You know … at different stages during the course of this season a fixture was labelled “the most important game of the season”, but that came and went as there was always the next one. Tonight though, for Arsenal: THIS IS IT. Some may even say the most important game of the Emirates era.
Good day one and all.
We are in Azerbaijan this evening and it is a London derby with Arsenal and Chelsea battling it out to be crowned 2018/19 Europa League Champions at Baku’s Olympic Stadium.
Leading up to this match most of the talking points focused on off-field issues like ticket allocation, too long a trek to Baku and Henrikh Mhkitaryan missing out due to political reasons, but for Unai Emery and Maurizio Sarri it’s about winning a continental trophy in their first season as head coaches of the respective football clubs. Sarri by no means had it easy at the Blues and for his side winning the cup will mean ending what has been a fickle season, on a high – having already secured qualification for next season’s Champions League (CL). However, for the Gunners, there’s a sense they’ve got a bit more riding on it than just a first European trophy in 25 years, certainly more than banter and/or online bragging rights for their faithful fans.
In recent years Arsenal has lost ground on our traditional top-six rivals, and with both Liverpool and Tottenham guaranteed a massive pay day there’s a real concern that we could fall behind even further if missing out on the CL riches for a third consecutive season. Just recently Vinai and Sanllehi gave an interview where they said the club are committed to stick by its self-sustaining model in the foreseeable future, so any extra revenue we can get is needed to enhance our plans this coming summer.
In a nutshell: for Arsenal this is about one step closer to the promised land. No pressure then.
Seemingly, when you want to win a Europa League Cup, having the competition’s most decorated coach in the dugout is nothing to scoff at. Emery won the title an unprecedented three times in a row during his time at Sevilla and tonight will see him, following a not spectacular yet steady initial league campaign, back in familiar surroundings and no doubt with his tail up. Arsenal’s path to the finals came via an unbeaten run through the group stages with five wins and a draw. First leg hiccups against both BATE and Rennes were followed up by five knockout wins with relative ease.
Chelsea had a similar path with the exact same record in their group fixtures, however, whereas we lost two of our knockout games, they drew two. Both against Eintracht Frankfurt in the semi-finals, a tie they ultimately won via a penalty shootout at Stamford Bridge.
Emery will be without Aaron Ramsey tonight but Danny Welbeck could see one final return on the substitutes’ bench. Players he will be looking at as match winners will be Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who both have been exceptional this season. Sarri has Loftus-Cheek, Rudiger, Hudson-Odoi and possibly Kante ruled out. We know Eden Hazard can win a game on his own and with him, possibly, heading off to a new and even more lucrative life outside of London, he will want to put on one last good show for the Blues.
This is a game that promises to be full of entertainment and goals between two sides that have fairly good records against each other, but the pressure may be on Arsenal.
Lose and the season would be defined as disappointing; win and we look to the future with renewed optimism.
@LaboGoon
Positively Arsenal 
Ed, stillarich is, erm, still me, Rich.
Just a name i bunged in when signing up to wordpress finally, and been temperamental since in terms of my posts working, so I stick with whatever seems to work.
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yeah stillarich, a tournament, even an u21 one could lessen his chances of making his first team breakthrough purely cos he might miss start of preseason if Poland go long into it
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After we were told that Ramsey wouldn’t be part of Arsenal’s future because he doesn’t fit the new direction/system our new head coach want to play he went on and scored that goal vs Fulham and as Fins rightly highlight, he shrugged.
Three of our most memorable victories this season:
4-2 vs Spurs at home.
2-0 vs Chelsea at home.
2-0 vs Manutd at home.
1-1 draw at Wembley vs Spurs equally memorable.
The player that doesn’t fit the system was central in all four those games.
We know how things work out without Rambo at the back end of the season, which for me is my bigger irritation about this campaign.
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Interesting piece on (shady) Raul Sanllehi.
http://youaremyarsenal.com/raul-sanllehi-right-guy-lead-arsenal-right-now/
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Cheers Labo, interesting read. So he was the one that lured Hleb, Fabregas and Song away. Players we really needed. grrrr!
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Any of you masochistic enough to follow that mediocentro guy on twitter or at least aware of his schtick?
Gets retweeted on there at times and I occasionally have a look for know-your-enemy purposes.
Tweet yesterday pissed me off enough to mute again though. Shite about all our youth prospects being nothing players and those believing otherwise being evidence of us having ‘the worst’ fanbase.
Impossible to state how much I loathe the guy. Think he is interesting though as a type. The modern so-called fan for whom it is much more important to be perceived as some sort of hard-hitting expert than to show any semblance of loyalty, affection etc to their club. Seen plenty of accounts since with a similar style, many I expect directly influenced by him.
At every turn, they want to pronounce their own expertise, and, laughably, some sort of ruthless tough-guy style. Key to it all seems to be certainty at all times. No hesitation in declaring highest praise verging on love for rivals players, teams, manager. No holding back on any level of criticism for your own, even youth players. In fact, clearly it is the harsher the better.
Absolute wankers. Their numbers are growing, no doubt, and just have to hope not as many as it can feel like on the internet, and that some grow out of it.
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but Mills Hleb and Song flopped big time at Barca, and Cesc was not wanted for long by them either. As one Barca director said afterwards, they would never have bought him if it had not been somewhat a matter of pride to bring back a player they felt Arsenal had stolen from them.
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thinking of how the season went for some of our players and how some were treated by the head coach, and how some others were treated by some of the fans it might be best if Ozil, Mustafi, Xhaka, Elneny and Nketiah, possibly Iwobi too, all leave Arsenal this summer and join clubs and fans that appreciate them properly.
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They sure did Ed. Should have stayed with us. That sounds nuts from Baca director?
Talking of should, should we have stayed at Highbury? And do you think the Arsenal management at Arsenal (at all levels)?
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should read: and what do you think of the Arsenal management at levels? (all questions open to everyone).
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Eddie, a bit how Giroud went to a club where fans dont abuse him at all after been put through years of that crap. To then have a match winning performance in a European Cup final against his former club. Now suddenly many Arsenal fans are ashamed in him for having the audacity to celebrate winning a cup. Our fans are proper weird. Had the result been in our favor no doubt some would’ve said the club was right to rid themselves of him. Good on you Ollie.
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The treatment of Wenger, Giroud etc strongly reminds me of the treatment of Bobby Robson at Newcastle.
I hope the football gods show the Arsenal more mercy for the disgusting and demeaning conduct of those at the club and the parasites off it, and less we forget the masticating fools demanding a change to a successful model and an end of an era (burn it all down!) – last time Newcastle finished in top 4 was under Robson, not that the American Mike Ashley cares about such things.
We have some cretins surrounding this club and when Bob Wilson says he’s embarrassed hen people should be embarrassed!
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Key difference between Kroenke and Mike Ashley, the latter wants out, like, loath or anything in-between, Mr Kroenke is here to stay, unless I would imagine things go indefeasibly wrong, which, despite this end of season capitulation , is probably unlikely.
Not sure exactly what the future holds, but my guess would be, follow the Moneyball , in an attempt to emulate some aspects of Liverpool, get a few decent gems in, and if they sell, try to get a decent price , but without spending their levels of money, and , with our relative recent decline, not having their marketing, or TV revenue power either
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ha ha ha, the WOB can not be seen to turn on Emery, so they are now trying to stir a campaign against Kroenke,
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Ed some were talking of taking the banner out to the US this summer. If the neighbours win tomorrow then the WoB will go into turbo pottiness.
Speaking of Moneyball, any of you guys like baseball?
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Mills the staying at Highbury thing is madness, it could not be developed, 38K was not and still is not big enough for any top club, why did THFC develop, why are CFC looking to move, why did Utd redevelop, etc etc.
We came within a month of not being able to pay the invincibles their wages at end of the season,
Should AFC be blamed for not seeing that Sugar Daddy or state daddy owners would come in, I can’t see how.
On how our club is being run, I think we as a self sustaining club have in the last number of years really fucked up in our transfer dealings, we really needed to be getting in the Kante’s of this world ahead of the likes of LCFC, we needed to sell big money players at the right time too. But it is the get them in before the are big bucks that we needed to do. I think at one point, the time we signed Mustafi, that the mistakes were at their worst, we were knowingly overspending, just to shut fans up, just to show we can and are willing to spend big. Wenger admitted as much when he talked about knowing all about Kante, and rating him very highly, and expecting him to be a major success, but not going for him cos our fans did not want any more cheap buys and would not give the lad the time to develop. The club should never bow to fan pressure if they think the fans are wrong, plain and simple.
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great points Ed.
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How would you guys like to see AFC deal with Callum Chambers? On loan again, or finding his way back in the team, or sell him? Seems to have done well at Fulham-despite all.
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Chambers and Bielik should be given a chance to stake a claim. if that is not to happen they have to be sold
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@ Mills
“What did you guys think of Guendouzi his year?”
He has potential.
In the early part of the season was playing well decent on the ball technically and was brave passing forwards rather than sideways balls all day but as Eduardo has said he is getting way to much praise for not doing much.
I think he should have played less and more game time should have been given to Willock, Smith Rowe, Nelson, Saka.
Willock played more first team games last yr and i was looking forward to see more of him.
Nelson should have stayed as we need pace and trickery from wide.
Smith Rowe should have stayed and competed with Iwobi who i think should have had less game time. (i like Iwobi a lot but his numbers did not justify his inclusion most weeks).
Saka should have been given 5-10mins end of games to integrate him with 1st team quicker.
These are some of our standout youths that had good campaigns for 2 yrs with their respective youth levels and should have been given chances this year.
I gave Emery a bly for taking a full strength team out to some obscureistan place in Europe as he was learning about the players, in truth i think he missed a perfect opportunity to integrate those players in the squad.
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What about Santi, should we have kept him for a final year? He played 16 times for Villarreal, could it have been the weight we needed to tip the scales in our favour?
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Chambers should come back and be given a chance, because if offered the opportunity now it’s very unlikely it ever will.
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cheers gee, great points.
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Had Santi played 20 games for us this that would’ve been very decent. Alternate between him and Ramsey to manage their fitness. His leadership and calm would’ve been invaluable to to the team as well.
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good point Labo, I like Callum, and hes done well at Boro and Fulham, not sure if he will ever be allowed back in though. Will make a fine defender that perhaps we might one day regret letting go(if he goes)?
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Yes, we sure did miss Santis leadership and calm, plus his dazzling skills. Sometimes despite the fact he mucked up Wengerball, I miss Sanchez too, that drive and determination was missing this year( for me).
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https://www.arsenal.com/news/analysis-why-it-went-wrong-us-baku?fbclid=IwAR0Jrow-LapKPnWpVXb93V-RW5tpAUOYA2yMp7ewvLFyiEYcbwDx3_sKT6I
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So it was Iwobi who played those two lovely passes, and the run was better than I remembered as had great skill at start. Also another really nice little pass slipped in shown on Clarke’s highlights. All in all, a damn fine 25-30 mins from him then.
Fingers crossed he carries it over into Cup of Nations and comes back boosted further.
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Anyone else feeling first signs of recovery yet? Doesn’t feel quite so unthinkable to return to normal ways, hopes etc.
Half-done it already with Iwobi (what if, hopefully, maybe) in fact.
Mad moment for him to produce easily best strike in senior football. I was pretty close to accepting the finishes I thought I remembered from his latter youth days would not carry over into senior football. Now have renewed hope.
Showed it here before but a strike he had against Bayern in uefa youth league was probably even better.
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Agree Eduardo, the a few things have gone a bit off kilter in the last few years regarding spending on our self sustaining model, and if reports are to be believed, we are paying the price now.
Possibly a mixture of being forced to pay over the odds, maybe some panic buying late in windows, I still think Ivan put in something of a power challenge at Wenger , which in the end maybe didnt help , and possibly distracted the pair of them, cannot substantiate that, but always got the feeling Ivan didnt support wenger as he should towards the end.
As I say, i believe we will go close to whatever is the moneyball model. Buy cheaply and carefully, and if we must, sell at a premium. It used to work for us.
Not sure where emery fits into this. Perhaps mitigating circumstances, but he hasnt shown great desire to play youngsters for starters. I am convinced he wont be sacked this summer or anything like that, but could be on a more sticky wicket than he needs be. It appears to some he sacrificed the league, trying to save the players for the Europa league, perhaps for reasons of ego, when surely Brighton Palace Leicester Wolves etc were an easier route to the precious ECL than the Europa league, I am sure this is not lost on the powers that be, although it should also be mentioned that had Ramsey stayed fit, we would be in the ECL, a costly injury and a costly lack of response to costly injuries in Jan. One thing I do suspect, Emery will have to sort our defending and away performances, and be seen to be doing so, or he wont last beyond next season. I cannot help wondering if he could leave of his own accord this summer if he feels he isnt given sufficient funding to do what he needs, but we shall see.
Whatever happens, looks like a medium to long term haul to restore this club to its former position, as rivals above and, significantly, below are likely to outspend us by some margin. Spending isnt everything, but it can help
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rich there was far more hope of a recovery a year ago, new head coach, a new first choice goalie, central defender and defensive midfielder,(the 3 big positions that every expert told us we needed to improve) and looking forward to a first full season for Aubameyang and a fully fit Laccazette.
A year on and its deflation, some stalwarts dumped, some more seemingly not wanted here either, a season that done nothing but prove that all the spiel spouted by the club and our head coach was just PR. Remember all the working hard videos, all the coaching so nothing is left to chance videos, all the we’ve got our Arsenal back shit from the blogs and big twitter accounts, we needed 9pts from our last 7 games, 21pts, to get top 4 and we failed to manage that, 2 wins, a draw and 4 defeats, was an awful drop off of form just at the wrong time. Went out meekly in both cups and fell apart in EL final too. Yesterday in this thread I listed all the game I thought we played very well in and when doing so I was even surprised at the number of those good performance that we actually had failed to win, and/or had awful spells in or major mistakes in.
3 first choice defensive players, Leno, Sokratis and Torreira and another 2 defensive squad additions, Lichtsteiner and Guendouzi, and we for second year in a row let in 51 league goals, this despite having less focus on attack, where despite having the best conversion rate in the league, we scored one less goal than the season before. Something does not add up, tactical genius my Arse
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I think the job is too big for him personally, Bruce Rioja indeed.
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Or put it another way he has shown before he does seem to fall out with the better bigger name players too
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markyb I had great hopes for Emery, when he came in he talked the talk, he went with a play it our from the back tactic, stuck to it, we went on a long unbeaten run, but as soon as we hit a stumble he went all negative, it became all about focusing on the opposition, he talked up shit teams like we were facing Europes best, and ended up playing like the little team against the lesser lights of the BPL. For me Emery wilted as the season progressed. I said during the season that the players had lost faith in him, that his use or lack of, both Ramsey and Ozil seen the team doubt him, and when doubt creeps in performances suffer.
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” I said during the season that the players had lost faith in him, that his use or lack of, both Ramsey and Ozil seen the team doubt him, and when doubt creeps in performances suffer.”
I also believe that is true.
There was a period mid season when Emery’s decision were really questionable.
One of those was leaving Ozil out the Bournemouth game.
It was not so much leaving him out but then exposing to the press and all prem managers/players a perceived weakness in OZil game away from home ( i call bullshit cause its not like we have not won games away with Ozil in the past), Ramsey not getting in the team even though he said he wanted to be captain at the start of the season.
Just these 2 players alone would have had a doubt about Emery and i think so did some other players in the squad, esp coming after a manager who would literally dive in front of his players taking shots to this guy who puts you on the media firing line.
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There’s a call that Emery need his own players and people are pointing to the Sok, Leno and Torreira. We let to believe that Sven identified those players. Names being touted as players Emery wanted were older players he worked with at Sevilla. Denis was also a player he wanted. That was around the same time Sven has his fall out with the club.
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West Ham away Özil got left at home and Ramsey put on the bench. We played three central midfielders. West Ham were on a poor run when we went there, they beat us and continued their run for quite some time thereafter.
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there was also Ozil tweeting pictures of himself at training and saying he was ready for the next days game, then being left out of the squad with Emery saying he was unfit/ill/not training etc
I would also say that players began to doubt Emery when he had to bring on half time subs and change formation and tactics to try and rescue so many games. You can’t keep getting the starting 11 and tactic wrong so often, especially when your reputation is of leaving no stone unturned in prep for a game. As a manager you can’t be telling the team all week and before the game that if we do x y or z we beat these guys, then come in at half time and tell them that x y and z is totally wrong and we need to go with a b and c. you can get away with it when the changes work and the win is got, but as soon as it stops winning the players soon begin to think this guy hasn’t got a fucking scooby and why is he leaving my mates out of the team
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Anyone know the situ with Denis Suarez? Its been an odd saga ( blowing me old trumpet here so please forgive) he suddenly seemed to have gone awol for ages, so I asked Dan Roebuck live on the match commentary and Dan said he was injured and then the other bloke started fobbing me off with why he was brought in and not saying why he wasnt mentioned on the website injury list or whether he was off at his Nans house having a cuppa. At this point there was nothing on the website. The the next day it was up that he had a groin injury. Then the next minute was he was reported to have had left and gone back to Barca. But hes still up on the website injured and as an AFC player and he was in Baku cheering on the first 11. Also I heard ( doesnt make it true though) that we only got him on loan with the clause that we had to buy him afterwards.
Thing was we didnt even get a chance to see him play ( four games I think?)-so I feel sorry for him and us as no true partnership could be forged or rejected etc. Anyone have a clue whats going on there? Did we get him (again) as Ed pointed out the fans desperately needed a post-Christmas present and pressured the club in to having a grabba for anyone? ” I want my transfer and I want it now” syndrome.
Another thing is this: ok I could well be barking up the wrong tree but it looks like a lot of players could be off ( 3 for sure) and up to maybe 9 others–but even that could be more? So that a lot of new people potentially coming in, which means UE got to get it right from day one or so, hes only on a two year contract and even if he wants his own players( and not that unsuccessful Wengers) theyve only got a year to gel and do the biz, hes got to get CL even before anything else. In fact its less than a year if you think about it, theyve got about three months before the leaders go off into the sunset.
COYG!
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Ed
Just meant recovery from depths that game took me to. Not to dreaming of better times and whatnot as is my usual.
Mills.
On Suarez, 99. something sure he said in his post few months back that he got injured vs Hleb’s boys (Belarussian’s; name escapes me) and despite best efforts couldn’t recover from it.
Taking him at his word- why not- means he was injured very soon after arriving. Only came end of Jan and that game was…14th Feb (Bate’s the name). So he had two weeks before injury struck. Guessing he made few more appearances after then but presumably while affected by whatever it was.
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By way, Clarke’s Breakdown earlier brought up a familiar theme again for me : ‘difference in quality of chances when you can get right at a team vs when team has good numbers with everyone set in defence’ : or maybe I mean ‘difference between chances on break vs not on break’
Space is the main thing. Space meaning time for an attacker to get a good shot away. And also seems possible that when a defence is set they are also likely to be alert, well positioned, and not prone to panic; whereas on a turnover, as you switch from having possession and hoping to keep it to… well…
All four of their goals came from those situations, with a couple almost like it first half, and another two or three when we were chasing it. Driving at us, space, runners, our defenders at full stretch and stress, not in control of situations.
I know first goal is extremely important in games these days but, like say with familiar, feel it’s been case for a very long time that we give up too many of these high quality chances. For me, your average chance on a break ,or after a turnover in opposition half , seems about five times as good a chance as against a deep packed defence.
What to do with that information, if correct, though, I haven’t a clue. The obvious answers seems to be- don’t get caught so often, don’t leave yourself exposed, don’t play into their hands, etc- but it must be a whole lot more complicated than that, at least if you don’t intend to become a defensive team yourself and still want to play attacking football.
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Thanks Rich. Weird thing about football is that its also built on hope, so recovery comes around at some point. Personally it gets on my nerves to be down and irritated about it so I do everything I can to let it go. But this one was bad. But one we go mate. only around 6 weeks or so until we play Boreham wood.
To do what AW did with us in the top 4 for all those years facing all those problems, but still he came back, instilling belief and hope in the lads. He had to recover loads of times. Not sure we will see the like again. Anything new has to come out of the unexpected?
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Ozil is a conundrum to emery, a talented conundrum, but he shouldn’t really be.
Put him with Alexis, Cazorla, Ramsey, Theo, Ox, players who have the pace to work his space finding vision, he is a world beater. Unfortunately, he had no such players to work off this week, and much of the last season or two. Iwobi, Lacca, and Auba sometimes, but different types of players.
With the right support, Ozil may not be a natural presser, but is certainly very effective at counter attacks the Karma Chameleon is supposed to favour.
It’s a shame the relationship between manager and Ozil appears at least ,to have broken down, unless maybe the club can go out and sign the next Alexis, Cazorla, Ramsey, Ox…..ok, I know I am being silly
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I was out for a walk and was thinking about who might and who might not leave AFC this summer, and I come back to see Mills has brought up the topic. As Mills says 3 going we know of, Cech, Ramsey and Welbeck, and he suggests maybe 9 or more will join him. So lets have a look at it
Players 21 or over with at least a year left on their contracts, or that the club has an option to extend by a year, will also add in Guendouzi as he has been a regular this season
I’ve listed 29 players, and will go through those general position wise.
GK – Leno, Martinez, Iliev, Ospina, Macey
Leno looks certain to stay after a fine first season. Many have him as our player of the year. Major doubts about all the rest of them.
Martinez had a great loan spell with Reading in the Championship, but its a big step from bottom of 2nd tier to top of BPL. He said AFC told him he would get a chance if he impressed at Reading, he has so it remains to be seen what happens now and if he gets a chance, how much of a one will he get, pre-season only?
Napoli have a preagreed fee if they want him, but they stopped playing him so as to not trigger the deal, and reports say they want to take him but for a lower fee than the £3.5M in the clause.
Macey had poor loan spell this season and Iliev had for me a good season for our U23’s but I really can’t see how either are near ready for the first team.
Reports suggest we are after a keeper at Valencia, you know former Emery player and what not.
Defenders – Bellerin, Kolasinac, Koscielny, Sokratis, Mustafi, Monreal, Mavropanos, Chambers, Holding, Lichtsteiner, Jenkinson
This is where there is big big doubts about many of their AFC futures, I suppose 51 goals is as good a reason as any as to why.
Lichtsteiner likely to leave as he wants game time, he did not get it this season with Bellerin out most of it, so can’t see him getting it next. Expect us to not take up extension and he will leave.
Monreal has an extension clause too, it was stated by Emery that the club were keen to extend before Christmas, but we have had no confirmation of it being triggered, and his drop in form in recent months might mean we would be better off letting him go.
Jenkinson, the last of the British Core, who would have thought. I felt he did well in his limited game time this season, and that he should have got more game time. That he did not suggest he has no future here. Gone if we can get a buyer
Mustafi is the main boo boy target, but I felt he was no better or no worse than Sokratis who oddly enough is a fans favorite, due to his needless bookings. Probably best for Mustafi if he leaves, nothing he does will change the minds of a vocal section of the fan base.
If he Muenier rumors are true I worry that we will sell Bellerin to the highest bidder, maybe City or Utd.
Mavropanos, that he was not included in our post Christmas Europa League squad and that he was taken off in each of his few BPL games suggests Emery does not rate the lad at all, I expect him gone, even if only on loan.
Would not be surprised to see Kosceinly go back to France for the final few years of his career. Rumors that he is unhappy at not having a contract extension offered.
Chambers is in a real now or never position. He has to get his chance be it in Defense or in Midfield where he played most of the season for Fulham and done well enough to be their Player of the Year.
Some talks that Schalke are looking to buy back Kolasinac, but would Emery sell his main attacking tactic.
Midfielders – Xhaka, Torreira, Guendouzi, Eleney, Maitland-Niles, Bielik, Mkhitaryan, Ozil
Elneny barely got a game this season so really has to leave, for his own good.
Bielik a bit like Chambers, has to get a chance either in defense or midfield or be sold.
The big doubt in this list is Ozil, it really has looked like Emery really does not want him here, so one of them has to go. Can we get a transfer agreed, with his high wages, him loving life in London, and him happy at AFC, if not happy with how this season went.
AMN played fullback for the most part this season, will he get a go in Midfield, should he get a go in midfield. I expect him to stay.
Forwards – Iwobi, Aubameyang, Lacazette, Asano, Nwakali
Asano and Nwakali both in same boat, neither had very good loan season, should they get a chance here, will they, I doubt it. Preseason might determine their AFC futures.
Would not expect any of the rest of them to leave, unless its to raise big funds.
So just a few words on some of the better youths.
I don’t expect to see any of our young defenders to feature much if at all for us in the BPL next season, EL, FAC and CC might see some minutes for the likes of Ballard, Medely, Sheaf, Osei-Tutu, some, even all of them could go on loan, depending on how many senior men leave and how many new defenders are brought in.
In midfield Willock is easily the nearest to pushing his way into the team, Emery has suggested he will be Ramsey’s replacement, and that he came on in the EL final might say alot.
Smith-Rowe might get a run, but there is just as good a chance we will send him out on loan for the season too.
Saka and Amaechi, I would expect will stay for at least first half of the season, and get the lesser cup games,
Nelson is fast approaching make or break point, he did not make the best of his season in Germany, flashes of brilliance, but failed to hold down a starting spot, and it ended up with him only getting a few minutes at end of games. But still many see him as our savior.
Nketiah, the lad needs to get the hell out of here fast, Emery clearly does not rate the lad, so sold or at the very least a loan deal needed for him to get a chance to prove himself.
So reviewing that, looks like its Martinez or new signings for back up keeper. Several defenders leaving and several new ones need to be brought in. A little movement in midfield both in and out. Depending on if Emery wants to play with wingers or not will decide on how many forwards are added, if not left up to the youths to break through. Maybe a squad striker needed too.
And all for £45M, what you mean.
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Should have added that what ever signings we make, I really hope that above all else they have real speed, as the lack of speed has caused us so many failings in our game and tactics in recent years.
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By way saw someone claim, and show link to transfermarket site to back it, that our biggest ever sale remains Overmars in 2000!
Maybe exchange rates or something came into it, but that would be truly extraordinary with the money explosion since then.
Found it. And they list Anelka’s sale a year earlier as third largest. I believe luck has played a big role in it all, but even so…
https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/fc-arsenal/rekordabgaenge/verein/11
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I just fear they might do something reactionary with one of our strike twins if there are targets they want, and need to sell to get them. Especially if Lacca / Auba do not renew quickly.
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Ed
With you on Mustafi and his having been no worse than Sokratis. Think latter dipped in last part of season. Even thought he was injured a few times as seemed laboured when moving at certain moments.
With mustafi, all things considered, and given no way many will change their mind on him now and will continue to wait for every mistake, I think a new start best for him.
Does it impact performance, the virulent dislike from fans? Must do at least a bit; a lot unless player is strong or has a way to ignore it. Although I’ll admit lines are blurred for me between that and me not wanting to hear a player take so much stick and be such a target.
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Here’s one, and best to take it on in a dispassionate (pain free!) way, what does anyone think we will likely look like the next time we are really doing well * again?
What is the likeliest route to that point, whenever it is, other than the sugar daddy one? What will the steps be? What type of team will we be?
I keep coming back to the defence myself. It’s not that a good defence alone would be enough, nor that a good defence (clean sheets, goals conceded, security, control) can’t be in large part thanks to a good attack (leaving teams scared to push; securing crucial first goal and with it the prospect of control), but i don’t know how we make significant improvements without a significantly improved defence.
Difficult as it seems- vastly improving defence, hopefully without half-killing attacking play- it still seems by far the more likely route for us, from here, with our resources, than prioritising a better attack, and trying to make some improvements in defence.
My feeling, though, is that even this easier or more likely route is still bloody hard…partly because it represents such a gigantic shift from how we thought for two decades.
All this might be my way of saying, I have a feeling we may not have a strong defence again until we have had a truly defensive coach, prioritising defending, willing to work at it for some time, despite fact that style is never popular at big clubs unless it delivers results. I don’t necessarily think said defensive coach will be The One, i.e an excellent manager who has us looking very strong again. Said coach may merely be the one who instills a strong defensive base, for someone else to then build something greater from.
Here’s the kicker, though. I don’t think emery is that guy, and I’m not sure enough of our fans would be ready to accept that guy next. It may take another manager or two before we are forced to go down the defensive route. Then we may have to wait for someone else to build from the stronger base. And yet that still may be the most likely chance of getting back to a great place! Only…all that supposes we stay broadly the same relative to others while all that is going on and goodness knows how much time is passing.
Of course, any of that could be dead wrong. Emery may pull it off. Maybe we can fix the defence without going down the defensive route. We might pull off a few sensational transfers to spark things off.
Ten Hag or someone else could be The One, moving us on and up with thrilling, attack-oriented, skilful attacking football, and ,thankfully, demolishing all my heathen thoughts and talk about prioritising defence. At which point maybe I’d give up trying to understand it all and just enjoy the show.
* criteria is, roughly, v good chance of top four, well capable of giving any team a game, future looking promising, realistic hope of a title push, if not now then soon. And, of course, dramatic away improvement.
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Very interesting question Rich.
Sadly , I feel we are on a bit of a down cycle before getting good again. The club has been unstable behind the scenes with Ivan’s David Cameron act just for starters. Some players have lost confidence, some aging, some may try but don’t really fit an emery system. Some key and valuable players close to hitting the Raul imposed two year limit on their contracts, I can guarantee they will not risk losing say Auba for nothing should he not sign. Could you imagine Lacca reaction should we lose Auba? Other players, who the manager and club probably want out, but are too expensive to shift.
To add to which, clubs immediately below us don’t look that far behind, will no doubt get a fair wind with the PGMOL/media ,will spend a lot, free of Stans/Arsenal’s FFP “concerns”.
And that’s just before analysing the frankly, awful defending as a team, not calling out individuals on this issue, far too widespread and has been for tool long, it is not just the quality of defending, the way we play, failing to press, losing the ball in bad positions, synchronised bombing forward of FBs, MFs afraid to tackle with Riley on his watch, a lack of formation means the defence is constantly under pressure and tends to crack at bad times.
And apparently, all the above, plus more I have forgotten to mention, or not in the public domain is to be sorted by 40million?
My opinion of Emery as a coach is higher than some, partly through long chats with some very knowledgable Spaniards, he is generally highly rated there. But a miracle worker he is not, or if he is, hasn’t revealed that side yet.
I am sure the club has a plan, bring in presumably Edu, start to incrementally improve the squad into whatever flavour of the month type of football brings success. I suspect Bould will be blamed for defending and will be on his way, some say Freddie as a replacement, perhaps the start of an upward trajectory for Freddie?, who will be able to bring in exciting youngsters, maybe, hopefully playing in his image. Some will become valuable, be sold, and reinvestment will occur, as with rival teams, one of which plays this eve. The Kroenkes may be inspired by events and the running of the Rams, though they won’t pay off our stadium.
Emery will not be The One, I suspect the time will come when he walks, knowing he cannot sort out this situation in the time expected, he may even get an offer in Spain or even Seville. I would imagine he will be replaced internally or by a young up and coming this time, hence the Freddie mention. Doubt if established managers at the top of their game would risk this club.
I suspect whatever happens, with our model, and current situation, it will take a good 2-3 years to begin to sort things through. I also suspect things may get worse before getting better. Things might get worse before getting better. Emery has walked into a club needing massive transition from a legacy manager, that will demand patience he may not be given, or may not have.
But eventually, with probably slow, organic growth, we will hit an upcycle as others on the way down, hopefully by then VAR will have improved things, a bit, FFP might have teeth, a oiler owner might leave for whatever reason, and genetic engineering might allow a solution to overcome gravity to allow porcine flight.
What will the team look like by the? Hopefully a 2020s ver of the Invincibles, with one of the earlier invincible scenes at the helm.
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