@foreverheady gathers ye footballing rose-buds this Autumn afternoon
‘Judge me in May’, Arsene used to say, and for many, many years those who had clamoured to dismiss him after a couple of poor games had to eat some kind of pie come the end of the season – though with the rise of social media and YouTube celebdom that pie was increasingly less humble.
Not much of the Uriah Heep about the modern fan, to be honest. But as time went by the teeth got sharper, the barbs deeper (and maybe the competition a little steeper too) and suddenly it was no longer possible for him to deliver his much derided (though seemingly much prized these days) top four finish.
Two years in a row saw the team falter in the second half of the season, and eventually the Arsenal powers that be saw fit to draw a line under a managerial career of much dignity and success. Those who had campaigned viciously for his removal crowed in triumph, those who had loyally supported perhaps felt relieved that at last it was all over – though I suspect most fans found it hard when it was finally time to say goodbye. I certainly did.
But I got over myself in time, realised no one had actually died, and as is the way of things found myself beginning to wonder who the new man in the dugout might be. I knew little of Unai Emery, so his appointment underwhelmed me to begin with, but as the long weeks of summer crept by, I began to warm to him – despite not being that convinced initially by the new signings that were made.
Pre-season seemed to go well enough, and to be honest I wasn’t expecting much from the first two games against City and Chelsea. Two losses as I felt would be the case, but not nearly as bad as I feared, and the spirited fight back at the Bridge suggested things might yet turn out well. Nevertheless, the next game, at home to West Ham, began to take on real significance. I was lucky to see the game live, and the first thing I noticed was a very different warm-up to previous seasons, with time spent on sweeping moves and players moving to convert crosses from both flanks. But as we wobbled and then went one down, the prospect of three losses and all that that would entail began to emerge.
Be careful what you wish for and all that, but fortunately our very own Nacho Man (surely one of one of Arsene’s cannier purchases) hadn’t read that script and was there at the far post to steady the ship and set in motion a sequence of results that were certainly beyond my wildest imaginings. A fourteen-match unbeaten run no less, with notable wins, progression in both League and cups and lately a fine home draw against a potent Liverpool side who many had predicted would find us easy meat and ripe for the taking. What, as the saying goes, is not to like?
Well … one or two things, I think – and in particular the shoehorning of evidence to try to fit a narrative. The old Wenger knows best, Wenger out divisions are still there, and this seems silly to me, but I suppose the wounds of Civil War take more than a while to heal. Suddenly some are suggesting that the fantastic run we are currently on is all down to Emery: the coaching is better, the signings more astute, the players happier, the spine stronger, the character more robust, the years of failure at long last over. Oh brave new world, we’ve got our Arsenal back!
Meanwhile others point to similar runs of success in the quite recent past, to the impressive signings made in the last months of Arsene’s stewardship, to the investments made in coaching and fitness and medical centres, to the careful way the whole succession was orchestrated and managed. And also to the slices of fortune enjoyed on the pitch, to the gilt edged chances offered up to profligate opponents, to the sense that whatever else is going on, cracks are only being papered over.
What is most wonderful of course is the sudden reversal of position. Now it is the Emery enthusiasts who are seen as delusional, the old AKBs as the sober realists. Lord what fools these mortals be.
And where lies the truth in all of this? Somewhere near the middle I suspect. Arsene et all had probably been planning for his departure for a couple of years, and the players must have sensed that he wasn’t going to be around forever. I guess that that as much as anything stopped them giving their all when the football was suddenly difficult, when they didn’t really fancy the away trips. At the same time they were still capable of turning on the style for him when it was easy enough to do so. I am quite sure that they have been inspired by a desire to impress the new man and have probably found it easy to buy into whatever new methods and tactics are being employed (which I guess are pretty similar to most of what went on before). And I think too they will have enjoyed the growing chorus of approval from press and pundits (which in turn spreads quickly to the fanbase) and are starting to feel more valued and special.
It interests me that now Kroenke has sole ownership the club’s PR seems ever more positive. And on that note it is surely ridiculous to try to pretend that Arsene Wenger was hopeless in the last few years, or to try to airbrush the three FA Cups in four years out of History – just as it is equally ridiculous to suggest that Unai Emery’s pretty brilliant start has got nothing to do with his footballing knowledge and his outstanding motivational powers. I would like to think that it is now time to be proud of both past and present – and to let them unite in healthy anticipation for the future.
I went to see the home game against Leicester, and was expecting a sparse enough crowd given the game was on a Monday and on television. Far from it: the ground was packed, and the second half display lifted the roof. Even allowing for the normal buzz that surrounds an emphatic win something felt different queuing for the Tube after the game: a collective excited happiness and identity was in the air. I expect it must have felt like that after Lacazette’s imperious finish last Saturday – and I hope that won’t be lost should results start to go a little bit awry as the winter fixtures bite. We have a couple of games to negotiate later this week – and then a bit of a break in which to recharge batteries and take stock again. I am looking forward to it all, and hope that come May the judgment will be a positive one: if my reading of the signs are correct it could indeed be so.
Positively Arsenal 
Nice work Tim, well played.
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Lovely overview of not just the start of the season but of a whole new Arsenal managerial career, Foreverheady.
You have covered very well most of the talking points and it’s easy to agree with everything you’ve written. I think as ‘starts’ go, Emery has exceeded most expectations and possibly in a way not all of us entirely deserve.
I continue to regret the way in which Arsene’s exit was executed and the stayaway fans had some role in that. But I agree that too many of the players simply did not expect him to be around much longer and their performances, on occasions, and especially away from home, seemed to reflect this.
I wouldn’t anticipate instant cup success for Emery, but equally, should it come to pass, I wouldn’t be shocked by it, either, such is the intensity and desire, and the never-say-die attitude that has become a now routine feature of an Arsenal fixture, on a Saturday or weekday, home or away or even abroad basis.
We clearly have some kind of issue at the back but given time I’m sure UA will address this. Meanwhile up front (via defence and midfield) at times it looks as though Wengerball never left us and it’s no exaggeration to suggest Arsenal have scored the best goals, more often than any other team this season. I think it is THAT that is giving our season something of an ‘x’ factor, not mentioning the audacious unbeaten run.
Like the author, I wasn’t hugely looking forward to the season. Happily I’m already back to cursing the international breaks.
And long may all of that continue.
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accurate as ever
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Great follow through on the bat as you knock one through the covers.
Unai Emery certainly is showing signs of being an astute signing as his vision for the club have a far more sustainable approach than that of short termers who spend bucket loads trying to achieve instant success or survival specialists like Sam and Pulis – not quite sure where Mark Hughes fall in.
Nonetheless… We are in for one hell of a journey till May and I’m, and sure most on both sides of fan divisions, are enjoying the ride.
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Arsenal Academy
@ArsenalAcademy
1h1 hour ago
📝 Here’s how #AFCU21 line up against @FGRFC_official in the @checkatradetrpy this evening 🏆
Starting XI: Iliev, Pleguezuelo (c), Ballard, Bola, Bramall, Zelalem, Olayinka, Willock, Coyle, Saka, John-Jules
Subs: Hein, Medley, Omole, Thompson, Gilmour, Smith, Balogun
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Good morning Tim, I attempted to post last night to say how much I enjoyed your piece and its broad and optimistic thrust.
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AFCU21 TAKE THE LEAD 🙌 Saka won the penalty after a stunning solo run – and Willock made no mistake in converting from 12 yards 🎯 🌲 0-1 🔴 (41)
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WILLOCK SCORES HIS SECOND 🔥 Saka played an inch-perfect pass behind the Rovers defence and Willock showed great composure to find the back of the net 👏 🌲 0-2 🔴 (43)
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Arsenal Academy
@ArsenalAcademy
4m4 minutes ago
Half-time at The New Lawn: Forest Green Rovers 0-2 #AFCU21
Willock’s penalty and fine finish has given us a two-goal lead at the break 👊
Keep it going, lads 🔥
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Examination question –
Compare and contrast:
the complete shambles at ManU following Alex Ferguson’s departure;
the smooth transition at Arsenal following AW’s departure.
What light does this throw AW’s qualities as a man and as a manager?
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Arsenal Academy
@ArsenalAcademy
27m27 minutes ago
Full-time: Forest Green Rovers 1-3 #AFCU21
Goals from Willock (2) and John-Jules ensure that #AFCU21 advance to the second round of the @CheckatradeTrpy 🔥
Well played, lads 👏
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reports tonight that Reiss Nelson will be in the England squad for the upcoming friendlies
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I have to say Forever’s first-class article is surely deserving of far more comment.
There is very little that is more discouraging for any writer than to pour great effort into a piece, only to see it circumvented or ignored by news of the latest developments from around the various leagues or what not.
I’m not at all against news updates per se but I’ve always felt new posts deserve some kind of reaction or debate, even if in disagreement.
The early posting of non-post-related comments seems just a tad too dismissive for comfort.
But maybe that’s just me.
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Great read. A very valid point about players sensing change, and finding it difficult to respond in certain away games and in hostile environments, must have been hard for them.
I remember seeing new appointments of men, ostensively to help Wenger, but I did wonder at the time what The Man really thought of a de facto Dorector of Football bought in, even if I am sure he did his best for the club. Then, there was Josh Kroenkes three month review, the stay always, rumours of poor box sales, some bafflingly bad away performances, if I was fearing the worst at the time, who knows what was by then going through the players minds.
Emery has impressive pedigree and is doing well, some players seem to be really responding to him. Could be a new manager bounce, of could be he is just a damn fine coach.
Hope Emery is judged realistically, but favourably come May.
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Nice piece by Heady. I will admit to being one of the agnostics. Am from the camp of those who regard the defenestration of Wenger as bowing to emotion rather than the cold hard facts of a temporary deviation from the mean. While am happy like most fans that results have gone well over the past 14 games, the cold, hard fact is the current streak is not superior to the 16 game unbeaten streak in 2016. Yet Arsenal ended up 5th. Additionally, It is nothing like those 9-plus game winning winning streaks (not merely unbeaten) in the Wenger championship years. Don’t get me wrong, streaks are not a necessary condition for success as I recently explained at Unite-for-VAR but is highly correlated. Am not raining on Heady’s parade, just advising we should be cautiously optimistic and not get carried away.
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Good balanced post FH – I’m enjoying the on pitch performances and the current winning run without going overboard as I recognise that things can change very quickly in football. Emery is proving to be a good successor to AW, he has sensibly built on the existing foundations and brought his own stamp to the team, while retaining a lot of the style we have come to know and love from the recent past. I hope he does at least as well as the man he replaced, but I accept that this may take time. I’m choosing to just enjoy the ride while avoiding the unhelpful comparisons between the past and the present. It doesn’t have to be just about better or worse, sometimes it’s just different and that is enough.
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“I would like to think that it is now time to be proud of both past and present – and to let them unite in healthy anticipation for the future.”
-foreverheady, 2018
Take a bow, son
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Must admit I do share Shotts‘ and Passenal’s sense of caution; unbeaten streaks, virtually by definition, DO come to an end (although there was once this club …).
It almost came to an end for this Arsenal v Liverpool, a game win every pundit I personally came across had already awarded to Liverpool some days prior to kick-off. The rally and subsequent draw having fallen one down, has gone a long way to encourage many to in fact judge Emery in November, rather than May.
And at the very, very least, that’s no bad start.
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Fantastically written article. Well done.
I think Wenger would have got this team right given time and support. Clearly the latter was lacking, even if it could be argued that the first wasn’t. The tragedy was the 2016 season. Wenger made a mistake not buying a forward and/or a midfielder. I thought so at the time, and so it proved. Though he had rightly calculated that Arsenal could finish ahead of all the other big teams even without more signings. But whatever, we lost the title that season let down by poor finishing first and foremost, and it seems like it was never the same again. We seemed to just be fighting fires rather than building up.
I wasn’t sure about replacing Wenger with Emery. What’s the point I thought. But I realised that the point is that he isn’t Wenger. That it’s someone new allows the whole team to move without carrying baggage of the past. Even if some fans aren’t prepared to let it go, the majority are and the team is reaping the benefits. Also why I like Emery is that he’s not too radically different from Wenger. He can build on the work of the great man. A long way to go for him and this team but encouraging signs and hopefully we can keep on winning.
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I think the problem is that many of us have a very deep love, respect and sense of gratitude for Arsene and we react to the veiled attacks on him. “, but I suppose the wounds of Civil War take more than a while to heal.” That just about summed it up.
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Of course it won’t be only Emery (or his team) we will be judging in May, but also Gary ‘Disgraceful/Chaotic’ Neville who was just a little bit too quick off the mark in slating AFC’s recruitment process earlier this year.
There is the distinct possibility that far from virtually falling apart under a succession of managers [See Spurs, Chelsea, Manure], the Arsenal Board will have overseen the selection of two relative unknowns who have delivered, or are set to deliver, great success for the club.
And for that alone the media will likely never forgive us.
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ArsenalAndrew , Nov 7, 11:11
A fair point. I’ll keep that in mind in future
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“the defenestration of Wenger” – brilliantly put.
Not sure Wenger had full support from all of the board at the end whatever they said, and found these reported links with Wenger and AC strange to say the least, though the man himself has now branded those as “fake news”
Still, as things stand, those who have taken over after Wenger seem to be doing a good job, without throwing Utd/City/Chelsea silly money at such a dramatic change of direction
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One of the wisest assessments of change in any organisation that I have ever heard is that, in the short term it is wildly over estimated and in the long term wildly underestimated. For the latter to happen that change does of course have to be maintained. In other words if you are sure its the right thing to do then stick with it even if in the early days it doesn’t live up to the hype that (often outsiders) pin to it.
Wenger himself once said that his ‘problem’ was that he was too successful, too early. He picked off the low hanging fruit in terms of fitness/drinking culture and some on field tactical issues and they had an almost instant impact. Other clubs took years to catch up and some never did.
Expectations rose to ridiculous levels but he kept meeting those expectations until eye-watering levels of financial doping elsewhere (coupled with salary expectation levels of our own players) combined to push us down (on average) by two places in the league.
Change to a new manager was always going to be a risk and most clubs get little benefit from doing it and often slip backwards. But all Arsenals new guard seem to have been very carefully selected and are all standing on the shoulders of giants.
Not only do those giants deserve great praise but so do our much maligned Board who between them have engineered not only those changes in personnel but also a new stadium on time, on budget and to all intents and purposes fully paid for. And that’s looking all the more praise worthy as we watch events unfold a few miles up the road.
No doubt mistakes have been made by Arsenal over the years but most backward movement is down to happenings outside our club and outside our control. Those changes that have been made within our control have been made with purpose, dignity and respect and are all the more enjoyable as a result.
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As for the article, I like it! Plenty to think about, plenty to talk about.
I’m enjoying the season so far, am cautiously optimistic, and am certainly looking forward to each game a lot.
I’m intrigued by the idea that subconsciously at least the players in Wenger’s last year didn’t give their absolute all in difficult moments, away from home.
I’m not sure on that. I suspect it could be more about near intangibles like belief, confidence and support. At the moment ,for instance, I think, on back of run we’re on, players have a high level of belief we can turn things around in bad spots, so they commit completely, with their good levels of confidence, to a style of play which does give us a pretty good chance of turning it around.
It becomes harder if what gives us a pretty good chance doesn’t work on a few occasions. Would inhibition doubt etc creep in then?
We have to wait and see. At the moment I’m hopeful and happy with the start to life under Emery.
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Remember that advert whereby Spurs boasted their new stadium would be the only place in London to watch Champions League football this year? I am assuming at that point, Levy and co knew full well the stadium would not be ready
Kind of backfired, amusingly, an Arsenal supporter has reported them to the Advertising Standards Authority, who are investigating
https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/tottenham-contacted-by-advertising-standards-agency-after-arsenal-fan-complains-about-club-s-stadium-a3984301.html
Dont expect much to be done, but a nice fat donation to charity for perhaps a lesser fine might make them slightly more credible in what is a cringeworthy mess of their own making, hopefully Levy is the charitable type
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On Wenger, one of main things i come back to is that he did what I doubt anyone else would do : with his managerial stock extremely high, he accepted working in conditions which made his life much more difficult than it had been.
We have so few points of comparison to measure that against. Ancelloti, Mancini or Pellegrini might be some of the closest- they have worked with the City, Chelsea, PSG, Bayern resources- and then ended up somewhere else with far less, but still not that close.
Wenger did it with the same club, and with the entirety of the media and a large proportion of his own fans ignoring the truth of the change he had to deal with.
What I wouldn’t give to see darling supreme Pep have to confront something similar. What would happen to his football principles, how would he operate, what could he achieve? We’ll never know because he would never take that on.
Who else would? Poch and Klopp if they have to start selling and can’t afford to replace their best players with ready-made’s of the same quality? Not a chance. Poch has surprised me a little if it is true he has spurned Real’s advances, but we’re talking a few months, and we’re not talking losing any of his players yet
Wenger has that first glorious half of his time, unbelievable players, football and results, built not on having far more resources than the rest, but only something better than most and fairly close to the richest.
Then the second period, facing many more difficulties to earn his money, which he certainly did. All with decency, integrity, principles and a love of good football, which he delivered a lot of.
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Rich, Poch may have spurned Real, but wait until Utd come calling.
Real are successful, can entice the best players, but he will know they also sack managers on a whim, there is an all powerful cabal of senior players,
Utd have huge riches, generally give managers varying degrees of a chance, get a very easy ride from the media, Mike Riley is said to quite like them which unfortunately has its advantages, (no change from Spurs there then),
Utd would be a much less risky move for a manager building his reputation.
And, it is reported that Fergie rates him highly
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Mandy
Agree, does seem a good fit for them. I had a dread when Mourinho went to utd it would signal a full return of Fergie favours from refs.
Hasn’t been as bad as that, but I wouldn’t like to see what they make of Poch’s incredible cynicism under the Utd banner.
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I think the power struggle between Mourinho and Woodward will have to be settled before any new head coach appointment is made in Manchester. Clearly if Allegri was a front runner then he is not now.
I was not a happy bunny watching Juventus’ disgraceful capitulation in Turin last night. A night of shame for the Old Lady and an abject a surrender as any I have seen. Lack of game management. No leaders on the pitch. Shocked, I really was.
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Thanks for all the kind comments and discussion. I can’t watch the game this evening so will be relying on you lot to keep me up to date with what’s really going on!
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I agreed with what you wrote Foreverheady and found it an enjoyable read, many thanks.
Like you I also have enjoyed the discussion here on PA, and agreed also with the cautionary note Shotta wrote.
As anyone knows supporting AFC is a bit of a rollercoaster, although the Wenger era was much less severe in its dips, even the final two years werent without silverware and a 2nd best (against a City team that were very desperate to win the LC) and semi that really we could have won.
Im not sure civil war wounds heal?
I like Unai though and if he can be Doctor, then thats fine by me. AW was (is) such a massive figure, as every day progresses this season you can feel it, and it must hard to work within that legacy, but sense Unai is a man who can do it.
Anyone feel excited about tonight’s game?
COYG!
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Thanks Ed for putting the team up, nice to see the Corp back again. I love to see Rambo command this one.
COYG!
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Tim, This writing is lyrical and analytical in equal measure, which is quite an achievement.
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totally agree with AA and join with Rich in offering an apology with the excuse My life has been manic just lately however in mitigation I was the first to like it and retweet it. Anyway looking forward to tonight and maybe a chance for Eddie to come nice and early COYG.
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I am pleased to see Jenkinson playing too, and hope he has a terrific game. He has had more than a few setbacks to deal with, but seems to have a robust and honest approach to it all.
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welbeck looks to be badly injured
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welbeck with more than half a dozen medics attending him, our players very concerned for him, lots of shocked faces, he is being stretchered off, Aubameyang coming on
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1886
@1886_blog
4m4 minutes ago
Wouldn’t be surprised if he’s broken his leg or ankle. They aren’t showing a replay at all.
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Broken ankle – there is a grizzly picture of the full fracture dislocation
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the welbeck injury,
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a flowing half of football without end product, overshadowed by the bad injury to Welbeck, it may be the last time we see him play for AFC.
our passing has been a little off in that half, good bits, but poor bits too. Welbeck came closest to scoring.
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ref has not been strong enough on the nasty stuff from Sporting
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That is the one eddy
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Gutted beyond words for Welbeck. Phhhhh
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60 minutes, Jenkinson off, Kolasinac on
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Lichsteiner pulls up with what looks like a hamstring injury, Guendouzi gets booked for stopping a sporting breakaway
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Ping
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