I've been learning a lot about our history this season ;)
Arsenal 2023/24
Southampton haven't beaten us at our place for 30+ years. Sigh. Didn't think there were any of those records left to rectify.
Theo Walcott to score the winner?
Surely in the script.
Southampton haven't beaten us at our place for 30+ years. Sigh. Didn't think there were any of those records left to rectify.
Theo Walcott to score the winner?
Thank you, getting some happiness insurance on that now...
I was talking to a friend this morning about who we could sign, or what positions we should sign for, that could help turn this team around. The obvious answer is an attacking minded CM. But beyond that I'm a bit lost. Arguably Willian isn't working out wide, but I'd rather Nelson filled that gap. Bellerin is out of form, but AMN deserves a run and Soares is OK. Xhaka isn't going anywhere but with his suspension surely Ceballos & Elneny will get a run, and then hopefully more of Partey after his recovery.
I'm comfortable with Laca being moved on, but I don't think Nketiah is ready to replace him. Maybe you'd bring in a big man style striker to actually head the ball/play 1,2's with (maybe an aging Chelsea star, we like those...).
In terms of signings, what do you suggest is our selling point to anyone serious beyond "here's a big bag of money, come and play with Xhaka and Willian in our big empty stadium?"
I was talking to a friend this morning about who we could sign, or what positions we should sign for, that could help turn this team around. The obvious answer is an attacking minded CM. But beyond that I'm a bit lost. Arguably Willian isn't working out wide, but I'd rather Nelson filled that gap. Bellerin is out of form, but AMN deserves a run and Soares is OK. Xhaka isn't going anywhere but with his suspension surely Ceballos & Elneny will get a run, and then hopefully more of Partey after his recovery.
I'm comfortable with Laca being moved on, but I don't think Nketiah is ready to replace him. Maybe you'd bring in a big man style striker to actually head the ball/play 1,2's with (maybe an aging Chelsea star, we like those...).
Yea I think the wide forwards will remain. Willian has been poor but he's signed for 3 years, he aint going nowhere, and surely cannot get any worse.
The other wide forwards we have should only get better - Pepe, Saka, Nelson, Martinelli, so that's some comfort.
I'd let Lacazette go and not bring anyone in. Auba up top I guess, and keep blooding Nketiah and now Balogun, who looks very impressive.
The big ticket signing is that creative midfielder. I wonder if we'll go back for Auaor or whatever his name is? If we have some serious coin then why not make a play for Grealish?
I think perhaps we should look at another central mid as well. I wouldn't want to take Ceballos on again next season, and I think Xhaka and Elneny are good squad players. I'd like a new starter to partner with Partey.
And even though we currently have a ton of CBs, I think we might be looking again in that area.
Gabriel and Mari are locked in, but no one else is assured right now. Luiz, Mustafi and Sokratis will be gone next season.
Holding and Chambers are playing for their spots and I don't think we will keep both of them. Arteta seems to like Holding so he may be the one to stay. Unless Saliba really comes on and establishes himself in the 2nd half of the season to be the 4th one, then I can see us going to market for one more.
So I think we should look for, in this order:
1) Creative mid/no.10
2) Midfielder to go with Partey
3) CB
4) Maybe a striker, maybe
Based on our track record we’ll sign the CB, and then a DM who “can play more advanced” - both on loan deals and the bosmans come summer.
I'd love to see us give this a shot against SOTON because it can't be worse than what we've been doing
Nketiah
Saka ESR Pepe
Ceballos Elneny
Tierney Gabriel Holding Soares
Leno
Close! Auba & AMN for ESR & Soares.
Walcott scoring against us was so predictable it's made me some money.
Not an Arsenal fan, but just curious on people's thoughts as to when it's time to push the panic button? (If not done so already)
So many similarities playing out that I feel are so closely matched by what happened at United after Sir Alex Ferguson retired. We didn't plunge to such great depths but it still a shock to the system for a footballing powerhouse to go through such turbulent times.
It's probably already been covered in previous pages (and I don't have the time to read through them all) but the situation you find yourself in now, does it come down to lack of depth, lack of quality, or lack of investment/backing from the board. Or a bit of everything. Covid probably hasn't helped in that regard, but I'm interested to see what some of the factors are that are contributing to such a downward spiral of an otherwise proud and renowned football club.
FFS - we are so predictable when it comes to things that "are unlikely to happen". Of course it's Theo that scores the go ahead goal against us and another game where a player gets sent off for stupid foul!!!!
Walcott scoring against us was so predictable it's made me some money.
It was always certain to happen. Was very close to betting too, but just couldn't bring myself to bet money against my own team.
Not an Arsenal fan, but just curious on people's thoughts as to when it's time to push the panic button? (If not done so already)
So many similarities playing out that I feel are so closely matched by what happened at United after Sir Alex Ferguson retired. We didn't plunge to such great depths but it still a shock to the system for a footballing powerhouse to go through such turbulent times.
It's probably already been covered in previous pages (and I don't have the time to read through them all) but the situation you find yourself in now, does it come down to lack of depth, lack of quality, or lack of investment/backing from the board. Or a bit of everything. Covid probably hasn't helped in that regard, but I'm interested to see what some of the factors are that are contributing to such a downward spiral of an otherwise proud and renowned football club.
I think you'll probably get differing opinions from the fans just like you get from the ManU fans for their current woes.
Not sure about the "didnt plunge to such depths" comment. You guys were 7th and 4th in the two seasons after Fergie left, we've been 5th and 8th, I don't see too much difference. Particularly as ManU have not pushed on at all since then - it's basically been 7.5 seasons of muddling about since Fergie left.
We've got 5 years up our sleeve to see if we can deal with this situaton better than ManU have so far.
I see one big similarity in that we've hired a Solsjkaer type candidate in Arteta. It's almost like we've skipped the van Gaal/Mourinho era you had and gone straight for the young former player who's all about the values etc. Time will tell as to who will end up the better Manager.
It's an interesting question. Similar comparisons in that our executive structure imploded not long after Wenger left, similar to Woodward coming in new close to Fergie's exit.
I'd hope what we've learned from United is to pick a manager and invest in building a squad for them.
Arteta's end of that deal is being able to muddle through, keep qualifying for the Europa league, until we can get the squad needed to truly compete.
Hopefully we've learned our lessons from Willian, Ozil, Sokratis, Luiz and co - invest in youth.
Auba is out, Nelson still out too.
Leno
Holding (C) Luiz Tierney
AMN Ceballos Elneny Saka
Pepe Nketiah Willian
Martinelli & ESR on the bench again.
Willian owes us a big fudgeing performance.
Money on Iwobi scoring & Everton winning.
Pepe and willian poor again, but at least the later looks like he is trying. Thought Holding was decent and dealt with DCL well. Still not clicking as a team and our attack is toothless!
Our attack is so lacking. I just don't understand why we have 4 players lined up across the 18 yard box, and no one between there and CB. HUGE holes in midfield.
January will be decisive. If the board backs Arteta we should see some exits and more importantly incomings.
If they don't bring in the reinforcements I think Arteta will go, can't imagine they'll have the patience to see us slip into a relegation fight.
If they don't bring in the reinforcements I think Arteta will go, can't imagine they'll have the patience to see us slip into a relegation fight.
Think we're already there.
Remember when finishing in the top four 20 years in a row was not enough for a lot of Arsenal fans........
We used to go mad when Wenger would say 4th was "like a trophy." Now it would feel like the Invincibles season.
Arseblog today was calling for the kids against City. I'm with him, keep players fit for Chelsea and see if anyone can step up and offer more than Willian...
It's awful timing to be without Auba, Partey, and Gabriel - there's the spine of your team all top players MIA just when you need them. Squad looks so weak without them.
Not an Arsenal fan, but just curious on people's thoughts as to when it's time to push the panic button? (If not done so already)
So many similarities playing out that I feel are so closely matched by what happened at United after Sir Alex Ferguson retired. We didn't plunge to such great depths but it still a shock to the system for a footballing powerhouse to go through such turbulent times.
It's probably already been covered in previous pages (and I don't have the time to read through them all) but the situation you find yourself in now, does it come down to lack of depth, lack of quality, or lack of investment/backing from the board. Or a bit of everything. Covid probably hasn't helped in that regard, but I'm interested to see what some of the factors are that are contributing to such a downward spiral of an otherwise proud and renowned football club.
I think you'll probably get differing opinions from the fans just like you get from the ManU fans for their current woes.
Not sure about the "didnt plunge to such depths" comment. You guys were 7th and 4th in the two seasons after Fergie left, we've been 5th and 8th, I don't see too much difference. Particularly as ManU have not pushed on at all since then - it's basically been 7.5 seasons of muddling about since Fergie left.
We've got 5 years up our sleeve to see if we can deal with this situaton better than ManU have so far.
I see one big similarity in that we've hired a Solsjkaer type candidate in Arteta. It's almost like we've skipped the van Gaal/Mourinho era you had and gone straight for the young former player who's all about the values etc. Time will tell as to who will end up the better Manager.
Probably lacking a bit of wording, but when I say plunge such depths, I'm rather referring to it being a 'shock to the system' to at least not be in and around that Top 6 that's mostly become accustomed too.
The way things are going, Arteta is surely on the chopping block is he not? Honestly, I don't think a whole lot of what's currently happening is too much of his own doing, you've also got to look at the team & player performances as well. But at what point do you look to stop the rot? Furthermore, who would come in and could do a better job? - Either with the current lot, or given a bit of investment in the squad. Allegri is being bandied about, but who else is in the frame?
The way things are going, Arteta is surely on the chopping block is he not? Honestly, I don't think a whole lot of what's currently happening is too much of his own doing, you've also got to look at the team & player performances as well. But at what point do you look to stop the rot? Furthermore, who would come in and could do a better job? - Either with the current lot, or given a bit of investment in the squad. Allegri is being bandied about, but who else is in the frame?
I think your assessment is spot on. I think he'll get to the end of Jan/Feb depending on if signings arrive. The red cards just keep compounding his problems, he's got the spine of the team out injured/suspended right now.
Arteta needs to go. He should've gone a week ago to give the new manager (whoever they might be) the January window.
You only need to listen to his interviews to figure out that he's lost the plot.
Any other top club, he wouldn't have lasted this long.
I don't care about red cards, injuries etc - even with a full squad, he's playing boring, insipid, uninspired football that doesn't even get results. There is no longer anything positive here. It will only end in tears.
Offside but no VAR!
Hear me out but I don’t think that was a bad outcome.
We actually created a goal from open play, ESR looked brilliant in midfield when he played their, we confirmed Mustafi & Kolasinac are dog shark defenders, and we got to enjoy Martinelli, while avoiding more fixtures.
Of the goals we conceded I think Leno would have stopped 2 of them, and if VAR is in play it’s actually finishing 1-1.
Looking forward to seeing the lineup for Chelsea, definitely time to see ESR play in the AM role.
Oh and we discovered we are utterly fudgeed if Leno gets injured.
Oh and we discovered we are utterly fudged if Leno gets injured.
We are already with Leno aren't we? Not saying he is a bad keeper, just meaning we're already fudged
Don't know whether this is rock bottom yet but Alan Davies said on the Tuesday Club this week that he couldn't believe he was actually checking the Brighton and Burnley results. This week for the first time I looked up who has EFL Championship coverage in NZ. Genuinely didn't know if anything other than the playoff final was on here as I'd never cared before.
Keep breaking records every game. Yesterday the commentator mentioned it was the first time since 1961 Man City had scored 4 at Arsenal. What's next? When did Chelsea last score 5, 6 or 7 against us?
When did Chelsea last score 5, 6 or 7 against us?
6 years ago.
Ah true. I'd erased that one from memory, one of the few times I've switched off at half time. Wenger's 1,000th game wasn't it? All over by the 20th minute.
What a turn since the FA Cup win, maybe that new manager bounce really was just that. Chelsea, WBA and Brighton the next 3 games - hoping for 6 points but expecting 3 max.
Still can't believe we let Martinez go, everyone but Arteta could see he was better than Leno.
Merry Christmas all. Got the pre-match hoodie from my other half this time. I appear to be easy to buy for.
Merry Christmas chaps, here's hoping Arteta and the boys turn a corner eh?
Merry Christmas all. Got the pre-match hoodie from my other half this time. I appear to be easy to buy for.
This top is sick, stoked for your bro!
Well fudge me, that 'twas enjoyable. Fans calls for youth vidicated. Question is can ESR do that regularly? Mari a bit ropey towards the end, worrying given we're still another 2 games without Gabriel.
Who cares there, get the fudge in!
Didnt expect that. Missing our spine in gabriel, partey and auba.
Xhaka needs to do that more.
Mari was retty good after that hideous early yellow.
Was great to beat them and a much improved performance. Did our best to throw it away at the end though. Shudder to think what the final result would have been if Leno hadn't saved the penalty with still 5 minutes of injury time to play.
Was great to beat them and a much improved performance. Did our best to throw it away at the end though. Shudder to think what the final result would have been if Leno hadn't saved the penalty with still 5 minutes of injury time to play.
Mari red card, 4-1 loss, and the firing of Arteta!