A few years ago one of the greatest contributors to this site, Stu Black, wrote a lyrical piece about the end of the season and the onset of summer. ‘Goals dismantled on recreation parks, bare pitches turned fallow, thoughts turning to days of ease.’ His message was clear: time marches on, seasons come and go and the rhythms of the year lie just under all we do. If players need a break to allow spent bodies and minds to recover, then so too do football fans. And for me, never more so than the end of what is now thankfully last season, a season that initially promised much, but ended up under-delivering.
There were some exciting moments, of course, but also times of frustration, disappointment and downright bewilderment. The first year after Wenger was always going to be a difficult one, for players and fans alike: some couldn’t wait to usher in the new, some couldn’t imagine life could ever be as good again. It must have been hard indeed for Emery to impose himself on a dressing room full of senior players who had learnt to play the Arsenal way, but hard also for players learning to dance to a different tune. The answer to begin with seemed to lie in hard work: more training, more running, more pressing, more tactics. And up until Christmas, that approach seemed to be working in terms of results, even if the strong suspicion lingered that at times we were unsustainably lucky. And so it proved, the turning point the away trip to Southampton where old familiar weaknesses resurfaced. And that was pretty much that, for despite the promise of an Aaron Ramsey-led revival in January and February, that too fell away, and the final stages of the season were dire. I felt that the players by then were exhausted (all that early pressing maybe), bewildered (by constant tactical tweaking) and disheartened (as the goals dried up). It was pretty dismal, and by the time the league season finished I had had enough. Unfortunately, so too had the players, failing to turn up for the second half of the Europa Final, having squandered reasonable chances to put the game to bed in the first half.
And so I turned my attention to all the other things: family, dog, work, reading, cricket, netball, holidays. And I did wonder whether football (and The Arsenal) would come back into focus, and all the more so when I realised that the Transfer window was open and that I had never heard of the players I was told we had to buy, apart from Zaha, who was always going to be too good to be true (and what would be the point of signing a suspected diver when we don’t get penalties anyway?).
And I’m still not entirely sure to be honest, but fortunately I (or was it Stan, or Josh) was asked whether I cared, because apparently lots of people who have behaved quite despicably in denigrating the club, have now decided that, after all, they do care. And perhaps they do, in their own way: perhaps they do want to get whatever version of their Arsenal they hold most dear back; perhaps they do want to win all the trophies; perhaps they do want the shiniest new players to win them bragging rights once more. Perhaps they even want to cement their positions as the most important of all the fans, but goodness me, what a strange route to fame and fortune that is. And I guess that that is fine, and it is not for me to judge, as we all have our different reasons for doing anything, let alone for supporting a club whose fortunes we absolutely cannot influence.
But I realise that I do care. That I do want it to be the start of the season again (though not quite yet), that I do want to catch the train and then the tube to Holloway Road. That I will want it to be November with the smell of bonfires and burgers. That I will want to have my heroes. That I do want us to be the greatest team the world has ever seen and that I will be Arsenal ‘til I die. In short, that I will allow myself the temporary madness of belief and hope and love, with all the heartache and the joy that comes along with oohtobeingagooner.
Now, what about those signings then? After all, we’ve got a League to win.
Tim Head
@foreverheady
Positively Arsenal 
Quite wonderful Tim, many thanks.
LikeLike
Fantastic, Tim. You have expressed my own perspective so well; I hope others agree.
I’ve a few other observations after reflecting though not obsessing on developments of the past few days. I share them not to aggrandize myself, not to suggest in any way that I know better than the professionals, not to assume that anyone in position of authority cares. They’re here only in the effort to find common ground and perhaps to provoke some interesting thoughts.
The supporters’ statement and ownership “response,” assuming it was that, seemed like so much hot air from both directions. Honestly, I don’t have the energy to unpack everything that was in the opening missive. If expressing one’s collective self in that way makes one feel better or feel like one is relating better to others, then I guess that’s of value. I won’t dismiss those objectives. But the idea that such a statement could achieve anything else meaningful strikes me as naive and sad or, conversely, manipulative.
As for what the ownership had to say, well, I didn’t hear anything of value there, either. Kroenke the Slicker did not address the three elements that are an owner’s responsibility–governance, strategy, and finances. He talked a lot about the structural changes, which are no small matter but do not constitute a corporate strategy. He was silent on the makeup of the Board and on the overall financial situation and approach.
Given the original open letter was really about the money, how can any of its signatories think it was a substantive success when nothing emerged on that front? Perhaps the point wasn’t substantive at all.
LikeLike
Thanks FH… I’m already looking forward to the start of the season.
Arsenal vs Bayern at the crack of dawn.
LikeLike
Very nice Heady. Have you noticed there is hardly a summer break these days. Europa League final in May, followed by international football tournaments and in a virtual flash its July and back to pre-season. Once upon a time we seem to have an entire summer to relax, perhaps pay attention to cricket scores. But the wheel of commerce and the 24-hour media machine demands our eyeballs and our money. When this fails, up steps the liars and misleaders from social media to fill the vacuum. Fortunately the good people of Positively Arsenal and elsewhere refuse to give them a monopoly to spread their poison. Keep up the good work.
LikeLiked by 2 people
but 900tftgooner all those that signed the statement said it was not about the money, most certainly not about the money
also why should KSE reveal anything about the finances of one of his businesses. He owns the damn thing, why should he reveal to the world its inner workings or its finances.
AST hatchet marks were all over the letter, they are trying to stay in the limelight, they need something to show they are better fans than you or me, after all they can no longer preen about having shares in the club to massage their ego.
the letter was full of bullshit and contradictions, standing at BPL games is against the rules laid down by the Government not by the BPL, then we have the opposition to any European Super League, just the two things on that, 1. they whinge like little bitches that AFC are not in the CL, just the lowly EL, yet we are meant to believe that if their is a ESL they don’t want us in it, 2. one of the signatures to the letter actually admitted that if their is a ESL then Arsenal can not be left behind.
The letter was worded in such a way that it could be all things to all men, it totally lacks any clarity in what they actually want. Deliberately obscure.
Also look at some of those that signed it, they have been the biggest cause of disharmony in the fanbase. Look at many of those who are tweeting and promoting the damn thing, even in the last two days, the amount of online abuse aimed at Mustafi, Ozil, Xhaka and Iwobi by them, yet they purport to want harmony in the fan base. You know by harmony they mean they want all of us to agree with their bullshit type of support, not only now but for the last number of years. Well they can fuck right off.
LikeLiked by 3 people
shotta the lack of a summer break is a disgrace, FIFA insist that all players must get 3 weeks holidays before the start back to preseason training, yet leagues can schedule their start date to be less than 3 weeks from the end of international tournaments, meaning players are certain to miss start of the season, or return to action without proper prep
LikeLike
Brilliant 😊Perfect representation of how l feel, l signed the petition because l wanted to though, not under the influence of any blogger, or group, but just me, one Arsenal supporter, who has no other option than just to support.
LikeLike
Wonderful article Tim, hope you enjoyed some of your your other hobbies and interests, and I have a hunch you might have enjoyed the cricket albeit through shredded nerves. But with you all the way on caring, always will.
Pretty accurate summary of the season, as with the prev lead article, I do wonder what effect the signing of Mr Suarez may have had on squad morale and maybe respect for the manager. Seems Sven wasn’t impressed either. But that’s in the past.
As for the letter, don’t agree with much of it, they are entitled to their views of course, but as Eduardo says, it smacks of spend the fuckin money. The letter claims not to be about ridding of us of Kroenke, just more engagement from him, except, erm, one signatory on his blog talked about an end game of having Stan sell. Wish him well on that cause!
Another thing that annoyed me this week, a big fuss about Josh Kroenke wearing a Rams shirt. Tbh, who cares? It was a training session for Arsenal, for a match that involved two Kroenke clubs, so he wears the shirt of another of their clubs from a different sport. Apparently, a PR gaffe, but sounds like a sensible neutral respect to both his football clubs to me, but ultimately, I am sure he cannot win with some fans.
In the mean time, hope the club are planning to use our youngsters, with or without Emerys blessing, and supplement with some experience to in part make up for departed experience. Let’s just see how this second season away from Wenger goes.
LikeLike
I think if we look the people who we think don’t care, think they care. I wonder if you feel in some ways the same as the people who’ve organised the petition? Here we thought they don’t care, its just they didn’t care for the same values and felt they were outdated and outmoded ( I didn’t). They weren’t calling for Emery, but a bigger name manager and they wanted a massive amount of money to put AFC in the mix, which they felt they were not in anymore ( i.e. getting thrashed 10-2 over the two legs by Bayern or getting whooped by MU 8-2.)
It brings up an interesting point what does it mean to care about Arsenal? Personally I do see the fans affecting the fortunes of the club ( the last five years at least were pretty stormy, protests of different kinds etc and lots of fighting in the realm of the internet) and I see all humans judging all the time, nearly every second of the day ( by saying its a strange route to fame and fortune is a judgement), I don’t mean that nastily ( its almost impossible to have a conversation on the internet without it being taken the wrong way), but do you tolerate these people to a degree and see their opinion? That generous and decent, I struggle to do so and wish more often I could. You see, they affect me, how I feel about Arsenal and I see them affecting the players and management and the general atmosphere at the club.And they think Im messing it up, and the likes of me. I feel sucked into all this when I wished I wasnt. Im not sure whats going on and how I feel about AFCs brand new morph. Weve not seen any of this before.
You have your standards and passionate/romantic feelings to AFC and so do others, like any other its a complex organism, different strokes etc. By the laws of PA you are right but on another blog they wouldnt think so. They would ask how you are going to achieve your lust for being the greatest team ( the world has ever seen)and that theres a league to win. I think it comes across that ironically you do share the same values as those who want shiny new player and bragging rights etc.because how do these things come to form?
Who is right and who is wrong or is this the wrong question, in that all life is just a sense of perception?
I think every Arsenal fan/follower world wide cares about Arsenal, its just like all humans there are conflicting values and ideas about that which is the way. By stating we care, it opens up the question, what is best for the club? Also can clubs operate in the way they did 30 or more years ago? The club itself has pushed for an interactive state, so wat can they expect for their market research and the opinions of supporters?
Unless theres a major war this is not going to go backwards, more and more groups and protests will occur if this is an already established pattern ( the last eight years).
But the transfer window isnt closed, so maybe as you hint things might be ok?
LikeLike
mandy on the Rams shirt thing, well Rams players and Arsenal players did some promotional stuff together, some sort of coaching session of both gridiron and soccer, we even had some of the Arsenal players trying their hand at quarter back play, and some Rams players trying keepy uppy
LikeLike
Thanks Tim
The writers of the Damned Utd were very good writers! If you sub in Arsene for Brian for all the obvious reasons then it’s clear those writers loved their football, and their football clubs.
And when I write Football I mean Association Football not the code variant from up North that some clowns pretend is “English Football” when it’s not even the dominant style in the country itself. (For anyone confused please refer to the “style” of Sterling, Sancho, Chambo, Holding, Stones. Etc. Etc. Etc.)
LikeLike
Interesting Eduardo, your info makes those creating an issue of the Rams shirt appear even more desperate in their little “ look at me” bubbles.
FFS , what are things coming to, making an issue out of a shirt in these circumstances, pathetic, just opportunistic faux indignation agenda fishing.
cannot help but thinking there is also some good old fashioned anti American racism, sorry, sentiment behind some of this.
Perhaps some want a tyrant who dissolves enemies in acid as our owner as long as he throws money in!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Quite a bit of comment on Mesut’s hair do as well
LikeLiked by 1 person
mandy believe it or not, some made an issue out of the fact Josh Kroenke was wearing Nike trainers, “it should have been Adidas”
LikeLike
Excellent. That sums it all up…
LikeLike
Pity that Wenger’s style of inventive, sublime attacking football was not a priority last season.
Chasing results seems to have had a negative effect.
LikeLike
Great piece, Tim. Very enjoyable read.
LikeLike
Eddie Nketiah scored a late winner v Bayern Munich last night in our second game of the USA tour, a 2-1 win, seemingly Ozil had a fine game. PEA scored our first.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Speaking about enjoyable- last night’s friendly was pretty good.
Young players and the result not mattering are agreeable to me (though I was still tense when they attacked, miffed when they scored, and happy when we won!)
Intrigued by fact Nketiah was able to basically continue giving the same trouble he did to Europa minnows, u23 opponents, youth national teams, Boreham Wood and Colorado Rapids to one Niklas Sule.
I still have questions about how his improving all round game, which includes plenty of dribbling and battling with centre backs will translate to highest level against top class players, so that was extremely encouraging.
LikeLike
Auba perhaps the standout. Looked very sharp and consistently troubled Bayern throughout game with speed. He’s at least twice as effective on break as against static deep defences.
Unpleasant goal to concede. Gnabry left in space to pick cross. Neither cb close to Lewandowski (!?). Excellent cross. Perfect, unchallenged header. Still want me that tall centre back!
Encouraging from Willock, Ainsley roasted frequently by Coman (luckily most teams don’t have one of them), decent cameos from handful of youngsters late on. Nketiah excellent ten minutes. Burton again surprisingly good. Tyreece John Jules with a wonderful bit of play to create Eddie’s goal.
Still early but chance looks good Chambers will get ahead of Mustafi in pecking order
LikeLike
Excellent Tim perfectly capturing the thoughts of many and putting them down in black and white.
My feelings about ARSENAL at the moment are a microcosm of the PL, trophies are everything, money sloshing around everywhere, supporters not supporting and prefer to protest.
I honestly think I would enjoy it more if we didn’t make trophies our priority and concentrate on creating an ARSENAL side with ARSENAL players youngsters who just love to play good football.
The biggest problem at the club is not the kronkes, the board or the team it’s the civil war amongst the fans making it impossible for the club to go forward.
It feels at the moment that Mustafi could score the winning goal in the CL final and he would still be hated by large sections of the crowd.
I used to go to ARSENAL when we had far worse teams than this but it was a happy place, fans would support the crap that was in front of them because they were in a red and white shirt not boo their name when it was read out at the start.
The PL has dangled the golden carrot and fans have chased it forgetting the reason we are the 92, and unmatched around the world, is fans should go to support and not for a guaranteed win.
LikeLiked by 2 people
reports this evening that Bielik has been told he can leave AFC, his contract is not to be extended as he is not in Emery’s plans. Leeds and AC Milan the two favorites to sign him
LikeLike
100,000 signatures on the we care more than you petition, or whatever its called, now if they really cared wouldn’t they “invest” an average of even £1000 each to an Arsenal transfer fund, now that would help us buy the great new players they demand.
LikeLike
Just been having a listen to Rummenigge talking about the state of things in football, said he was really worried about salaries more than transfer prices. But also talked about how hard it is to lure people to a club now, you must to have a big stadium, must be a nice city ( he was talking about the big clubs). It was as if he was saying in the past players wanted to come but now they have to be wined and dined.
But what seems more and more evident the pre- season is that we are going into a new time in football, you could see it changing last year, the strange world of punditry examining every turd and crevice, the new power of fan groups, the puritanism of fans re players and clubs, players who they slag to shit, the propaganda and politics from all forms of media. Money dominates like never before. Plus simple memes buzzing around becoming clichés and then facts, its been brewing for years and now is with us daily. Lets all go up the garden path! Its like August bank holiday 1914.
Ian nailed it when he was talking about going in the past and seeing relativ poor players but still loving Arsenal. Bob W’s quote at the top doesnt mean shit to these new style fans.Thing is how to stop the civil war between the fans? Im part of that war, I was and have been on a certain side and still am, the side that doesnt like the way the big social media fans react to the players and club. Im not surrendering either, but it will mean Im so marginalised that I have to put up with it or leave. This week I felt like that, it seems such a drag, such a bore.
But its not Arsenal that wants a divorce with me or me it, I support the club in the same way as I did 40 plus years ago. Its the new fans attitude I want a divorce from, they dont own or run the club but they shout loudly and seem gripped by fascism (authoritarianism) to such a degree, its like being trapped in the first year at comp when skinhead was in full fling. I recall well getting my head stamped into the concrete by a doc marten boot, and it feels like that most days supporting Arsenal via the media.If you have to manipulate and lie and bullshit just for clicks then who cares for your opinions? Only those that are already converted: and its the path to sugar daddy Arsenal. What then? Its brewing, and has been for ages. Weng stood in the way of it, and slowly its being lined up. Like a lot of evil shit in the world, you can see things moving in place and the next years starting to pan out.
But how do we get an idea or long established ideas out and about? As a football fan its the first time I feel irrelevant no-matter my view point or what Ive got to hand on to others. Why do any of us write anything or read what others have to say? Is it just not to feel alone? That’s fair enough, but should we then just agree this was only about group therapy, a bunker where we can hide from the incessant raids of the rabid frothy-mouthed Wob? But why should these people be the only voices in the Arsenalsphere? Maybe they aren’t, I don’t get out much in blogoworld, it just gets on my nat wat bat gat tats too much and I dont have a cool temp like a lot of you guys..
Of course 99.9% of blogs over the last 9 years were booting the kack out of Weng so they were popular, and they didn’t get the change they wanted, so we all now see what’s going on, they are checking off their lists. The rise of the people using YT is a major force, its almost as if you must have a YT channel to stay in the game if you want any ideas to be dissipated or put in the mix. Was does being thoughtful and reasonable on a blog do?
When any of us are challenged in our beliefs we get excited, and mostly offended, even if we are on the side same, but these people including football punditry seem to relish eating up and spitting out Arsenal like perverted Vultures. I know its been like this for years but now it seems to be in turbo overdrive? ( I apologise if my perception of these things is getting this wrong, but it sure seems like they are like this). But this is a sports club…( now Im sounded naive).
I know, the answers is dont look at another AFC on line, but then Im passive and why should I be that? (or us/we ?etc), I dont want to lie down and think of Arsenal whz this goes on.
FFP seems like it was a waste of space, and clubs can sneak around it. We seem in the grip of FUFP. which is causing major major problems. The people dont realise even if a super league is not made it will be as if there is one. Look at all the gumption about not being in the CL!! ps on this: if a super league does come then they will be moaning about the demise of the FAC, a trophy they couldnt give a monkeys about anyway.
But back to the civil war notion, its relevant as it true and spot on. Should we surrender and just resign ourselves that we’ve lost and watch for the day when new thinking and a other generation sweeps away Le Git and aftv etc but stay together as a nice therapy group? What about the millions that think like us but have no outlet? Something is dying at AFC, or changing at least, its the natural way of things, but why does the direction have to be swung by corruption and greed and a lack of sportsmanship? Regardless we all actually love free/flowing dynamic exciting football, tight games great goals.We al actually love the sport, the rest..?
I dunno, just a thought that all. I know going round in circles.
LikeLiked by 2 people
well Mills as I said the we care lot do not want a united fan base, they want everyone to agree with them, look at the abuse in recent days from many of them towards so many of our own players, a lot of them still can’t stop slagging off our former manager, now KSE is a target, yet not one of them is willing to do what the want KSE to do, namely give their money to Arsenal to buy players, 100K have signed the petition, a grand a piece and Arsenal could do amazing transfer business, but not one of them have ever suggested that they themselves give any amount of their own money to AFC to spend, but can’t stop whinging that some rich guy won’t give AFC his money.
LikeLike
Today, I chose to be angry with Ozils haircut
LikeLike
Mills can I add that to Josh’s Rams shirt and of course him also wearing Nike trainers.
LikeLike
Mislintat on his Arsenal exit and the Gunners new recruitment policy
By
Andrew Allen –
July 18, 2019
8
After leaving his post as Arsenal’s head of recruitment in February, Sven Mislintat has done the diligent thing and kept his counsel.
It’s well known that the German, nicknamed ‘Diamond Eye’, was in line for the technical director position while Ivan Gazidis was at the club but when our former CEO left for AC Milan, Raul Sanllehi and Vinai Venkatesham decided to implement their own plan. They initially tried to recruit Monchi from AS Roma before getting their hands on Edu, who started in the role last week.
Mislintat, who scouted the likes of Robert Lewandowski, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Shinji Kagawa, Mats Hummels, Ousmane Dembele, Christian Pulisic and Jadon Sancho while at Borussia Dortmund, was linked with a number of high-profile clubs but eventually accepted an offer from VfB Stuttgart.
The 46-year-old’s decision raised a few eyebrows given Stuttgart were in the process of being relegated from the Bundesliga, but he has no regrets. In fact, he’s very excited about the chance to stamp his mark on the Mercedes Benz Arena outfit.
In an interview with 11Freunde, the best bits of which have been kindly translated for us by @LGAmbrose, Sven reflected on his time at the Emirates and his reason for leaving while also sharing a couple of other tasty morsels, including info on Sanllehi’s preferred means of doing business.
After 12 years at BVB, ultimately as ‘head of professional football’, then 15 months at Arsenal as ‘head of recruitment’, are you finally on the frontline, even if it is in the second tier?
Yes. In Dortmund, I prepared many decisions for (sporting director) Michael Zorc to the extent that he just had to sign them off, but of course, the responsibility ultimately lay with him and (chief executive) Aki Watzke. At Arsenal, I was already fully responsible for transfers, as there was no sporting director. But in England it isn’t usual [for the sporting director] to sit on the bench, so you’re much less visible.
That actually sounds rather comfortable, why did you leave London?
Last summer there were leadership changes at Arsenal. It had actually been agreed that I would become technical director, so then I would be around the team on a daily basis. But the new leadership had their own agenda and other candidates. On top of that, we had different approaches.
Like what?
Previously we had a strong systematic approach to transfers, a mixture of watching things live as well as quality data and video analysis – Arsenal actually owns their own data company. That meant that we acted independently, we knew about all markets and players in all positions that came into question. However, the new leadership work more strongly with what they are offered from clubs or agents through their own networks.
Instead of Barcelona or Man City, you’re now dealing with the likes of Kiel and Regensburg. Does that not feel like a step down?
Not at all. It’s the final step in my professional career, and being allowed to build a team gives me a lot of motivation. To be sporting director at a club like Stuttgart is a huge honour. I found the time at Arsenal superb but when we get 60,000 fans in the stadium at Stuttgart, it’s louder than the Emirates. How our fans supported us in the relegation play-off, despite the complete acoustic power of Union Berlin, was crazy. When there’s such a fan culture, you can’t say I’ve come to a smaller club.
Nonetheless, you’ve left the top table of the football world.
It’s just as enjoyable for me to get a Jadon Sancho from Man City or a Dan-Axel Zagadou from PSG as it is to get Atakan Karazor from Kiel or Mateo Klimowicz from Instituto Cordoba, I see huge potential to develop from them. Other than the league we are in, I see our situation similarly to Dortmund in 2006. We couldn’t buy from the top shelf then. Even with Arsenal, to start with, there was a mixed strategy. On the one hand, we signed experienced players like Sokratis and Aubameyang, who won the golden boot, and alongside them, we signed big young talents like Lucas Torreira and Mateo Guendouzi, who have enormous potential.
LikeLike
so there we have it, Mislintat had agreed to take up the Technical Director role, but once Ivan left Raul and co blocked it as they had their own guys lined up.
Not a big leap to believe that it was Ivan going that seen the agreed contract with Ramsey also pulled.
Arsenal have a massive scouting network and own their own analysis company but Raul and co are doing transfer on the basis of players offered to us by their Agents, an old pals act.
LikeLike
so now reports are saying that the fall out between Koscielny and AFC is down to AFC offering him a new contract that would see his wages cut in half, from £90K a week to £45K, with him having the possibility of increasing his wages with appearance based and other bonus payments. No wonder he took the huff at an offer like that.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Whatever the cause, we should just let Kos go with good wishes, if they can’t find a solution quickly.
Especially, if as has been reported, he is offered a 3 year deal in a less physical league and sunny part of France. Kos deserves only good things for his services to the club, they can make a PR coup and tell potential signings how they value and how well they treat players, if they chose to do the right thing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
https://uncensoredarsenal.com/index.php/does-unai-emery-deserve-more-time/
LikeLike
lots of rumors that AFC have agreed to sign William Saliba and will loan him back for the season, meaning we also want a senior CB for this season, and that this will see us sign Gary Cahill on a years contract.
LikeLike
Emery on his Captains: “In a captain I look for experience of leadership, being an example on and off the pitch, character and communication with the coach and other players, capacity to speak and to be there for supporters, a good connection & communication with the club.
Last year Xhaka, Mesut & Nacho were working as captains. But after Aaron Ramsey and Petr Cech left – and possibly Laurent Koscielny – I will want more. We lost some players with big experience and a long time in England and Arsenal like Cech and Ramsey. We lost Koscielny too. I want one English player in these five captains. An English player who grew up in our academy can understand the English spirit and Arsenal values. These are the qualities and more [we want] We have young players with experience, players starting for the first time to be considered as captains. If we decide on a player they have the capacity and deserve to have the opportunity to be captain”
LikeLike
so either Holding who is only English player likely to play a lot for the first team will be one of the captains, or it will be one of the kids seeing as he wants an English lad who grew up in our academy, so maybe eddie or Willock, or even Reiss.
LikeLike
unless of course he considers Iwobi as English, now wouldn’t that boil the attention seekers piss, Xhaka, Ozil and Iwobi as captains, oh boy.
LikeLike
Emery on Ljungberg’s impact: ‘It’s been very positive. He knows all the young players better than us. For example, I didn’t know Robbie Burton. Freddie said to me he’s a good player who can play as a number six or a number eight. His insight has really helped us’.
isn’t this very odd, our head coach did not know about one of the regulars in our u23 team, odd for 2 reasons, wasn’t emery at his interview for the job, meant to know every one of our players including the youths and secondly isn’t he meant to be a coach who promotes youth, so how can he do that when he doesn’t even know our regular u23’s.
also seen some quotes from emery about the appointment of Ljunberg, where he basically said it came about cos Freddie and Steve Bould suggested it, after they had a chat about it.
LikeLike
Ed
Would Ljungberg have been happy to move up and work with Emery if the relationship between first team and youth wasn’t good last year?
Maybe, if looking out for his own career, or grasping at a chance to help club or the lads he knows, but seems doubtful on balance of probabilities.
Maybe it’s just one of those things, and whatever structures of communication are in place cannot beat a person with such in depth knowledge of youth working with first team.
Freddie’s knowledge certainly seems well beyond what I’ve gleaned watching Burton over a few years as, while there were nice bits and pieces, he didn’t look like someone who could step up to me. Thought he had quite a poor game against Boredom Wood as well, but has really taken his chance well in subsequent games.
Anyway, it’s one of things that makes pre-season enjoyable for me, watching youngsters play, but it’s a very different proposition to season itself.
LikeLike
Decent Ozil article on Arsenal site. Seems happy with life outside football and looking forward to year ahead. I’m happy with signs Willock may be given decent chances this year as well.
Always that conflict between young players and established ones though. I’d love to see Ceballos join even if only for a year as believe he is one of most skilful young talents in world (and could give big boost to CL chances) but, bam, that’d surely be a blow to Willock’s game time.
LikeLike
just a little note on two former Arsenal players, Daniel Crowley has come back to England form Dutch Football, he signed for Birmingham City, he has scored for them today in a friendly, also has an assist too. Semi Ajayi is signing for WBA from Rotherham, he had a fine season for them last season despite their relegation,
LikeLike
I always liked Semi he seemed like a nice bloke whereas Crowley always seemed to be dogged by trouble. He came through villas academy and I think he’s a villa supporter so playing for Brum will be interesting. Can’t help thinking he’d been better staying with us
LikeLike
not looking like we are singing anyone today, and its rare for us to announce any signing over a weekend so come Monday there is only 17 days of the transfer window left,
LikeLike
ha ha ha ha, I fucking told ya all that the – we care more than you other arsenal fans gobshites – think that they should be running the club, well I’ve just seen one of the signatures to their statement suggest that the supporters should have a person on the board.
LikeLike
Fantastic read.
LikeLike
Bad tempered AFCON final.
6 second half subs, 2-3 minute stoppage for bad head knock, another injury stoppage, Overuled via VAR pen which was prob another 2-3 mins, plenty of time-wasting- 4 minutes injury time?!
Poor that football can’t get that right on any occasion but in a final is pathetic.
LikeLike
Is that Tim Payton fellow one of that we care a lot lot? Always found him particularly untrustworthy/annoying even by lousiest fan standards.
Thought of him when you mentioned them wanting someone on board. Seems right up his street.
LikeLike
This’d be a great anthem for them by the way. Or ,better, song to play just before team go out first game.
LikeLiked by 1 person
yes rich that cunt payton is one of the we are better than you lot. He is pushing for changes to the board, and agrees with fans having picking someone for the board, but it was keenos who I seen suggest it.
rich if you seen the letter then you surely seen payton and ast’s hatchet marks all over it, the fucking whinging about their shares being bought off them tells you all you need to know about these sanctimonious attention seeking twats
LikeLike
a fuck rich I really hope whoever is in charge of the music at the Emirates takes your suggestion, it would be the biggest slap in the face the attention seekers could get. Really take the piss out of them.
LikeLike
Not sure I read the letter properly, to be honest. Can’t remember it anyway. Did see list of signatories but could only remember Arseblog, yellow ribbon and think good old le grove as well.
Hadn’t thought of that song in years but came back to me pretty quick with so much we care talk on twitter. 34 years old, ridiculously, but I started listening to them bout ten years later.
Oh, it would be a beautiful thing if they played it. Not sure billionaires who dine at Trump’s table are into that sort of humour though.
Never figured out who exactly song is taking piss of either but have feeling still relevant whoever it is.
LikeLike