Arsenal 2023/24

This applies to last night too.

Emeryball, the horse shoe edition, is back sadly.

What happened to going directly through the middle? Why are we so focussed on crossing in from out wide when our strikers aren't Giroud type players who excel at this?

I think the comparisons with Emery are a bit off the mark. Emery never really dominated possession and never had the defence looking so comfortable for the majority of the time (2 brainfarts in the last 2 games aside).

To me the lack of creativity and finishing is killing us. Arteta just hasn't got things going in the front end yet. Another day of tinkering yesterday, Auba on the right this time, weirdly. Saka playing as a proper forward. 

Don't think we can start Xhaka, Partey and Ceballos in the same lineup, not enough creativity. 

Lacazette is woefully out of form. Surely we can't start him again against ManU. Nketiah in the Europa League then Auba back to striker against ManU for me.

I wouldn't compare him with Emery, but the Emeryball BS of passing out from the back, progressing down the flanks, running out of ideas so bringing it back and recycling posession through the defenders before trying again is still happening. It looks exactly the same when we're in possession - at least in the last two games.

I think those three could work together if Ceballos actually played to his potential. He was so off the pace. His touches were heavy and absolutely lacked any sort of commitment to driving forward like he normally does. 

Xhaka reverting to the role of covering Tierney kind of works BUT it does mean we find ourselves with a midfield two, and forces Lacazette to drop deep. This is very easy to defend. If Lacazette is on the last defender, and Xhaka is alongisde Partey, then we have a free midfielder to push forward, and Lacazette can stretch the defence with some darts in behind. He might not be Auba's pace but when you're up against Jonny Evans slipping a bill in behind for Laca to run onto isn't hard.

I'm not jumping off Arteta's bandwagon - but the lack of goals from a front line we've spent over £100M creating is terrifying.

This year's birthday present from my partner.

Anyone reading Wenger's book? I got it yesterday and am about two thirds through. 

Not many tasty insights people were probably looking for but I found his pre-Arsenal life incredibly interesting, a really good read so far.

I'm doing the audiobook narrated by him. Lacking some of the insights or answers to things we'd like to know but interesting nonetheless. I'm part way through the chapter on building the Emirates so far.

I think the thing that has been a little bit ho hum for people like us is that it appears to be written for people who may not know much at all about football or Arsenal. It's been deliberately aimed at a very broad market. There is a weird little bit where he lists a random group of Arsenal players, with very generic sentences on their qualities and careers at Arsenal, stuff that football (and particularly Arsenal) fans would already know and wouldn't find very interesting at all. I found it odd that that part of the book even existed, and didn't understand the decision on what players were and were not in that list. And the bit about Ashley Cole was just a tease. He just says something like he was gutted that he left due to "a misunderstanding between myself and his agent in the negotiations". I mean come on Arsene, dish the dirt!!!!

However the book definitely rams home the reality that Wenger was so financially restricted from 2006 that the criticism of his teams in that period (approx 2007 - 2012) was grossly unfair. With hindsight it was remarkable that we were able to remain in the top four year after year, and even challenge for the title occasionally, when we had absolutely no money to spend, and even had a clause in our stadium loan agreement that put a cap on the wage bill. It sickens me to remember the stuff going around at that time. The criticism when we failed to win the title in 2008 etc. I remember absolute vitriol from supporters because we hadn't won a trophy for 2 or 3 seasons, it was so entitled. I guess it's as Wenger said, when you're used to eating caviar it's hard to go back to sausages...

For me, with the hindsight we have now, I only really see one period in his entire Arsenal career where he clearly underperformed (for a stretch, not just a match). That is 2016 - 2018 in the premier league. By that point he had the funds to do a lot better, and he had a group with enough experienced players to do better. 

We should've won the league in 2016. Had we done that, things might be very different today. We went 4th, 3rd, 2nd in the three seasons up to 2016, then we faded away, and despite heavy investment from then on we didn't improve.

One thing I never quite appreciated was Arsene's record at Wembley (and Cardiff when Wembley was being rebuilt). He won 7 out of 8 FA Cup Finals, and 7 out of 9 Community Shields. Remarkable really. I still angst about that FA Cup Final loss too... totally dominated that, absolute smash and grab from Michael Owen... guess it balances out with the '05 final though (lol).

Dominant as you would expect this morning, but this time scoring goals, thankfully.

That was an astonishing hit from Pepe just now, didn't even think he had a right foot???

I wonder if Willock could be worth a go for us in the midfield in the PL. He brings a lot of energy and creativity around the box. Could be worth a shot ahead of Ceballos if we continue to struggle to create chances.

I completely agree. Willock actually drives into the box unlike our other midfielders do. I also enjoyed watching Nelson willing to take on players - more of that please.

Pepe played his best football of the night from the left, I wonder if that's worth a crack in the PL.

This arrived today, present our of the blue from the Mrs - she done good.

Once again we are dominating a match but toothless in the final third. I actually wondering if we need to bench Auba for a spell, or something drastic like that, to get the spark back.

I'm still very worried about our ability to create, but I'll take that. First time since 2006, first big 6 away win in the league in 5+ years. Mike Dean not a massive c*nt, not giving the pen against Gabriel, or sending him off for a second yellow tells me just how fudgeing weird 2020 is.

YUS!!!!!!

We needed that, a shot in the arm. Although we only scored once we did look a lot more creative and dangerous than against Leicester. Very pleasing to see us dominate most of the game against a packed midfield like that.

Partey and Elneny together look a good combination. Geez Partey looks like a proper rolls royce midfielder. Had the better of Pogba all day, and so smooth on the ball.

I haven't watched today's performance yet, but after watching the last few I almost want to see us got for a 3-5-2 with wilock in front of partley, elneny/xhaka in the middle. Flanked by hector and saka. auba on the left up top and paired with nketiah/laca. 

I think that would give us a good mixture of drive,creativity while not sacrificing our solid defence.

I dunno mate, think that says more about Pogba than Partey. ?

I hope we see this happen in a match - but Elneny & Partey ran the show and deserve a joint MOTM.

So good to finally beat them there in the league. Didn't realise the last time was so long ago - Lehmann vs Solskjaer so feels appropriate it's Solskjaer again. Will never forget that face when he couldn't believe his shot didn't go in.

Gabriel was an absolute rock in defence and so brave with the tackles after the early yellow card. Surprised by how good Elneny looks too.

Good performance this morn. 

Bit of a brain fart defensively to give them that much space to score on the break early on, but have to be fair, it was a great ball to open it up and a great finish. Contrary to the commentators suggestions I didn't think Leno was too much at fault, the shot was inch perfect to bounce low in front of him and curl inside the post like that. 

Really happy with how we stayed calm and just kept playing our game, and then the goals came. Yes 2 own goals but they werent defensive howlers, we forced it through great attacking play. 

Could've scored more in the end, and looks like the first disallowed one probably would've been given had there been VAR too. 

Nice win, some much needed goals, and plenty of first teamers rested and fresh for Villa on Monday.

Looks like Elneny has bagged himself a proper starting eleven spot, and boy doesn't he deserve it. 

On the bench today, suggesting he's in line to start alongside Partey against Villa on Monday. 

He's been a model professional since we signed him, and although he doesn't often stand out he's never really put a foot wrong, I can't remember an error or even a lost possession that sticks in the mind, since he's played for us. Always thought perhaps he wasn't quite at this level but now he's actually starting to show that he is.

He's very successful at finding a forward pass when it looks like he'll have to go backwards. Xhaka and Ceballos on the other hand often have to go backwards in those situations for fear of losing the ball.

What a great example of what Arteta has said all along - everyone got a fresh start, to prove to him that they deserved to be there. Some guys have really taken that on and shown real character. The ones who stick out in that respect are Luiz, Maitland-Niles, Elneny, Saka, Holding, and hell even Mustafi to be completely honest. They just knuckled down and did what Arteta asked of them, and have been rewarded with their Manager's trust as a result. Good sh*t.

Elneny is always a solid 6-7/10 player. He never really ever puts in a shocker, and he won't win you the game by himself - but alongside a world-class player like Partey he's absolutely perfect.

I still think Dani and  Xhaka will play depending on opposition and we may even see them v Villa

Good to hear Arteta pushing the boys on fixing our offence - sounds like they're working hard to try make it click. It's one thing to score at will during the EL, but another thing to really get to City/Liverpool levels of goal scoring in the EPL.

I'm still keen to see Pepe start in the PL on the left, but that would require Auba through the middle or out right where he's lost.

Geez. Huffed and puffed on attack, torn apart by villa's movement and clever passing at the other end. Last one was on the break but Villa always look like getting a goal or two with that attack every game, we needed to outgun them but couldn't. The attack continues to stutter. 

Grealish is pretty much everything at the moment that Arteta has been wanting Willian to be. Fast accurate dribbler, high quality deliveries, good pace. 

This auba/laca/willian combo has just not worked. Time to bin it. 

Partey injury, not good.

TBF that was coming. We didn't learn from Leicester. Another low block we couldn't create in, beaten on the counter often to create more attacking threat.

How TF Willian & Lacazette are starting is beyond me.

Gabriel's had his first 'blip' now, not a game he'll want to remeber.

Good summary I reckon brumbys

Post break I'm keen to see us try

                Auba

      Saka Ceballos Pepe

            Xhaka Partey

Tierney Gaby Holding Bellerin

                 Leno

Bring Willock off the bench if it isn't working.

It looks harsh on Elneny, but I don't think he can do the job Xhaka does at covering Tierney when he's out of position, the way we go 3 at the back when attacking. 

I like that too Rich though I don't see Ceballos as a ten... but given what we have, our options are limited - I'm excited to see what MA does in response. 

is Ozil still not an option at 10. Surely he's picked up his training and off field stuff that Arteta would consider putting him back on the field?

I don't see how the fact we've had a sharke performance (or three) would dilute the reason/s that are substantial enough in Arteta's mind (and only his mind according to the man himself) that he wasn't selected in the EPL/UEL squads to the point he would be selected (given how big those negatives must be), if and when he could be... I can't see it happening.

This really surprised me.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/13146387/arteta-emery-arsenal-record-comparison-28-games/

Not really TBH, Arteta started his career with us when we were at our worst. Emery did so when we were in decline but not awful. Still had a half decent squad and did well.

Arteta's in trouble at the moment, no doubt about it.

that sits about right with me. At that stage I was pretty positive about Unai and thought that the club had done well by signing him. But it was the fact that he never developed a style or players that lead to the drop off in performances, and then his exit. 

Arteta has some issues, but I've seen enough in how our structure has changed to think that there is a path forward with him. Hope he can tweak things more over the break

These international windows are a bloody joke.

Its pathetic that internationals are taking place at the moment. Even more so when they are pointless friendlies.

UEFA needs to clip the ticket. Crazy that the clubs didn't kick up more of a stink.

Completely agree - I'm surprise the usual tension hasn't exploded. It's like Čeferin's got naked selfies of all the club execs stored away or something.

The old and the new. Note the little prop between the shirts :)

Annnnnnd now Elneny has tested positive, while Willian needs to return a positive result before returning to the training ground having gone to Dubai. 

As someone based in the UK, banned from leaving my house, WHY THE FUCK DID YOU GO TO DUBAI YOU CUNT.

Kolasinac tested positive now as well

Strong rumours around about us wanting to pay the release clause in Jan for a midfielder, Dominik Szoboszlai, currently playing for RB Salzburg. Release clause apparently only 25m so in our price range...