Arsenal host the Premier League defending champions Manchester City at the Emirates Stadium this afternoon; with both sides having ropy league campaigns thus far.
Good day all. The Gunners finally ended their winless run with a win at West Ham United, which they followed up by coming back from two-goals down for a draw at Standard Liège to qualify for the Europa League ’round of 32′ as group winners.
It’s still just one win in four games since Freddie Ljungberg took over, but he will hope his side can kick on against a Man City outfit that’s already 17 points behind leaders Liverpool and in a position of rare vulnerability in the Pep Guardiola era.
After averaging a massive 99 pts in the last two seasons, getting 32 pts from 16 games is Pep’s worst start to a league campaign in his glowing managerial career. His side have already lost as many games as they did last season, which include defeats to Norwich and Wolves, they also dropped two points on a recent trip to Newcastle. If you factor in that they’re on the back of a 10-game run without a clean sheet, this is the sort of form that can cause doubt in the minds of players and indeed a manager who have set very high standards for themselves.
Well… phhh! All these may mean very little considering Arsenal’s issues a bit more deep-seated, however, there should still be a strong belief that they are there for the taking. Otherwise what would be the point?
It goes without saying that we don’t have a particularly good record against the Cityzens in recent years; they have beaten us with an aggregate score of 14-2 in the last five encounters (all competitions). But we can’t exactly evade them, and seldom has there been a more opportune time to play them. While they still remain a threat up front, things are not happening at the back for them. So if we defend well enough and make the most of our scoring chances… wouldn’t that be a gigantic feather in Freddie’s cap, which would be a bit hard to ignore for our executives?
His few games as interim coach hasn’t exactly been ideal and having Mikel Arteta, who is one of the potential candidates for the Arsenal job, in the opposition dugout would add a rather interesting subplot as we vie for a first league win against the Cityzens since December 2015.
Team News
Nicolas Pépé is available after initial fears over his fitness, whilst Hector Bellerìn and Granit Xhaka might only return hereafter. Dani Ceballos and Rob Holding are also nearing returns, Kieran Tierney is ruled out for the next three months.
Gabriel Martinelli will be hopeful of getting a second league start after scoring at West Ham and I doubt any Arsenal fan will complain. Kid has been impressive.
Prediction
For all of Man City’s problems it would be foolish thinking they’re not favourites for the win, however, they are under pressure to pick up results otherwise they can forget about getting a sniff in the race for the league title.
That pressure, of course, is something Arsenal can target as the visitors have shown they’re more prone to slip-ups recently than at any point during Pep’s tenure. So neither Freddie nor supporters have to feel apprehensive about our chances here today and just back the boys. I think there’s a genuine willingness in them to give more than they did these last few months and this could be an exciting game.
Keep those fingers crossed Gooners. COYG!
— @LaboGoon
Positively Arsenal 
sorry that was in his after game tv interview, not at the presser, as its not done yet
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Ed
Let’s say there isn’t a huge budget, which realistically you need to get ready made top quality players, but there’s something there, what would your thinking be?
Would you be prioritising skilful technicians at this point or looking for things like speed, toughness, running power.
It’s overly simplistic, I know, and I certainly don’t imagine that if you kept rest same , swapped out our two centre mids today and put in a couple of physically excellent but technically average players it would give us a much improved chance of getting the result, but I’m struggling for answers here within realistic constraints of not being able to spend heavily.
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With Pepe and Tierney signing strongly suspect our hopes were to move to Liverpool style of football. But though there’s obviously real talent in Laca, Auba, Pepe, they are so different as a 3, and frankly not nearly as effective as the Pool trio, and nor do we really have it right to play that way in other departments.
Supposing that was the hope, and given what has happened, what direction now?
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Freddie’s Press Conference Comments – from football.london
Freddie on the result
“We started well with Martinelli but the transitions got us down again.
“We worked a lot on getting balanced but de Bruyne showed his quality.
“If we look at when we countered, they took five yellow cards but maybe we need to be more cynical.”
Freddie on transitions
“We have looked at clips to change the structure. Before we didn’t have players in the positions we need but now they are there.
“We have sorted organisation a bit for the transition.”
Freddie on the Saka sub
“Sead went down and Saka had a lot of clothes on.
“When you’re injured you need to stay down to get players ready.”
Freddie on the empty seats
“We need to be realistic. There is a gulf in quality between us and City.
“I was proud of the fans because they responded to the young players at the end.”
Freddie on Ozil
“The China thing is political and I’ll leave that to the club.
“With the other stuff, he should be annoyed.
“We wanted to have possession but when we don’t you have to run and tackle. Emile did well in Belgium and I wanted to give him a chance.”
Freddie on whether the club allows politics
“Today we haven’t had a discussion on what we should or shouldn’t do.
“I’ll leave that to the club.”
Freddie on his future
“For me, it’s a great honour to do this but Per is doing two jobs.
“I’ve said it needs to be cleared up and it would be good to make a decision regardless of what it is.”
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well Rich for me we really need a speedster at CB and anther one at CM, ideally both will be on the large side too, might need to be British if they are to be allowed to get the same leeway as others by the PGMOL Game Managers
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Freddie on his future
“For me, it’s a great honour to do this but Per is doing two jobs. I’ve said it needs to be cleared up and it would be good to make a decision regardless of what it is.”
well that sounds very like back me or sack me, from Freddie.
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Buying players is not a short term solution.
They usually take months to bed in and we only have half a season left.
The situation now where the coaching staff is not to be increased is ludicrous. I am not surprised Freddie is angry about it as is quite clear.
Looks like the club is going for the cheap option again
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At this stage the only players we need to buy are those we have identified for the long time, buying players as a stop gap or wanting a dramatic solution is short sighted. The best CB and the best CM in the world would look vunerable at the moment.
Like I said the other day football is a team game and the team needs to improve before we can see the players that will most improve it
In our squad we have some excellent players who are just not playing well together and are very low in confidence.
Leicester and Sheffield Utd do not have better players than us but they are better teams than us and they have players who are playing better than us.
Football is not overly complicated but it can be difficult getting a finely tuned racehorse to perform at exactly the right time.
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not what BBC told before the game but
arseblog
@arseblog
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37m
Told that news about the next manager is ‘imminent’.
I don’t know any more than that, who it might be, or what that news is.
Whether it’s the new man, or Freddie till the end of the season.
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ian I’m not suggesting buying short term fixes, as I said, buy quality, that should clearly be with aim they will be here for the long term. And if that quality players are basically unknown to most I could care less, as long as they are the required quality
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rumor spreading that Arteta is set to become our new head coach, with Alonso as part of his coaching staff.
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“Of those three responsible probably for Wenger leaving in a large part when he did, and certainly the aftermath, two are long gone, one back in Germany, the other screwing up Milan if their fans are to be believed, the remainder is looking a little compromised to say the least.”
You forgot number four, the entitled supporters who are still sadly here and doing everything they can to undermine the team
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I blame the higher ups at the club for a lot of the mess we’re in. They should have never reacted to the pressure from the empty vessels and ditched AW before they had a real plan in place. They should have never appointed Emery or Raul – I put the blame for that fairly and squarely on the shoulders of Josh Kronke – he is a perfect advert for why nepotism is usually not a good idea. He thought he knew better than people who know football and he is reaping the whirlwind, arrogant shit-head.
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I feel for Freddie, they’ve passed him a poisoned chalice full of Emery’s duds, and tied one of his hands behind his back. What exactly did they expect?
I heard one alleged supporter stating after the game that he wished we had lost heavily today. I was tempted to say, and then what? We’d drop in Super Manager, Mr Magic, who would wave his magic wand and solve our problems overnight?
The club dithered way too long when the signs were on the wall for Emery since last season. Whoever comes in has a mountain to climb and they are not going to get much support from the customers in the Emirates or the arseholes in suits currently sucking the life out of the club. Even if the poisonous Raul is dumped, we’re stuck with the clueless Josh Kronke, who will again be seduced by the next shyster to come along since he doesn’t know his arse from his elbow.
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I’ve also been told Arteta will be announced tomorrow (18 months too late), but I’ll believe it when I see it.
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“They are prepared to foul to stop an attack and we are not.”
It’s hardly surprising since we and the players know that AFC is reffed to a different standard than other teams in the premier league. It’s not like the pgmol and media haven’t previously invented infringements for which our players get red cards, while the same thing is not even called a foul when committed against us? We’re already struggling 14 – 11, never mind about going down to 10, 9, 8…
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Very true about number four Passenal!
Just hope the club move soon one way or another, lots of rumours flying around, but we shall see.
If this goes on for too long, it’s not fair on Freddie, his rep will be damaged unfairly when he doesn’t even have a proper backroom team.
If it is Arteta, I would welcome him, And slightly fear for him! but I hope the club keep a major place for Freddie, I am sure they will
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well if it is Arteta with Alonso as his no.2, I hope he has Freddie as his no.3
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Hope so!
Just fear they will drag this on to the summer, no reason to say that, just a concern, and that would be unfair on Freddie as things stand at the moment
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Arteta certainly gets way better press than Freddie and, pretty sure, very highly talked up by some of City’s squad. I’ll hope that’s true and he’s a revelation.
Mangles my head a bit is all to be parting with the one well respected ex-player for another, with both being brand new to management. In Freddie’s favour, too, was knowing the players and youth players well.
Just seems a bloody shame if, as is very likely, it would mean Freddy leaving, and probably not on great terms. Having stepped up and in, though, and, I think, stated in past he is eager to manage soon, maybe would happen whoever manager is, though would be easier to stay ,you’d think, if an old experienced head was choice.
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Alonso would be boost, mind, given achievements as player and some of the bits and pieces I’ve read from him which showed him to be smart fellow.
Only took up first managerial post with B team of hometown club in July though.
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just a thought on why we don’t commit the break up play foul like we seen so often form city today and see from so many clubs in the EPL, for me its almost totally down to the fact that our players get booked at one of the highest rates per foul committed, and as we see when Xhaka has done it in the past, our players can even get reds for it, when not another player in the EPL gets a red for it, most don’t even get yellows. So until we have even handed game management from the PGMOL our players just can’t risk making the break up play foul.
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Agree mostly with that Ed. It’s why I figure if any sort of ‘reset’ is possible it will require a manager willing to talk a hell of a lot about it and not let up, as well as higher ups who push it, including in press. Though even that has no guarantees. the best chance would probably be an English boss, preferably of good standing with media, who is willing to do it; with some English lads, preferably established ones, ie not our academy youngsters, doing the fouling.
Someone at game today tweeted Freddie was constantly at fourth official? If so, we know that alone can’t achieve much.
In other words, a very long way away, and with at all times the risk of losing much of what you gain if you could pull it off. And yet I can’t see it continuing like this forever.
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rich that sounds like we need to bring in Sean Dyche and some of his players too.
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Indecision over Emery, and Freddie and Per having to handle things pretty much on their own has cost the club points that could prove vital, a very hard environment for any manager if this continues
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Arsenal have now gone 6 games without winning at home. That’s their longest run without a home win since George Graham’s side had an 8 game winless streak between December 1994 & February 1995.
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Leno: “At the moment we have to say there is a gap between these teams. I think we have the quality but when you see the games, we miss the intensity. We’re not fresh in our mind & quality is one thing & mentality is one thing. Working hard is the only way to come out from this.
Everybody can work with him(Freddie) so I think the manager is not the problem. If it’s Freddie or another one, I think everybody has to look at themselves, be honest with themselves”
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It seems to me that FL cannot continue if we are to stop our decline and it is unlikely that we can get the new permanent head coach we want mid season.
We need a temporary fix until the end of the season and I believe we should go cap in hand and apologise to Arsene and ask him to come back until the summer
Fourth place and an FA Cup seems like a dream now
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James, think the problems run deeper than the manager. Doubt if Wenger would solve it in that time, and he would again be crucified if he failed to do so, he doesn’t need or deserve that.
The job of sorting this mess rests very firmly on those who have caused it, those who thought it a good idea to lose several captains and our best player in a single window, those who wanted to give Emery a new deal last summer (despite the end of last seasons warnings) but not the players he was reportedly asking for .
And if those people running things either do nothing, or fail in what they do, I fear we could flirt with relegation, at best, they then must take the consequences , not Wenger, or for that matter, Freddie who is trying to sort this mess best he can without backroom staff. Whatever happens tomorrow, the next few days, or months, what they have been asking of Freddie is madness. How is Edu going along with this, he should know a lot better
Let’s hope they act in some way very soon
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Mandy I think the thing about Raul and co not signing the players Emery wanted last summer, is down to the new way of doing things at AFC, much like how it works at many clubs across Europe where there is Directors of Football and execs running things. Its why we have a Head Coach and not a Manager, player recruitment is not longer the remit of the man selecting and training the first team, no its his job to train and select the players he is given.
This model of operation is designed to mean that if one Head Coach does not work out, you simply get rid and bring in the next guy. The Raul’s and Edu’s of this world keep their jobs, and when they bring in some new signings they get called stupid things like Don Raul and King Edu. We’ve seen it in Italy and Spain for decades, we should celebrate, we are now a modern club. the king is dead long live the king.
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Mandy as for Raul and Edu and co not allowing Freddie to bring in more coaching staff, well oddly enough I can understand why. If they are not planning to give him an extended run in the job, say till end of the season, or even if its cos they have a first choice in mind and are hopeful of persuading him to join, then it makes perfect sense not to hire guys who you will be sacking a week or two later. Its not as if its likely we can get in quality coaches to back up Freddie if we can’t even tell them how long they will be wanted for, who would take on a week by week coaching job, Freddie is only doing it on a game by game basis as he is already contracted by the club. I bet you anything that if he was not already here he would not have come back to take such a role on a game by game basis.
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seen Freddie after the game put it all on the club to sort out, – who gets the job, him or someone new, – if we make new signings in January or not. – if he is staying on if he gets to bring in more coaching staff. You could really see his frustration with it all. He also basically said Lacca and PEA not suited to be in same team, that with both playing it leaves us even more unbalanced and more prone to being open to the counter attack. He also seemed to imply that he brought on the kids today and started Martinelli, cos they have the right work rate, energy and attitude, now that could be a real dig at the senior players and an indication that if he is to get a longer run at it he we will see the youths get more of run in the team.
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just seen a clip of Arsenal fans queuing up to get out of the stadium at half time today.
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Take your point Eduardo on people above the manager making decisions, but last summer, we were told Edu had no input to transfers , was just settling in ( whether you believe that is another matter….Luiz, Martinelli) , in his absence, not sure anyone was really better qualified than emery to recommend players ( not that I would especially have wanted Banega/Nzonzi) but just making the point that if they wanted to give him a new deal, someone should have given him some input.
Not unreasonable your point on Freddie not being given backroom staff if they are going to move quickly , but if they are not, he needs some help, and as far as we know, there are 12 managers being interviewed, and nothing imminent ( unless Arseblog know something most don’t)
Just all seems very rudderless at the moment, though entirely possible something could happen tomorrow that might make sense of it all. But we have dropped a lot of points and can see Freddie’s frustration, as well as his logic with the young players, but they cannot keep things hanging on like this for too long without all manner of consequences
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Fred might well be having a dig at senior players, might think he has nothing to lose at this stage.
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Freddie: “I was proud of the fans when they sang at the end and showed they support the young players.”
Seemed to emphasise young players here
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Ed, it’s something that could prob only happen over a long period of time, with a manager or three, with feck knows what fortunes for us in that period. So maybe reset- with suggestion of instantaneousness- a misleading word.
But as for getting back to pre-Wenger levels of refereeing et al normality, can’t imagine other means to achieve it.
Seems more conceivable now, though, to make the trade off, with regaining normality in treatment the aim, and then looking to build from there.
Ha, just realised the similarity with what people propose Labour has no choice but to do : play the game more, on the terms of the game.
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Stillarich, we’re living in a fucked up world both on and off the pitch!
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passenal
Have to agree. Hope people who’ve known me hear a while know how conflicted I am in calling for us to go down that sort of route…
And as for contemplating political equivalent, as I have last few days, well, it makes football look like child’s play.
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