up when the sun was shining, usually at home and against poor opposition – that Pierre would forgive all that is hilarious
Really happy with Ode’s direction tho
He’s young. I don’t expect perfection, I just want to see progress. Has he been better this year than last? Absolutely, yes. Much better.
If Odegaard could do the things some of you are asking him to do on top of what he’s done throughout his career, he’d still be playing at RM and his price tag would be closer to 100m.
For all the people being sceptical about Gabriel Jesus( despite the fact that this would have us with THREE Brazilian Gabriel’s in the squad, I mean, how could that possibly be a bad thing, the first two are great, stands to reason the third one will be too;)), I’ve had a look at his goal involvements over the past five seasons in all competitions (including national stats, which is kind of hurting his average): On average he’s had 0.55 goals for every 90 minutes played, and 0.27 assists. That means he has a G+A per game of 0.82, which is… Read more »
If we get him for a reasonable price I’ll be over the moon.
The media speculation about Serge Gnabry won’t go away.
I’m undecided. He wants to play in a central role. If we could get him and an established No.9 to replace Laca and Eddie, I think it could win me over.
Would anyone else want Gnabry back at the club?
Ode is a class player. I much prefer him over Ozil. Ozil at his best was clearly a better player than Ode at his best. But how often did we see that? 2-3 times during his time with us? I’ve never seen such a flaky and unreliable player in my life. Good riddance. IMO, Ode’s biggest weakness is that he’s a slow player. It becomes especially apparent when we play low blocks and he starts taking extra touches. Part of that should be fixed by having a more mobile #9. Or more mobility in general in our attack. He might… Read more »
Ten Hag, or whoever any club hire as manager or players they buy is of no more than passing interest to me, the higher the standard the better imo as it will require higher standards from our own club, it is amusing to see Neville and Ferdinand virtually crying about Utd and that toxic prick Scholes shitting on his club. It maybe some time before Man Utd are world class in both infrastructure and football but it will happen
“If Arsenal say: ‘We want you’, I don’t think about leaving,” the Egyptian said after the Gunners’ 3-1 win over Manchester United on Saturday. “It’s my family for six years. I love this club. “I always love a challenge and give 100 per cent all the time. I don’t decide who plays, but I keep going in training to show how good I am and to make him (Arteta) play me. If I don’t play I keep going until I get my chance. The contract and stuff, I’m just waiting for the club to decide what they want.” Big Mo… Read more »
Pedro
Nice take on the potential pitfalls of hiring Ten Hag. For our sake I hope it plays out that way.
But I somewhat feel that even if Ten Hag embarks on a clean up and rebuild, he will get there faster than Arteta who is just competing for Europe in his 3rd season (2nd full).
I really do believe that momentum will push us pass westham on Sunday. And then it’s all winnable from there, spuds included
I’m not sure why people want to take a wide forward and try and turn them into a CF. Just buy a genuine CF and have done with it, TH14’s are one in a million, it’s not something that you can do with every player.
andy – fully agree. Let’s go with less of a project for a change
but if time and money permits then I’m happy to see a “project” come in as our back up striker (assuming Nketiah leaves – if he stays there will only be one forward signing)
I’m not sure there’s a manager in football capable of sorting out the mess at man u- not in the short to medium term anyway.
They’ll be back alright but it may take a while.
This makes Arsenal’s return to the top four particularly well timed.
Also, Spurs look like a white elephant of a club, Chelsea have disappointed and are at a cross road post abramovich and teams like West ham and Everton who were supposed to challenge us, have faded away,.
Not only can we make top four, we can stay there and go further.
Tom, Great detailed observations about Ødegaard and his reflection on the players around him. Really made me think and right away I recognized the situations you describe. Pierre not being too harsh on him considering lots of people use Ozil comparisons. The fact that he is naturally compared to Ozil at all is a huge sign of his quality. It’s why I didn’t understand people not wanting him after the loan. I saw plenty there that I knew would be excellent in an improving Arsenal. The only thing I didn’t count on was both our CFs dropping off a ledge… Read more »
On the United discussion, I’m with Leedsgunner. Nobody that they hire worries me. For a lot of complicated reasons, they will never be what they were, even if they get pockets of success occasionally over time.
Man U already have a talented squad – one capable of matching the best – it’s their mindset that is the problem. A situation that Arteta found at Arsenal, – except the Arsenal players were older, past their best and, for the most part, less talented.
The incoming manager ought to be given total control. He should set the style, choose the players, establish discipline. Any player who does not conform, should be removed from the squad. In other words, he should take a leaf out of Arteta’s book.
I get that Pedro is unconvinced on Gabriel Jesus but I personally find it amusing that he is willing to go all in with Eddie… even though Gabriel J is a proven performer.
I really really hope in the next five games that Eddie takes his chance and he does well but Gabriel Jesus would be a good solid addition of experience and skill to our team.
The Man U vibe is a weird one, who the fuck cares what they do ? The only thing they have in common with us is that they have shit American owners. I would imagine we will be in for several strikers this summer. We cant put all our eggs in one basket, the market is too fickle.
If Conte did piss off to PSG I think its very likely they go back for Pochetinno.
That would worry me as he did good things there.
Want those fuckers to crash and burn and drop like a stone.
Pedro get that scouting report guy back to do a deep dive on summer striker buys!
No to Jesus
I love gnabry but is he what this team needs profile wise?
I mean you’d never say no to him but I’d rather we get Darwin and DeJong
We can’t afford All 3 and gnabry wouldn’t improve what we have as much as the other two In my opinion
I’d be worried about poch coming back to the prem top6 is any capacity
Wasted time in Paris thank god. It’s a nothing job for a top coach
https://www.nottinghampost.com/sport/football/football-news/how-carl-jenkinson-doing-leaving-6992262
Corporal Jenks is down under now apparently after only playing 15 times in 3 years for Nottingham.
Amazing how he got sooo many years at the Arsenal.
interesting that emery’s villareal currently sit 3 points off euro conference spot. very interesting if they fail to get past pool and then fail to make europe in any form…
Glad the Corporal is enjoying his footy
I’m wondering if Tomi is going to be physically capable of meeting the demands of a right back in this league. I have loved his attitude and hard work but his calf injuries are worrisome. He definitely deserves another shot once he’s completely healthy but if he isn’t physically capable oh, then what? He has played Center back in the past so that may be an option( I imagine he would be a good one). That poses the question as to what to do for a right back. It brings me to Aaron Wan-Bissaka. He was brilliant at Palace and… Read more »
If you like meaningless facts like I do…
the entire Villarreal squad that put Bayern out of the Champions league COLLECTIVELY cost less than Pepe
I really like Pepe and would love to see him integrated into the run for fourth narrative, but the above comparison is poignant 🙂
OMG – get Jesus in asap. If he wants to come. City buying Haaland at crazy prices means there’s an in.
Eddie can either stay or go it’s as relevant as arguments over whether we should have sold Andy Cole.
Social media would have crucified those sort of decisions but in reality some players will peak under different leadership
Jesus feels a great fit and someone who’s up for a 20+ goal challenge . Mixes of ESR , Martinelli , , Saka and Odegard could play merry hell with defences
Bard get your point over UTD.
Though it’s sometimes worth having a look at their decision making. We seem to be heading in the right direction they still appear all over the shop.
We should be thankful that our Ex Players usually react normally to events particularly after Wenger left.
The Class of 92 in comparison are like the old Leeds who destroyed Clough. Mostly twats who can’t do the job themselves but have enormous egos
Somehow it doesnt sit right with me that Dani Ceballos is actually in an UCL semifinal , might even come off the bench to play .
.
.
Also people that are looking at stats and judging on Gabriel Jesus , were also proven wrong when Arsenal decided to sign Ramsdale and said he was the worst keeper and two times relegated . Only a fool would deny Gabriel Jesus at Arsenal , a player with fantastic qualities . No brainer to get him in that squad.
Not good for Arsenal they said loool
Gabriel can’t play no 9 lmao
Hmmm Gabriel Jesus with the call me celebration after his CL goal… wonder who he wants to call him?
Jesus playing for that Arsenal contract! I like it.
Plays as no.9 scores in semi against Madrid . Gabriel Jesus shutting down his critics .
LOL Pedro needs to have a lie down. We need Jesus in our Arsenal lives. With Saka, ESR, And Ode feeding him he will score for fun. We would be pretty much getting a 20 goals a season from him in the PL alone.
I’ve been on the “big #9” team but I’m coming around to the idea of bringing in someone like Jesus. If this Eddie experiment has shown anything, it’s the benefit of having a very mobile CF who isn’t afraid of making darting runs in the box. Jesus is a very similar player to Eddie, with the minor difference that he better at every aspect of the game. His stats for this season are shit but very few players are good in the false 9 role.
His scoring stats are shit because he doesn’t play every game and City don’t rely on one player to score most of their goals. Ability, Aggression, Mentality is what we should sign to lead the line not some lame duck striker in Europe scoring easy goals against crap teams. He is the best we can buy in PL. Why miss out? He’s not even necessarily going to always play CF as he can play on the wing as well to compliment Saka’s output.
Personally I would take Jesus or Gnabry… winners are winners.. and both are still young with a crap load of big game experience for Club and Country. I understand about the height issue and the lack of 20 goals a season… but if the player fits your system then the player fits your system. Pepe had bags of goals before he came to us… but he doesn’t fit our way of playing. and it’s not like Gabriel doesn’t score goals. Anyhow.. let’s get 4th first… That’s the important bit. Then we can haggle over which great players we want.
Seems like I say this every time I watch him but De Bruyne is an absolute joy to watch. His intelligence, vision and weight of pass is absolutely second to none I think.
Gabriel Jesus is available for 25 mil according to the brazillian journalist that broke the news of our inquiry for him. And he is smashing in the goals as our fans are doubting his goal scoring pedigree. I want Darwin Nunez. But if we can’t get him, I would be delighted with Jesus. And we would be getting him when he is about to enter his prime and it will be for peanuts. This the same price tag we want for pepe. What actually surprised me about Jesus is the amount of headers he scores when I saw all his… Read more »
Benzema cannot be stopped what a fucking finish on his left peg.
Whoaa.. King Benz… game on.
That pass from KDB to Foden was absolutely flawless CHris agreed, literally away from the defender and into stride.
Foden should have buried it and now Benz made them pay, game on!
Benzema only needs a half chance.
BIG BENZ!!! Was it ever in doubt??? DEADLY FINISH!!! If City want to win they better start scoring more goals.
Real are live here I tell ye, City should have been 3./4 nil up but now the game has been turned on its head and Real seem to thrive in these situations in the CL.
Benzema has carried Madrid all the way to the Semis. It might even be further considering he is in the form of his life. He really did sacrifice himself for Ronaldo.
Mate get Jesus AND Nunez and we are really talking!
If Jesus is really available for the price of one Joe Willock, it would be criminal not to take the punt.
Wenger Eagle
Honestly one starts to run out of superlatives for De Bruyne. I’d be giving Mary Mary a run for their money if I have any more praise.
Don’t like RM but given a choice of them or City…..
Benzema has been this good forever, he just never had a chance to be the top dog and selfish before Ronaldo left.
Chris
He’s the best midfielder on the planet, simples.
Loving the openness of this match.. gonna be more goals that’s for sure. After suffering through that Athletico v City dirge. where they tried to pressure City into oblivion with some dirt ball tactics to boot this is a lot more fun to watch
It’s gone from a game where City should be almost home and dry, to Madrid looking like regaining the cocky swagger of multi CL winners, next goal is massive. It’s a cracking game. Hopefully the 2nd leg will follow suit. How come we rarely get finals like this?
Crazy how KdB always seems to do the right thing with the ball , man is Cesc Fabregas on steroids .
Habesha
There’s never been a hard individual carry-job than this one by Benzema in the CL in my memory.
Real really are a pretty ordinary and aging team outside of him (who ironically is 34 himself). City had them chasing shadows until he scored to turn the game on its head. Chelsea and PSG are also both comfortably better sides that outplayed Real Madrid and he knocked them out pretty much single-handedly.
”How come we rarely get finals like this?”
The pressure and the occasion gets to most players and they play not to lose rather than to win. Very rare that you see an adventurous and attacking CL Final.
The SFs are always way more entertaining than the Final.
CL SF is as good as it gets for club football viewing.
I would definitely take Gabriel Jesus.
Premier league ready.
Great attitude and workrate.
Knows where the goal is.
With a year left on his contract and Haaland soon to arrive we have a great chance to get him.
Anything like 30 to 35 million is a steal.
He could be Brilliant for us.
Strong rumours Edu has agreed terms with his agent.
Next 2 games for us
West ham away
Leeds home
Spurs are
Leicester home
Liverpool away
Whisper it quietly but we could be 5 points clear going into the game at Spurs if they beat Leicester and as expected lose against Liverpool and we beat West Ham and Leeds.
Get a draw at Spurs and we could even afford to lose against what is looking a very very tricky game vs newcastle as long as we win our last game v Everton then champions league for us!
All swings and roundabouts though.
We have to beat West Ham.
CBS shows everything that’s wrong with the punditry circuit. Richards, Henry, and Carragher are like the three dumbest bros at a frat party. NBC’s PL coverage is miles and miles ahead.
Weagle
Yeah Modric is capable of a surprise. But other than that this Madrid team doesn’t have match winners yet. There are some very promising players though. Vini Jr. has stepped up, Valverde is a top player and Camavinga is a star in waiting. But all of these players haven’t done anything in this Champions league run. Benzema carrying them all the way. It makes me wonder what more Benzema could have done in his career if he didn’t have to stay in Ronaldo’s shadow for so long though. He is genuinely the complete striker.
That was coming.. Real Madrid so open..
Fernandinho comes on to replace CB Stones and is in Mahrez’s spot on the RW to deliver the killer assist for the 3rd goal, lol.
Is Pep wearing a Wenger Puffy coat? haha
Anyhow… Game back on!
Habesha
Imo Benz is the closest thing to R9 I have seen.
Less explosive of course and not as gifted a dribbler but better in some aspects such as holding the ball up and bringing others into play. They are quite similar players though in height and build besides that.
What a game, Vinicius Jr great goal!
3-2 what a game.
Fernandinho played a vital role in City’s third goal but he got ruined there by Vin.J
How was that for a nutmeg… backheel nutmeg by Vini JR.
Middy
Let’s hope the zip on it works eh?
Haha Yep Eagle… if Pep struggles with the zip… that’s me hurting myself laughing. I thought they stopped making those things. Guess not.
Brazil just keeps churning out great players… Vini Jr.. is something to watch. This game is turning into a track meet. Would be surprised if Pep doesn’t tell them to take their foot off the gas pedal a bit.
We need to start importing these CL referees to the PL.
Also, what the hell is Curtois doing there??
Who was it on here way back when who said Mahrez couldn’t dribble past players, lol
Not sure why Courtois didn’t even raise his hand..it’s like he thought the play was dead or something.. anyhow.. Hope RM score now… have to keep it going. Dani Cebs …. sighting.
Whoaaaa pk?
4-3 what a game.
What. A. Game.
Don’t want this game to end! Fantastic. And the cojones on Benzema there. Nerves of steel.
What an insane and bizarre game.
City on another day would be 3-4 up. Actually have a real tie on our hands now going back to Spain next week.
It’s like one of those boxing matches where you think at some point one boxer is done after an 8 count and by the end he is still slugging it out with a chance to get a split decision.
Crazy game. Real Madrid is the strangest club in football. They don’t look great at any particular thing except for the art of getting a result. It’s in their DNA.