It is at this moment that Sid will be taking apologies from the fanboys and congratulations from Arsenal fans for his in depth and inspired analysis on Arsenals weakness in open play.
Any worries about targeting a striker this month meaning that you can't then move for who was a preferred option in the summer to me are pointless because all it means is that you get rid of Jesus and/or Havertz in the summer... which you should be doing anyway.
Also don't just need a striker this month but you know that already.
There never was flair in the way we play under Transactional. If you dug deeper you would notice we mostly scored 1st usually a setpiece. Opponents would open up play trying to equalize.
Every manager is now aware of the above and the fact that 45% of our attack goes through Saka.
Why was our reserve keeper not starting yesterday? The one the club signed even though he was cup-tied for the Carabao Cup? When will he ever play- when Raya is injured? On that topic, some comments about our number 1. He was signed, primarily for his ball playing skills originally. He has developed his shot-stopping as we have all seen but 1. He plays his defenders into ridiculously dangerous situations in recent games. There is no need to play short every time, unless our dictatorial manager has decreed it- this aspect of his play has got worse certainly. 2. WTF does he do on penalties ffs? He moves before the player has even kicked the ball, making it simple for anyone to play it into the other side. Pathetic display yesterday in the penalties as he did against Kane last season in the CL. Looks like he's feeling too cocky/ comfortable at the moment. Knowing Arteta's complete inability to judge keepers in the last 5 years, he'll be on the look-out for a new one soon!
The reserve goalie signing was a product of internal conflict
It's the action of a Dir of football who was tired of all the inflexibility of Mikel's team and had to do something to cover the bases. Raheem Sterling was probably a similar cover all bases.
Onstein reported that Mikel and his goalkeeping coach tried to sign the Espanyol goalie, against Edu's wishes. Edu didn't back it and shut it down late in the window.
"Arteta signed a workmanlike midfielder in Mikel Merino - the Spanish James Ward-Prowse without the free kicks - and an injury-prone defender in Riccardo Calafiori. That is £70million-plus of deals. The recruitment was shocking...they needed another forward, they needed a left winger. Instead, they got yet another left-back. It's actually comical.
This season has been underwhelming, all about set pieces and hugely disappointing. Arteta has far too many sycophants around him, playing into his belief that he's the smartest guy in the room. He could do with a few home truths."
From the same link, I find myself in agreement with the two following opinions:
Ben Husband
Jamie Carragher got plenty of stick earlier this season, when he said Arteta was more Jose Mourinho than Pep Guardiola. But he was spot on.
Arsenal are now a team built almost exclusively to outmuscle their opponents. Their entire identity is now built around their dominance set pieces, but with the ball in play their quality is lacking.
Arteta has seemingly made it his own personal mission to build a squad of defensive minded players. Even their strikers are equally adept in positions closer to their own goal.
It may still work out and bring them a title, they are still very much in the race. But this is a team designed to get results, rather than impress. Perhaps that is a result of two bruising title races where their flair was overpowered by a relentless winning machine.
But this particular machine feels like it could be grinding to a halt. Attacking reinforcements are needed this month.
Scott Trotter
Things are not panning out smoothly for Arsenal this season. But even before their FA Cup exit, expectation of finally getting over the line to win the Premier League was already the achievement that would make or break the club's season.
Persistent injuries have derailed their plans in some ways, but as the Gunners continue to lack the ability to generate and take advantage of good chances consistently simply ensures that talk of the club lacking a striker will continue. Gabriel Jesus being added to Mikel Arteta's injury list will only strengthen calls and Arsenal can secure a player that can have an immediate impact, they must act.
Liverpool have done their best to end the north London side's title hopes but they are not over yet. A season without silverware should not see Arteta turfed out but with his contract running until 2027, the pressure will only ramp up another level to claim a trophy next term.
Despite his efforts transforming Arsenal's fortunes, recent seasons have barely seen a mistake, his status and reputation will eventually be decided by his ability to land a title.
John Cross might be correct about a few things but before all, he sounds butthurt he's no longer the mouthpiece of Arsenal in the media. In any way, the article doesn't sound like an objective journalism even if it might be.
"Mikel Merino - the Spanish James Ward-Prowse without the free kicks"
"The recruitment was shocking... It's actually comical."
"Arteta has far too many sycophants around him, playing into his belief that he's the smartest guy in the room. He could do with a few home truths."
Does that sound like the opinion of an objective, balanced journalist? He could do with "a few home truths" is weirdly personal but you think I'm the cult member?
Same Cross that supported Wenger during all the banter years is now opening his mouth when we're 2nd in the PL and 3rd in CL. He was perfectly fine when we were fighting till the last round to qualify for a top 4 but NOW he's underwhelmed and hugely disappointed?!
He wrote a book called "Arsene Wenger" full of inside information. John Cross used to be THE Arsenal guy.
Meanwhile, Arteta is on the hunt for moles leaking information.
I'm assuming here but it does sound a bit too personal, yes, similar to a vendetta.
How's that cringe and cult like? It makes sense in my head at least. Could be me.
Absolutely correct.Totally Spursy.Has got surrender monkeys written all over it.Whoever suggested/authorised that particular colour should be sacked on the spot!
Pedroooooooooooo the system sucks and is broken. When one player that carried the entire system is out for the season, then you need to ask, WTF is this manager doing? How do you continue with a manager that builds an entire rubbish system where only one player scores and assists 60-70 percent? You clearly name every single problem he has created, and then you go on to let him continue on the job, yapping about summer moves. Yikes! Nobody in their right mind wants more of Arteta's system. Arteta's time is up. He should take his 15 mill a year and go manage at another club. We don't want another Wenger. No thanks.
This post is all over the gaff. Teta beasted the players, new injuries, paper thin squad but be optimistic about spurs on weds. Jesus is now fully broken again. Pedro and Matt both saying that this loss happened last year and we then kicked on and finished second. Yh that tells me that nothing has changed. That’s not a good thing. Means all we’ve done is stand still.
And I’m sorry but can we just chuck this narrative in the bin that “there’s no player out there that improves us”, or that “we’re only looking for specific players”. What a load of nonsense. If a high-performance elite outfit like us can’t find any players IN THE WORLD that improve our squad then we’re not elite. It’s ridiculous to even think that. Kolo muani is available on loan. Is he elite, no. Is he better than Sterling, yes. Sane is about to leave Bayern in a free. Ideal signing, no. Gettable for a knock down fee and two and half year deal, yes. That’s two off the top my head. An elite institution should have an entire department dedicated to this. Edu leaving shouldn’t even matter.
Plus saying Teta wants forwards when it’s well reported that he actively pushed for Cala and merino in the summer is also wide of the mark. He prioritised the wrong areas and now we’re struggling. We need signings purely on numbers and no amount of Teta pandering will change that. You can’t coach this form out if you don’t have enough players. We also need a strong DOF and a new assistant that gives Teta some push back
Also what a crying shame about Jesus. Literally should have sold him last summer and could have got a decent fee for him too only to then get injured (again). Just got so much money just wasting away in the treatment room that could have been put towards filling in gaps instead of creating them
Ultimately we're not going to sack him. We had numerous chances during the first two years to rightly sack him and stuck it out and he had an excellent three seasons and now we're at the stage where to save the club we need to get the DOF appointment right. We need to save the club and frankly Arteta from himself. He should have absolutely zero say in the final decision on signings and especially selling players and he should be answerable to a DOF and not the owners who might not necessarily have their finger on the pulse of the day to day all the way from America.
Thinking of Francis Cagigao, an Arsenal youth btw and also the guy behind almost all the best Arsenal deals in 21st century, including the likes of Lauren, Fabregas, Reyes, Cazorla, Monreal, Arteta, Martinez, Xhaka, Alexis, Vela, Bellerin, van Persie, Martinelli, Saliba, Tierney, Gabriel, Partey over the span of nearly 25 years working for the club.
His last position at Arsenal - Head of International Recruitment, Cagigao was reportedly targeted by a number of top clubs in Spain, Germany, and South America in 2018, with a director of football role being mentioned in Spain. He stayed at Arsenal, despite the turmoil surrounding the club.
Then in September 2020, shortly after Arsenal brought Gabriel Magalhães and Thomas Partey, on his recommendation, he was sacked due to ‘restructuring’ at the club.
The very same year, 2020, he became the Technical Director of the Football Federation of Chile where he worked for two years.
In 2023, he became the Global Director of Galatasaray in Turkey. A 19-month stint at Galatasaray, where Cagigao oversaw a highly successful period, including a domestic double during the 2023/24 season whilst also bringing Victor Osimhen, Mauro Icardi, and Michy Batshuayi to the club.
Just 10 days ago, 3 January 2025, Francis Cagigao was appointed as Spartak Moscow's Sporting Director.
Cagigao's contributions are regarded as foundational to the club’s modern identity. One of the best servants of the club. Surely we could have considered him. Unless we're set the way we are and there won't be any important appointment there...
Arteta wanted him gone cos obviously he didn't like his methods. He don't know nor care abut xG or duels. Arsenal invested in stat DNA majorly backed by Arteta then. He can't come back till Arteta is gone.
Pedro-Rice was bought as a 6, so he WAS Partey’s replacement. It’s not just ‘that the system is working’-we are so one dimensional (and have been for an age),it’s like pulling teeth to watch. Arteta really has become Wenger 2.0-and everyone has us sussed at the moment,they’re happy to let us have the ball and wait for their chances. I appreciate that you are fully optimistic- but surely that feeling is waning a little now? I saw a Sterling yesterday that was a shadow of the 174 goal player we’ve borrowed. He wasn’t aggressive- he was shite,one dimensional and running into corners. Nelson would’ve done a far better job on that side. To let him go and bring in Sterling was a complete waste of money,and,if we’re honest, was probably executed to pacify the fans in the search for an attacker in some guise. Trying to be upbeat with this team is fucking difficult at the moment-they have no killer instinct about them-he’s trained it out of them. It’s as if they’ve been told ‘go as far as that point-but no further’. The players that we’ve brought in because of a certain skill set have had that very skill set removed-restored to factory setting aka ‘Arteta set’. Things will get messy soon-it’s on the cards. Arteta knows he’s got a fucked squad for our fiercest rivals on Wednesday-his arse must be pushing out buttons as we speak. What a scenario-losing 0-2 at home to Newcastle, kicked out of the FA cup at home to ten man, worst for an age Man United side. Next up-Spuds and Villa-both at home,so the shame will be unbearable. He wanted to manipulate this team into his..he got his own way(and used up 800m of funds to get there). It’s all on him.
In terms of our history
Mesut Ozil deserves to be farther ahead for a mural in the stadium tunnel than all the muppets they put there.
He deserves it more than Havertz and his dog, Jovic and all the BS they painted there.
That is if we don't want to post proper legends there.
Waka waka eh
It is at this moment that Sid will be taking apologies from the fanboys and congratulations from Arsenal fans for his in depth and inspired analysis on Arsenals weakness in open play.
Shove it up your arse dickhead
When you throw a stone at a pack of mongrels, the one that yells loudest is the one that got hit.
Only if you bitch slap them with your longstuff!
Muppet lol
In fairness, Sid has been talking about our over reliance on set pieces since last season
He's gotten to you already?
Any worries about targeting a striker this month meaning that you can't then move for who was a preferred option in the summer to me are pointless because all it means is that you get rid of Jesus and/or Havertz in the summer... which you should be doing anyway.
Also don't just need a striker this month but you know that already.
How about we don’t buy anyone, don’t finish top four and then can’t afford the number one target in the summer
That would be an ecumenical matter father.
There never was flair in the way we play under Transactional. If you dug deeper you would notice we mostly scored 1st usually a setpiece. Opponents would open up play trying to equalize.
Every manager is now aware of the above and the fact that 45% of our attack goes through Saka.
Why was our reserve keeper not starting yesterday? The one the club signed even though he was cup-tied for the Carabao Cup? When will he ever play- when Raya is injured? On that topic, some comments about our number 1. He was signed, primarily for his ball playing skills originally. He has developed his shot-stopping as we have all seen but 1. He plays his defenders into ridiculously dangerous situations in recent games. There is no need to play short every time, unless our dictatorial manager has decreed it- this aspect of his play has got worse certainly. 2. WTF does he do on penalties ffs? He moves before the player has even kicked the ball, making it simple for anyone to play it into the other side. Pathetic display yesterday in the penalties as he did against Kane last season in the CL. Looks like he's feeling too cocky/ comfortable at the moment. Knowing Arteta's complete inability to judge keepers in the last 5 years, he'll be on the look-out for a new one soon!
The reserve goalie signing was a product of internal conflict
It's the action of a Dir of football who was tired of all the inflexibility of Mikel's team and had to do something to cover the bases. Raheem Sterling was probably a similar cover all bases.
Onstein reported that Mikel and his goalkeeping coach tried to sign the Espanyol goalie, against Edu's wishes. Edu didn't back it and shut it down late in the window.
Mik buys players not to rotate them...he's a genius like that
Damning column in the Mirror by John Cross
"Arteta has far too many sycophants around him, playing into his belief that he's the smartest guy in the room. He could do with a few home truths."
From John Cross:
Mikel Arteta told where Arsenal reign has gone wrong as crisis looms after Man Utd loss
https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/arsenal-mikel-arteta-manutd-transfers-34469380
"Arteta signed a workmanlike midfielder in Mikel Merino - the Spanish James Ward-Prowse without the free kicks - and an injury-prone defender in Riccardo Calafiori. That is £70million-plus of deals. The recruitment was shocking...they needed another forward, they needed a left winger. Instead, they got yet another left-back. It's actually comical.
This season has been underwhelming, all about set pieces and hugely disappointing. Arteta has far too many sycophants around him, playing into his belief that he's the smartest guy in the room. He could do with a few home truths."
'"Arteta has far too many sycophants around him, playing into his belief that he's the smartest guy in the room. He could do with a few home truths.""
That's what many of us feared will happen and it has happened
Did you see the massive number of assistant coaches on the field attached to him now. It's like an American football staffing.
He has a choir of worshippers, how many of them can confront him?
Who in the club can challenge him?
no one
From the same link, I find myself in agreement with the two following opinions:
Ben Husband
Jamie Carragher got plenty of stick earlier this season, when he said Arteta was more Jose Mourinho than Pep Guardiola. But he was spot on.
Arsenal are now a team built almost exclusively to outmuscle their opponents. Their entire identity is now built around their dominance set pieces, but with the ball in play their quality is lacking.
Arteta has seemingly made it his own personal mission to build a squad of defensive minded players. Even their strikers are equally adept in positions closer to their own goal.
It may still work out and bring them a title, they are still very much in the race. But this is a team designed to get results, rather than impress. Perhaps that is a result of two bruising title races where their flair was overpowered by a relentless winning machine.
But this particular machine feels like it could be grinding to a halt. Attacking reinforcements are needed this month.
Scott Trotter
Things are not panning out smoothly for Arsenal this season. But even before their FA Cup exit, expectation of finally getting over the line to win the Premier League was already the achievement that would make or break the club's season.
Persistent injuries have derailed their plans in some ways, but as the Gunners continue to lack the ability to generate and take advantage of good chances consistently simply ensures that talk of the club lacking a striker will continue. Gabriel Jesus being added to Mikel Arteta's injury list will only strengthen calls and Arsenal can secure a player that can have an immediate impact, they must act.
Liverpool have done their best to end the north London side's title hopes but they are not over yet. A season without silverware should not see Arteta turfed out but with his contract running until 2027, the pressure will only ramp up another level to claim a trophy next term.
Despite his efforts transforming Arsenal's fortunes, recent seasons have barely seen a mistake, his status and reputation will eventually be decided by his ability to land a title.
John Cross might be correct about a few things but before all, he sounds butthurt he's no longer the mouthpiece of Arsenal in the media. In any way, the article doesn't sound like an objective journalism even if it might be.
So you think the journalist is being vindictive because he is not the club's mouthpiece
You sound a bit cringey like a cult member or something.
"Mikel Merino - the Spanish James Ward-Prowse without the free kicks"
"The recruitment was shocking... It's actually comical."
"Arteta has far too many sycophants around him, playing into his belief that he's the smartest guy in the room. He could do with a few home truths."
Does that sound like the opinion of an objective, balanced journalist? He could do with "a few home truths" is weirdly personal but you think I'm the cult member?
Same Cross that supported Wenger during all the banter years is now opening his mouth when we're 2nd in the PL and 3rd in CL. He was perfectly fine when we were fighting till the last round to qualify for a top 4 but NOW he's underwhelmed and hugely disappointed?!
He wrote a book called "Arsene Wenger" full of inside information. John Cross used to be THE Arsenal guy.
Meanwhile, Arteta is on the hunt for moles leaking information.
I'm assuming here but it does sound a bit too personal, yes, similar to a vendetta.
How's that cringe and cult like? It makes sense in my head at least. Could be me.
The all-white kit is just unlucky for us.
Absolutely correct.Totally Spursy.Has got surrender monkeys written all over it.Whoever suggested/authorised that particular colour should be sacked on the spot!
Pedroooooooooooo the system sucks and is broken. When one player that carried the entire system is out for the season, then you need to ask, WTF is this manager doing? How do you continue with a manager that builds an entire rubbish system where only one player scores and assists 60-70 percent? You clearly name every single problem he has created, and then you go on to let him continue on the job, yapping about summer moves. Yikes! Nobody in their right mind wants more of Arteta's system. Arteta's time is up. He should take his 15 mill a year and go manage at another club. We don't want another Wenger. No thanks.
Saka has saved Mikel arse over and over. now he has no one
Don't they go to Dubai this season ? It was a game changer last season
Well they can go on the week of round four of the FA cup now we been kicked out again
This post is all over the gaff. Teta beasted the players, new injuries, paper thin squad but be optimistic about spurs on weds. Jesus is now fully broken again. Pedro and Matt both saying that this loss happened last year and we then kicked on and finished second. Yh that tells me that nothing has changed. That’s not a good thing. Means all we’ve done is stand still.
And I’m sorry but can we just chuck this narrative in the bin that “there’s no player out there that improves us”, or that “we’re only looking for specific players”. What a load of nonsense. If a high-performance elite outfit like us can’t find any players IN THE WORLD that improve our squad then we’re not elite. It’s ridiculous to even think that. Kolo muani is available on loan. Is he elite, no. Is he better than Sterling, yes. Sane is about to leave Bayern in a free. Ideal signing, no. Gettable for a knock down fee and two and half year deal, yes. That’s two off the top my head. An elite institution should have an entire department dedicated to this. Edu leaving shouldn’t even matter.
Plus saying Teta wants forwards when it’s well reported that he actively pushed for Cala and merino in the summer is also wide of the mark. He prioritised the wrong areas and now we’re struggling. We need signings purely on numbers and no amount of Teta pandering will change that. You can’t coach this form out if you don’t have enough players. We also need a strong DOF and a new assistant that gives Teta some push back
Also what a crying shame about Jesus. Literally should have sold him last summer and could have got a decent fee for him too only to then get injured (again). Just got so much money just wasting away in the treatment room that could have been put towards filling in gaps instead of creating them
Ultimately we're not going to sack him. We had numerous chances during the first two years to rightly sack him and stuck it out and he had an excellent three seasons and now we're at the stage where to save the club we need to get the DOF appointment right. We need to save the club and frankly Arteta from himself. He should have absolutely zero say in the final decision on signings and especially selling players and he should be answerable to a DOF and not the owners who might not necessarily have their finger on the pulse of the day to day all the way from America.
"an excellent three seasons"
I don't know where you got this. 8th, 8th, and 5th are definitely not "excellent" for Arsenal.
That leaves two seasons where he got 2nd.
And that's even subjective. For me, an excellent season for Arsenal (3rd biggest club in England) should include winning at least 1 trophy.
That's not gonna happen. You don't take power from someone after he's tasted it. Get done with it, reset with a new coach and get him a proper DOF
Thinking of Francis Cagigao, an Arsenal youth btw and also the guy behind almost all the best Arsenal deals in 21st century, including the likes of Lauren, Fabregas, Reyes, Cazorla, Monreal, Arteta, Martinez, Xhaka, Alexis, Vela, Bellerin, van Persie, Martinelli, Saliba, Tierney, Gabriel, Partey over the span of nearly 25 years working for the club.
His last position at Arsenal - Head of International Recruitment, Cagigao was reportedly targeted by a number of top clubs in Spain, Germany, and South America in 2018, with a director of football role being mentioned in Spain. He stayed at Arsenal, despite the turmoil surrounding the club.
Then in September 2020, shortly after Arsenal brought Gabriel Magalhães and Thomas Partey, on his recommendation, he was sacked due to ‘restructuring’ at the club.
The very same year, 2020, he became the Technical Director of the Football Federation of Chile where he worked for two years.
In 2023, he became the Global Director of Galatasaray in Turkey. A 19-month stint at Galatasaray, where Cagigao oversaw a highly successful period, including a domestic double during the 2023/24 season whilst also bringing Victor Osimhen, Mauro Icardi, and Michy Batshuayi to the club.
Just 10 days ago, 3 January 2025, Francis Cagigao was appointed as Spartak Moscow's Sporting Director.
Cagigao's contributions are regarded as foundational to the club’s modern identity. One of the best servants of the club. Surely we could have considered him. Unless we're set the way we are and there won't be any important appointment there...
Arteta wanted him gone cos obviously he didn't like his methods. He don't know nor care abut xG or duels. Arsenal invested in stat DNA majorly backed by Arteta then. He can't come back till Arteta is gone.
He was a great servant to the club Rap.
Pedro-Rice was bought as a 6, so he WAS Partey’s replacement. It’s not just ‘that the system is working’-we are so one dimensional (and have been for an age),it’s like pulling teeth to watch. Arteta really has become Wenger 2.0-and everyone has us sussed at the moment,they’re happy to let us have the ball and wait for their chances. I appreciate that you are fully optimistic- but surely that feeling is waning a little now? I saw a Sterling yesterday that was a shadow of the 174 goal player we’ve borrowed. He wasn’t aggressive- he was shite,one dimensional and running into corners. Nelson would’ve done a far better job on that side. To let him go and bring in Sterling was a complete waste of money,and,if we’re honest, was probably executed to pacify the fans in the search for an attacker in some guise. Trying to be upbeat with this team is fucking difficult at the moment-they have no killer instinct about them-he’s trained it out of them. It’s as if they’ve been told ‘go as far as that point-but no further’. The players that we’ve brought in because of a certain skill set have had that very skill set removed-restored to factory setting aka ‘Arteta set’. Things will get messy soon-it’s on the cards. Arteta knows he’s got a fucked squad for our fiercest rivals on Wednesday-his arse must be pushing out buttons as we speak. What a scenario-losing 0-2 at home to Newcastle, kicked out of the FA cup at home to ten man, worst for an age Man United side. Next up-Spuds and Villa-both at home,so the shame will be unbearable. He wanted to manipulate this team into his..he got his own way(and used up 800m of funds to get there). It’s all on him.
Sterling is a left sided attacker. Not sure he has much left to offer but we were never going to see it on the right.
Wait until Habesha hears that the "eyes and ears" of the manager, Arteta's "brain on the pitch", his "main man" wasn't even his signing.
No one cares about these cups is a flat out lie.
If it was true we’d all be on here talking gladly that we were out instead of the whole comments section burning down in a rage