Arsenal vs Orlando City was 45 minutes of hell followed with a tasty shot/chaser that showed where we are heading as a club.
MLS is a league on the rise, better coaching, more exciting clubs developing, and a generation of top-tier athletes coming through that said no to NFL. The Premier League is also HUGE in America. The amount NBC pays for the rights dwarfs even what Apple pays for the MLS direct-to-market games.
My point, the MLS is a league that will innovate, especially with Apple helping, because it needs to have a moment post-2026.
One of the elements they do well, especially at the newer clubs, is ‘supporter sections.’ In English, they have safe standing, where the noisy folk go. LAFC, Austin FC, Seatle Sounders, and the Portland Timbers have atmospheres that would put most Premier League clubs to shame. They have a group of fans that are all a bit nuts, they work closely with them, and they make sure the noise in the stadium is orchestrated by them for the entire game.
Why can’t the Premier League have that?
Well, they can. But the Premier League’s overall capacity in games was about 96% last season. I know that’s tickets sold, but overall, there’s no league in the world that delivers more fans across the board. Our second division, The Championship, is the best attended second division in the world clocking in at 21,000 per game. MLS averages about 22,000 a game, it’s on the rise since COVID. But my point here is the Premier League doesn’t need to fix something that isn’t broken.
WRONG MOVE.
Arsenal didn’t need to fix Arsene Wenger, because on paper, he was delivering 4th.
No one paid attention to the grim reaper marching on his abilities, or the innovative talents coming into the league, by the time everyone realised that all was not well, we were ready for a painful 5-year rebuild.
The average age of a MLB fan in America is 58 and the skin color is very white. They didn’t pay attention to young people. The average age of an MLS fan is 37, the skin color is very mixed (don’t get at me with your ‘this is woke’ stuff, on a pure business level, this is what America looks like in the younger generations, so outside it being good to open the doors to everyone, it’s also the only way to survive as a business), as a sport it is on the right track and it continues to funnel young people through the doors.
Young people are the lifeblood of any sport. Average age of a Premier League ticket holder is 43. Clubs need to pay attention to that number in the good times, because you cannot go begging for young fans when you have a problem. And look, young fans are hard to come by, according to lots of private data I’ve seen working on big soft drink brands, the generation coming through doesn’t really give that much of a shit about live sport in the way my generation did when we were 16. Games like FIFA are genuinely gateway drugs to the actual game. Sports clubs are also competing for attention minutes with things that are cheaper an easier to access… TikTok, Netflix, Fortnite, and Roblox, to name but a few.
Live sport has to compete and funnel new blood into venues, otherwise, there will be empty stadiums.
This is a curveball, but Spotify worked out that people who created a playlist in the app were something stupid like 8x more likely to subscribe to Premium, so they invested in that feature with their paid media and creative spaces. I don’t have the data here, but I’d imagine there are two ways in at football… if your parents take you to live games, you are likely going to be a lifer. But phase two is when you get a bit older. If you can get to games easily with people your own age, you are going to start the cycle of being a proper fan minus parents.
That stage of fandom is really fucking hard if you’re a 22-grand-job-in-City, that-sounds-nice type of 24-year-old. £900 on ticket, £60 beers with your mates, train fare…
More defined supporter sections could be a good holding pen before you graduate into gen-pop tickets as you get old and withered and reluctant to sing or tolerate £5 rat burgers and £10 warm Carling.
Ok, don’t know why I went off on that tangent.
LET’S TALK ORLANDO CITY!
THE BAD:
There were players on in the first half that clearly aren’t going to be here in a few weeks. They didn’t make a case for a stay of execution.
Pablo Mari, awful.
Nico Pepe, uninterested, awful.
Ains, just so bad.
Hector, clearly hating his life and existence in a red shirt.
These players aren’t good enough, they have no future, I wish we didn’t have to suffer them.
Where are the bids?
Arsenal need to shift players to buy now, so we need to get cracking here!
Our first half was basically like watching Emeryball. We were getting ripped through the middle, we had no creativity, our players were passing it around in circles.
… but we know that isn’t Arsenal now.
THE UGLY:
My biggest fear this window is the keeping position. Aaron Ramsdale hasn’t recovered his early season form. Yesterday, he dropped a brilliant one vs one save before totally switching off and letting a low/soft/telegraphed shot roll into the bottom corner across goal.
Not good enough.
Every keeper has a dip. Young keepers always do. But we can’t be tolerating 4 months of bad form and a really poor shot/save ratio. That goal was a worry because the understudy has never played in the Premier League.
Bernd Leno exiting feels like a risk right now.
THE GOOD:
When the tuned-in players came on, we were absolutely sensational.
Gabriel Jesus IS our Luis Suarez. The guy has a chip on his shoulder and a point to prove. He was structured chaos. Aggressive, clever, powerful, and efficient. He’s going to score a lot of goals in this system.
Eddie looked really solid in the second half. He’s ready for the season. His goal was very, very Eddie. He’s so alert and sharp in front of goal. Keep an eye on his shooting, he might not always score, but he’ll rarely miss the target.
Odegaard was absolutely singing all games. His assist production is going to ramp up a level now he has an actual target to find. The ‘big chance’ bores can find something more interesting to talk about.
Also, special shout for Sambi Lokonga who made some great passes and showed his range nicely.
My major concern was at right back. The first half had Cedric there, he seemed to be part of the second-stringer crew, and he was replaced in the second half by Ben White. If you see Benny Blanco there at the weekend, assume that’s the plan for the start of the season if Tomiyasu takes his time getting back to fitness. Here’s the thing, I didn’t hate it. He’s pretty decent as a right back and he inverts really, really well. I’d rather have Ben White at right back than Cedric if we get another long-term injury.
I was pretty annoyed that we had 58 players on tour with us, but then I realised that we’d asked Arteta to be more human in his managerial approach. He took everyone, made them all feel part of the squad, and that’s proper leadership. It certainly beats what Conte is doing by freezing players out he might not be able to sell. I think we leaned into the second stringers in the first half mainly because of the heat and the double sessions the players will be doing behind the scenes. All the embarrassing propaganda in The Daily Mail about Spurs players being the fittest in the league because Conte has them vomiting after laps is so, so laughable, let’s see where their squad is in January. You don’t overheat the oven when you bake bread, because it’ll rise too fast and fail. Same premise with athletes, if you overheat now, make no mistake, those players will be overcooked at the wrong point in the season and there will be a price to pay.
Talking of leadership, you gotta love all the weird shit Ten Hag is putting in the papers. The Sgt Major carry-on doesn’t work when you are in the big leagues of the EPL. Telling players they aren’t good enough and asking journalists to cover it is embarrassing. United fans are lapping it up: ‘Look at the standards, I love him.’
Flying millionaires around the world and telling them they can’t visit the Neighbors set is beyond pointless. Again, like fitness, these little microaggressions tend to catch up with managers in the end. It certainly didn’t work for Louis Van Gaal.
Back to Arsenal.
Preseason has been solid so far. Let’s hope the injuries to players like ESR, KT, and Tomi are minor and we see them back ready for the first game. If they aren’t ready, at least we have decent options to cover them, and at least the prep this season looks far more solid.
I cannot wait to get going.
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4th
2nd
Third……
4th bitches
The 5th Element
C’mon!
First eleven?
Top ten maybe
We need Tomiyasu back in the worst possible way.
Need to wrap Partey in cotton wool and retain the best lawyer England can offer. He is literally indispensable.
Damn, shouldn’t have read the post
One point though, the RB issue is of Tets making. He’s had more than capable 2nd choice back ups and binned them both ie Chambers and AMN
Rumors of Saliba being a target for Barca if Kounde falls through. Saliba would be a fool to extend with Arsenal without a kings ransom. Arteta treated him with disdain and showed no love so payback is a Biatch.
Not counting the issue of the foolish 50 mill spent on Ben White when we should’ve signed Bissouma. If I’m Saliba nothing short of 180k per week will even engender a conversation … Arteta put himself in this bind
Shit where is the autobot aka Bankz?!
Pedro,
any chance of giving us the capability to block certain users? There’s one or two on here that are so tiresome with incessant negativity….
In a nutshell, we need to sell sell sell… then buy buy buy!!!! So let’s definitely get rid of the dross.
It may initially cost us to move these wasters on but once it’s done and we establish signing a better type of calibre player without the characteristics of a frog then we may possibly be in business!
Pedro
“Pablo Mari, awful.
Nico Pepe, uninterested, awful.
Ains, just so bad.
Hector, clearly hating his life and existence in a red shirt
Where are the bids ”
Not such a bright idea from Arteta to take them away was it……. such a poor decision, almost up there with letting players leave in the january window without bringing in replacements.
Wicked Willy – Block who? Where is the negativity? Seriously if sarcasm is lost then I am out of here! #nannystatementalityhastheworldgonebonkers?
Pierre,
Why was it a bad idea? What have we suffered as a result?
I sincerely hope you aren’t being disingenuous because Pablo Mari was shocking again and drilled a hole into your dead narrative that he’s been misunderstood.
I’m pretty excited about our starting 11 and the supporting five to six. After that the drop is a little alarming unless one of our Hale End boys emerge ….
Pedro
“Why was it a bad idea? What have we suffered as a result?”
You answered the question yourself
“Pablo Mari, awful.Nico Pepe, uninterested, awful.Ains, just so bad.Hector, clearly hating his life and existence in a red shirt”
Damned if you do, and damned if you don’t…. Leave them at home? And you’re a transactional, heartless, robot, with no manmanagement skills, who’s tanking the value of club assets. Take them with you? And these are players who clearly have no futures, and we should have just left them at home…. When you try to please everybody, you end up pleasing nobody… Pierre on one hand thought it was a mistake to loan out Mari, Niles, Balogun in January, but now he thinks the same players shouldn’t even be given the opportunity to go on tour….. If he wasn’t… Read more »
Love the Rakes reference
Brutal
https://www.getfootballnewsfrance.com/2022/lyons-alexandre-lacazette-sidelined-due-to-wasp-stings/
Rich You really believe that you need a summer tour to sell Hector Bellerin? The dude has played 239 games for Arsenal and featured for Betis 31 time last season. Everyone in football knows everything there is to know about Bellerin. He wants out and wants the club to cancel hic contract, to reward his long service. Betis are waiting to see what will happen. “Leave them at home? And you’re a transactional, heartless, robot, with no man management skills, who’s tanking the value of club assets.” Try applying that standard to the academy players that could be having a… Read more »
The new Vieira, thank you mate, was dying out here thinking no one noticed
Pedro “I sincerely hope you aren’t being disingenuous because Pablo Mari was shocking again and drilled a hole into your dead narrative that he’s been misunderstood.” Not at all , i mentioned Mari in conjunction with Holding because Rich kept repeating that Holding and Mari were the weak links.. I quoted stats that goes totally against that thinking and said that maybe they weren’t as weak as some think. This was the conversation and as you can see, at no time did i say that Mari was anything special, i was just coming out in support of a couple of… Read more »
Pierre, you’ve spent a lot of man hours trying to convince us that Pablo Mari was a starting CB for Arsenal.
Diss
Nice reply, but my general point was that whatever Arteta did regarding surplus players in pre-season, he’d have been crucified for it by some.
For the record I can understand why he took them, but I couldn’t have cared less if he didn’t.
Pierre
You’re terrible at context, I don’t need you to give me any stats to have observed that Mari is nowhere near the required standard.
And that Holding is a liability stepping out of defence.
If you’d been bothered to stay up to watch the game last night, you’d have again got a great example of why I think that,
Rich
“Damned if you do, and damned if you don’t….Leave them at home?
And you’re a transactional, heartless, robot, with no man management skills, who’s tanking the value of club assets.”
I’m not sure anyone would have asked questions if those players mentioned were left at home.
As for tanking the value of the clubs assets , he’s already done that, but you shouldn’t need me to tell you that..
Diss grinding his axe. The man that was horrified we dropped Leno last season now wants to see him banished to playing with the U23s.
Disgraceful about turn.
Pierre
I don’t care that he took them, and I can understand why he wanted to give every senior player a clean slate for a new season.
But if he’d have left them at home, I’m sure some people would have had an issue with that, Bellerin has won 3 FA Cups at the club, he’s given a decade of service,
Granted he’s been paid exceptionally well, and it’s a cut throat business, but do we repay a triple FA Cup winner for a decade of service, by leaving him at home?….
As someone that actually likes Reiss Nelson and has been batting for him in the past I hope we don’t fall into the trap of keeping him aroumd because of a decent preseason. This has happened before with him, quite a few times, and as soon as the pressure is on in the PL he freezes up and can’t perform anymore. Maybe it’s just the pressure of playing for his boyhood club that gets to him but he gets some serious stage fright. If we can get a decent fee for him it’s better if he’s moved on, both for… Read more »
Niles has been at the club since the age of 8, that’s 16 years, he’s also won 3 FA Cups.
Does that not matter? Does that count for nothing?
If the club wanted to be ruthless, I wouldn’t really have an issue with it, but I can also understand why they took him.
Pedro
“Pierre, you’ve spent a lot of man hours trying to convince us that Pablo Mari was a starting CB for Arsenal”
You will find no evidence of that, what i have always said against continual criticism of mari is that his goals conceded per game record is probably better than any other defenders during the last 2 seasons.
And i may provide evidence as proof .
Redbearer Not sure this has got anything to do with nanny state dynamics bud. If that were the case, I’d be petitioning Pedro to ‘cancel’ people, I’ve got no time for that. I simply would like the personal choice of muting people who offer nothing constructive, they simply seem to want to vent their emotions and disatisfaction with life in this little echochamber without offering anything of value. The majority of bedwetters at least make statements that are backed up by having taken a view on something, even if I disagree with their view, it’s a discusión board. But when… Read more »
Rich
“You’re terrible at context, I don’t need you to give me any stats to have observed that Mari is nowhere near the required standard.And that Holding is a liability stepping out of defence.”
And there was i thinking that goals conceded by a defensive pairing is the most important aspect of defending…
Holding/ mari conceded a goal every other game in 20/21 season….with Leno in goal
White/Gabriel conceded over a goal a game in 21/22 season…with Ramsdale in goal
How many appearances did Holding/Mari have together that season Pierre?
Pierre You need to take into account for the style of play, each defender allows you to play, without leaving the team vulnerable. If you’re happy playing defensive, counter attacking, fine margins, back to the wall football?… Then I’m sure Holding + Mari could do a decent enough job for us. But if we want to push our defenders up the pitch, squeeze the play, press high, and pin teams in their own half for sustained periods Without leaving ourselves overly vulnerable to being countered, or pressed high? Then I’m absolutely certain that we don’t want Holding or Mari sat… Read more »
Pedro “ The average age of an MLS fan is 37, the skin color is very mixed, ……as a sport it is on the right track and it continues to funnel young people through the doors.” I’m not sure this is solely attributable to anything MLS has done or is doing. The average MLS fan would have been 11 during the 94 World Cup and ready to take advantage of the explosion in the youth soccer ranks that followed. Before 94, very few young people played soccer. The club I coached at grew from 6 or 7 competitive teams in… Read more »
Rich, Continually whinging about Arsenal players…who would have guessed.
Pierre You haven’t stopped whinging about Ozil leaving 18 months ago… You consistently make the point that you don’t want Odegaard in the team, which I don’t understand, but it’s fair enough… I don’t think Holding or Mari are suited to the style we’re trying to implement, but you don’t see a problem, it’s called a difference of opinion. I don’t think Tavares is currently anywhere near the required level, and needs a loan at a lower level in order to develop, he might develop into a very good player, but right now he’s miles off, and should go and… Read more »
Re bringing the entire senior squad with us, re bringing the youth: I think everyone can get behind bringing the young ‘uns on tour, as pre-season was just behind the league cup in giving us a taste of the talents we heard so much about (smith roe vs atletico and a hard tackling summer from a young coquelin spring to mind), and to be honest, it is a bit of a shame we’re not seeing more of Patino, Flores et al. At the same time, the fact is that our squad is bloated, and the “fat” of our squad is… Read more »
ngl would be great to see more Patinos, but it is what it is
Come outside. Whatever that means…
Rich “You consistently make the point that you don’t want Odegaard in the team, which I don’t understand, but it’s fair enough…” Actually, I’ve never said i don’t want him in the team, that’s in your head , just like me wanting Mari to be first choice centre back is in yours and Pedro’s head.. Odegaard is a very good footballer , technically very good and works hard for the team. However, I believe him to be timid when the game becomes physical and he shys away from the physical aspect of the game. In high possession games when we… Read more »
Rich “You haven’t stopped whinging about Ozil leaving 18 months ago…” That’s also in your head, i was more than happy to see him leave , my argument has ways been what is the point of paying a player to leave and then replacing him with a player for 35 mil who is no better than the ageing ozil who had turned into a safe passer of the ball , exactly what Odegaard is. When smith rowe first broke into the side as Ozil’s replacement, there were no complaints from me as he really made a difference to the offensive… Read more »
Gd4 ….. immediately with the Anti Arteta agenda. Can’t even enjoy a great transfer window and begin the season on a positive note. The fool doesn’t realize that hoping for, and gloating about one of our assets, Saliba, leaving is not really good for the team we support. Rejoicing and suggesting he hold the club hostage for big money is bad for the whole team as a precedent and other player negotiations. But still not intelligent enough to realize how unhelpful his slap at Arteta would be for the whole team. By the way, continue crying about Bissouma and bashing… Read more »
Umm Nigel,
You were clearly not breast fed at all, or if so, filled with rotten breast milk cuz clearly you are a social misfit.
What kinda Imbecile calls someone a fool for having diff POV?
No surprise your only Interaction with others is on cyberspace.
What a loser.
Rich,
I really have been laughing at all the talk about who commenters think should have, and should not have come on the tour. Who tf cares that much?
It’s really not as big a deal as they try to make it. Everyone would probably have had a different list of players to bring.
It will make no real difference in the end, but they just love to hit out at Arteta. Remember, they all think they’re keyboard managers. Like they’re discussing important issues.
This rubbish is really not even important to Arsenal.
Dissenter, Rich…. Do you remember the outrage here when grovers found out the slave driver, monster, Arteta was dragging (against their will) …the whole squad to Dubai to be miserable at the winter break? Then the same grovers looked like fools when the players were instagramming and tweeting what a fantastic time they had with their families and their mates. How we went on a great run right after we returned…. Grovers took it in the face on that one too. So driven against Arteta they twist themselves into looking like arses. Why don’t they just give up and try… Read more »
Gd4, Your own words make a fool of you: “Saliba would be a fool to extend with Arsenal without a kings ransom. Arteta treated him with disdain and showed no love so payback is a Biatch. Not counting the issue of the foolish 50 mill spent on Ben White when we should’ve signed Bissouma. If I’m Saliba nothing short of 180k per week will even engender a conversation … Arteta put himself in this bind”. Celebrating with glee some payback on Arteta you want … so you can see the manager look bad, even of it costs us a player… Read more »
Nigel the Imbecile,
Who is gloating you dumb gnat.
Guess Pedro and his cast mates on the podcast are in the same boat since they doubt he will sign a new extension.
You’re too dumb to even waste time with.
Again why would he waste his leverage when he is entering the last 24 months of his deal and the best of his football ahead of him.
Gosh you’re stupid.
Hope your idiocy isn’t infectious …
BIssouma is a filthy player?
Dude you have some issues for real.
Seek professional help.
Again I understand why a misbegotten gremlin like
you spends so much time in cyberspace.
You’re so miserable that no one in real life would want anything to do with you
Fuck me. Nothing changes in here does it? I suppose when all the nans die and you lot come out from the basement things might brighten up. I live in hope.
Btw Pedro. How can you mention safe standing, natch atmosphere and match day authenticity in the MLS and not mention Toronto FC. The teams basically an Italian old peoples home first 11 and yet the fans still
Bring it.
I think it’s worth taking a moment now that Aaron Ramsey has been left off the Juventus pre-season tour, a little credit should be given to Unai for yanking back that long-term extension for him. He was an imperfect manager but in retrospect he handled the Ramsey situation perfectly.
Gd4,
You still don’t realize how you sound like you’re cheering for Saliba AGAINST Arsenal.
I hope Saliba signs a nice fair extension with us. If he doesn’t, then fck him as far as I’m concerned….
……..You’ll be gloating and attacking Arteta and Ben White. Typical for someone like you.
Gd4 – there is someone sounding like a misbegotten gremlin. Oh it’s you!
pepe should go to germany
Pepe looks good for a continental league. I liked him but the lad doesn’t fit our style of play and has had confidence rocked. He’s been affected by a generational player. Plus the monstrous fee. It’s like an anchor on the lad
BacaryisGod – Unai just doesn’t travel well. I’ve no doubt that he’s a good coach and has an eye for a player but his ability to operate over seas is limited. Language barrier issues emerged at PSG as well. I’d guess big ego’s are a problem with him. He’s probably a nice guy likes his group and wants to keep his head down. PSG and Arsenal were going to be fraught places with various groups vying for power. He effectively got slaughtered twice over. Goes to a well run 2nd tier club and he’s showing what he can do. Nothing… Read more »
@pedro Re pablo Mari it was arteta that insisted on signing this idiot along with ramsdunce and a few other useless idiots. Again you try and disparage wenger when arteta is not and never will be in the league of the likes of wenger. Artit hasn’t produced a single performance that could compare with wengerball teams. Yet you keep bigging up this third rate cone manager. We won’t be getting anywhere near cl as long as we have this dunce for a manager. Why we didn’t go after conte and dump arteta is down to having a useless and clueless… Read more »
Marky Mark
Fully agree with you.
Rich highlighted the key point with Mari and Holding, if you want your defence to play deep then they could be the players for you, otherwise get rid. Statistics could show that when they were playing together in this way, the team didn’t concede many goals. That statistical ‘success’ does not account for the way we want to play now, a high line, that means our CBs need to be quick as a prerequisite. Square pegs in round holes has to be avoided if we’re going to get back to to near the top. Our squad building has mostly got… Read more »
Yet again mentioning Wenger to big up Arteta shows your class Pedro and nothing else.
Wicked Willy – Believe me you since I would be the last person to want to engage in fanciful conversation the cretins which you speak of. I also have no time for idiots who offer nothing constructive but would be destructive to those who simply post nonsense since I also (so it would seem) do not suffer fools gladly. You seem like an enterprising soul however blocking people is a form of censorship in a free world, so we cannot unfortunately erase the undertones of fools and instead we should humour these clowns in the playful manner which they derive.… Read more »
Redbearer
It’s always good to recognise the similarities rather than focus on the differences. I don’t believe that being able to customise your view is censorship, because it doesn’t affect anyone else’s view. We live in an Information Age where we are bombarded with information, and giving the user the ability to manage the information they’re exposed to is simply good digital hygiene
Thenry – you have to ask yourself though what would Wenger do now given similar players? similar competition that Arteta faces with City , Liverpool, Chelsea a far stronger Tottenham and disrupters like Leicester. each time a new team appeared on the block Wenger’s Arsenal slipped one more position. It doesn’t effect his first 50% of his career where he put up a good fight against UTD ( though I believe there were missed opportunities beyond what he achieved) . However to constantly hold Arteta up against Wenger when the playing field has altered dramatically is simplistic at best. Arteta… Read more »
I’m not comparing arteta to wenger Pedro keeps doing it. As if arteta has a brain cell that can compare to wengers genius. Lest we forget that wenger had no budgets due to the stadium and still managed to keep up us in the top 4. No point in trying to compare different eras as chelshit we’re doing a Man City when papa Smurf arrived with his ill gotten gains. Wenger is gone so why Pedro keeps trying to bash him at every opp as if his favourite cone manager will ever achieve the heady heights that we reached under… Read more »
Thenry – you undermine your argument by calling Arteta a conehead and a lacking in brain cells. It’s pretty obvious from league standing that he can be in the same room if not ultimately successful against Liverpool, City , Chelsea , near even with Tottenham and out perform UTD. At no point in any part of my support span 76’ till would an Arsenal boss be castigated for that . Your accusing Pedro of doing something that you do in reverse accept you are more aggressively demeaning. Not sure how you can get any joy when you hate the current… Read more »
Baseball is the worst sport hence the lack of support!!!! Though cricket is just as bad (I love a good test match over the summer where you can drink 4 cases of beer over a few days and do chores but still not miss much of the match😂😂)
Also Rich.
Love the 4th trophy from you hahaha.
One of the joyous things about coming on here over the past couple of years is to read the never ending positivity coming out of the same old people who only look at things from one angle. I like to call it the ‘Arteta is the real deal, trust me!” perspective. Now that we’ve purchased a fair few players it still remains to be seen if Arteta can do the right thing and get them to gel. Nothing is proven until we see with our own eyes that he’s progressing our on pitch systems. I don’t need to hear from… Read more »
We should quit worrying. Arteta/Edu will nave every position double-covered come end of transfer window. And right now the squad is formidable enough to start the season. And if there is a worry over GKs, they’ll hang on to Leno. Money is not the problem. Getting value for money is the aim. Time will tell, but looking at signings so far, Arteta/Edu seem to have done that in spades. Should we be concerned how much the unwanted fetch? Yes, but of far greater concern is if they are still around. We got nothing for Auba – but imagine if he… Read more »
EB I’d still like us to strengthen 3 positions, providing we can create the space, and we also need to renew the contracts of Saka + Saliba as a matter of urgency. I’d like another centre back, left sided No8, and right winger, but who can play both sides. My only concerns then would be depth at Goalkeeper, we only have a small sample size with Turner, so maybe those anxieties are misplaced… Then concerns around the fitness of Tierney, Tomiyasu, Partey + Smith Rowe. We need a squad if we want to be competitive in 4 competitions, playing 3… Read more »
On the subject of Sambi,
He came and was an absolute menace. He was all over the midfield. Playing balls xhaka cums himself over and actually showing for a pass.
It didn’t take long for him to transform to the tactical set up. He’s obviously a smart player. The tactics to bypass the middle was the problem.
For you to say he’s more like his old self is funny.
But it is also a sign Arteta is adapting. I really want to see an Arteta midfield without xhaka.
Also. I’m the dweeb that wants to believe junior was Tony’s son. Tony was a great for the midnight chat. I want to believe he didn’t kook it for himself
Graham I’m with you. It’s a hilarious turn around. Hence why we see less of the critical posters
I can only laugh at the “free start” mantra.
We all saw how shite Arteta was with squad management.
But if he can change then we are looking good
Rich
Have no fear, weeks and weeks to go yet before the window shuts.
Nor should the fitness of four players named be of great concern: three are young and like to recover soon enough, and Partey, rotated, won’t be accident-prone.
Goober,
Graham’s comment of ‘One of the joyous things about coming on here..’ was dripping with sarcasm!
‘so called insider…’ There’s a fairly constant stream of players who admire Arteta as a coach but if you think it’s just a convoluted PR job, fair enough.
Hope you’re right Englandsbest but it feels like a strong case of deja vu with KT, TT and ESR. I thought all three were on the point of being fully fit when the season finished in May and we’re two months down the line and they’re still not in full training.
Goober, I may be gullible but I thought Junior was genuinely Tony’s son too. Tony may have helped ‘edit’ though!
Bob and Goober
I think he was Tonys son too so you’re not alone.
Regarding the closing of the window, not sure when exactly that is this year but the season starts in 2 weeks and our midfield got hammered against Palace last year, not much has changed in that department since last year, considering Vieira is unlikely to be starting for a while.
Would be nice to get another top CM in before the first game.
I agree Graham you know a lot more that Pep who has nothing but praise for Arteta
Fred ” but the season starts in 2 weeks and our midfield got hammered against Palace last year, not much has changed in that department since last year” The big change for me from our last game with palace is that our midfield and Partey in particular do not have to contend with Connor Gallagher. If you want to see how to press and intimidate the opposition then watch Connor Gallagher, he never gave Partey a second on the ball before he went off injured. Without Gallagher, it may swing the balance in Arsenal’s favour as although Palace have some… Read more »
Rich
I’m with you 100%, although would happily take a LW like Sane if that was available, albeit with concerns over wage structure.
Pierre
I meant nothing has changed in our midfield, although hopefully Partey is fully fit this time around.
They’ve lost Gallagher but signed Cheick Doucoure, might take hime some time to adapt though so looking a little better for us. Would still feel a lot better if we strengthened CM before that game.
Tony’s son needs to come back I wanted further lectures on Far Eastern private schooling. The little tykes Nanny ( sort of Asian style Rees-Mogg) could also have lots of insight plus any other siblings could be good.
For some reason I’m thinking the older sister would be a Gucci hand bag welding ice maiden . Perhaps my imagination could get me in trouble so I’ll end it there
WW I’d be disappointed if we blocked the path of Martinelli + Smith Rowe on the left I’m absolutely done with £300k p/w contracts, maybe Saka in 2-3 years time, but I’ve not got the hard on for Sane that some have, not on the reported wages. I don’t see us doing it, Martinelli has just taken the No11, Smith Rowe has the No10. Martinelli 35 games on the left + 5 games on the right or at centre forward. Smith Rowe 20-25 games on the left, and 15-20 games centrally. We need someone on the right, but who can… Read more »
“I agree Graham you know a lot more that Pep who has nothing but praise for Arteta”
I wouldn’t take too much notice of what Pep says. It’s all PR bullsh*t. For example in January 2021 Pep called Big Sam Allardyce ‘a genius’ – and that’s a direct quote.
Olise at 35 mil is a bargain …total quality.
https://youtu.be/Pxy7JCw2L2Q
Pierre
Olise with a release clause of £35 million is crazy but is the release clause for every club or fir only clubs in the CL?
Freddie.That’s the thing with “ Multiple personality disorder” They ( him) can sound so convincing.lol😂
Again.Really?
What’s my crime now?
So Rich now cares about us blocking the paths of Saka and Martinelli?
That’s wasn’t the hymn you were singing when you were writing odes demanding that we sign Raphinha
Our first half was basically like watching Emeryball. We were getting ripped through the middle, we had no creativity, our players were passing it around in circles.
… but we know that isn’t Arsenal now.
Eh sounds like what we were seeing quite a bit last season if we’re honest
As for the worries about the goalkeeping position well I hate to say I told you so but lots of people told you so with regards to Ramsdale. He’s not a number one for a ambitious team he flatters to deceive but he’s our number one till he CONSISTENTLY shits the bed. Also can we please for the love of god buy a RB ffs it’s been a few years now and we just seem to skirt the issue. Cedric isn’t good enough, AMN is shite and Tomiyasu isn’t a RB he’s a CB who can play RB just like… Read more »
Marko,
Do you think the starting line up had something to do with the first half performance or is that irrevelant to the point you were making?
No KT, Gabriel, White, TT, Saliba, Partey, ESR, Saka, Odegaard……need I go on?