On today’s podcast me and @shotta_gooner take a look at the Brighton and WBA games, but mainly I go ballistic about the stupidity in the media and our own fanbase. So sorry about that.
Pedantic George.
163 comments on “Arteta, Thanks For Nothing.”
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Positively Arsenal 
lacazette on for Pepe, I know pepe was frustrating again, but he does try to make things happen, he was at the forefront of most of our better attacks.
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Smith-Roweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee a great finish
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ESR intercepts the ball, one two with lacca and fires home in off the post
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2-0 Aubameyang with a tap in from a Tierney cross, Xhaka with a peach of a pass to Tierney
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Cedric down injured, as Toon ask for a penalty, VAR rightly rule that out. Cedric cut in front of Gayle and Gayle fell on him injuring his ankle by the looks of it
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Cedric off, AMN on in extra time stoppage time
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Take away pepe and Willian and we have a good team.
With them we are awful.
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Absolutely loving ESR. Not only a top player, but a lucky one too.
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FT: Arsenal 2-0 Newcastle
two extra time goals from Smith-Rowe and Aubameyang see us through. We had a late world class save from Leno in the 90th minute to thank for getting us to extra time
the bringing on of Smith-Rowe, Saka and Xhaka gave us the spark we needed, Lacca helped too.
For me only Pepe of those give a starting chance today made any sort of claim to be more than a back up, although he was not at his best, he was still our only attacking threat. PEA was poor, hope the goal helps get him going again.
Smith-Rowe got the opening goal, he was red carded but VAR rightly got the ref to look at it again. ESR is a player I like, even on days like today where his game was a little off, he really has a little bit of the ozil about him, in that you can see he is comfortable on the ball, his game is simple, but he keeps it moving and tries the right thing. He has that silky thing about him.
Saka has a bit more burst about him, again gives us the spark, and he also tries to do the right thing all the time.
Cedric, Willock, Elneny, Nelson really did not do enough to suggest they can outst any of the first choice players, as for Willian, one has to ask how is he or has he been such as first choice player all season long.
David Luiz and Mari very solid, and Tierney is starting to make me think he might replace Sansom as my favorite AFC left back
must mention again special praise to Leno for that great late late save in normal time, the touch away from Carroll after his initial save was outstanding
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and now the bad news
Alex Crook
Soccer ball
🎙
@alex_crook
Mikel Arteta to @talkSPORT
on Martinelli injury: “It’s not looking good. I’m gutted for him and to see the boy in tears.” #AFC
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Well it’s a shame about Martinelli but the great players don’t get injured.
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Arteta on Willian
I think he was improving and improving. He’s been out as well because he was ill. He missed two weeks of training and football. He had some good moments and other moments where he needed more help. We’re going to keep trying with him.
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so laughable to see so many bloggers and big twitter accounts react to Emile Smith-Rowe’s fine performance tonight, by insisting that Arsenal must, this month, sign a player in his position that is better than him. they seem to think that this will lead to ESR becoming an even better player, cos you know young players progress by having better players take their place in the team just as they are breaking through. Imagine how good Saka would be by now if we had only signed someone in the summer to take the playing time from him.
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Feels like we are close to settled team for first time in ages, although not sure what either central defence or centre mid preferred partnerships are once Gabriel and Partey back.
Subs made us much better yesterday. I’d have had no grounds for complaint if resting players had cost us, as was all for it, but boy it was a stark demonstration of the coherence you lose when doing so and also why the starters are starters and vice versa.
Mind boggling to me those who can’t see what a good player Xhaka is.
Really not optimistic at this point the other three youngsters will kick on as they need to. Always been apparent there’s a pretty big difference between them and Saka, now with Smith Rowe looking very much like he belongs seems to underline the gap.
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Really happy about the win and progression into the next round but unfortunately the joy stops there.
How scary is it that if we didn’t know already we had it confirmed that our season is hanging on the fitness and form of two very young players.
There are still few players in the squad who are making a difference and playing well. Then there are players who are doing a job and supporting the on form players and then there are alot who are really not contributing much and could be replaced.
I would say Xhaka, Hector, ESR, Saka, Keiran are playing really well with Mari, Holding, Laca, Leno doing well at the moment. Certainly the likes of Elneny, Gabriel, Willock and Ainsley support the team whenever asked.
Youngsters like Reiss Nelson, Eddie, Balogon, are all doing well and should be kept.
Obviously Martinelli is quality but has been so unlucky with injuries and it is difficult to comment on Partey for the same reason.
There is a chance that Willian may settle later as we know he has been a top quality PL player but that is a question yet to be Answered. As for the rest I think we should just get rid and save on wages.
There may be a player or two I have left out but at the moment I can’t think of them. I have not included players on out loan.
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So who drops out of the match day squad on Thursday when its very likely Bellerin, Gabriel, Ceballos and Partey come in. Chambers almost certain to be one, Martinelli might be out injured, maybe Cedric or AMN, and I’d say Willock.
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I think even Arsene would do well to coax (or coach) much more out of this team, for as Ian points out there doesn’t seem to be a huge amount of quality there. Willian I find a real puzzle. I used to dread him when he played against us, now I dread him playing for us. He was good last season, this season awful. I wonder what training and nutritional regime he was on before that he is no longer getting at Arsenal.
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Mari has played really well andis especially good in the air so although Gabriel comes into the squad he shouldn’t come back into the team. The saame with Partey sureely we have learnt from last time when he come back in to early. Our most succesful pairing in centre midfield is Xhaxa/Elneny and I can’t see why we would change that.
Ainsley and Joe offer more from the bench than Willian,Pepe and Auba for that matter on current form.
I totally agree about Willian, I keep waiting for him to explode into the player he was last season but he just cant to do anything right at the moment.
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I knew there would be players I left out. Callum is obviously another who has struggled e injuries but is a solid player and his partnership with Rob goes back years and years.
I also think Luiz is a very influential player and this even exceeds his performances.
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mesut ozil is doing a q&a on twitter tomorrow, he has titled it the present past and future, so we might know who he is joining and when he is joining them
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Foreverheady
Think one factor in Willian may be that he has lost a bit of pace. Feel I’ve seen it quite a lot where he has attempted something- take on etc- that relies in part on speed, only to find he can’t quite get there.
Maybe touch, confidence, physical condition comes into that as well.
The only certainty, surely, is that his confidence must be on the floor by now. Watching his face/body language as he came off yesterday found it easy to imagine a man feeling very low about his game.
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Wouldn’t mind Matty Ryan as our 2nd GK.
6m max, EPL-veteran, Australia’s#1 for years, quick feet, great reflexes..only negative is his height. (though I’m not sure of how good he is at passing with his feet)
Barring any red flags in his background check at Brighton, it would make sense.
What say ye positivistas?
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Executing the deal with class could also put us in good stead for Bissouma in the summer,
If he is in MA’s plans.
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Mesut Özil
@MesutOzil1088
·
3m
Ospina – Sagna, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Kolasinac – Cazorla, Ramsey – Serge Gnabry, Özil, Alexis Sanchez – Aubameyang #YaGunnersYa
Smiling face with sunglasses
Quote Tweet
Nilo
@sirgunner1886
· 17h
Replying to @MesutOzil1088
Who is your top Arsenal XI in the era you played for the club? #AskMesut #M1Ö
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Arteta has suggested that we might bring in a new keeper this window, with maybe Runnarsson going out on loan too.
He said he also thinks Holding has signed a new deal
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Ozil been asked his favorite part of Istanbul, and he said Kadikoy, which I think is where Fenerbahce is based
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Ornstein claims Championship and european clubs are interested in signing Runarsson on loan for rest of the season, deal will be done if AFC can get in a 2nd choice keeper either permanent or on loan
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this is going to boil piss, Ozil when asked if he ever enjoyed playing for AFC
Mesut Özil
@MesutOzil1088
·
12m
Of course – there have been many ups and downs so far, but all in all I’ve never regret my decision to join Arsenal. And to be honest the last couple of games before the corona break in February & March 2020 made really a lot fun, … (1/2)
Mesut Özil
@MesutOzil1088
·
12m
… I’ve enjoyed that time a lot and I’ve thought we’re really on a very positive way. But after the break things unfortunately changed … (2/2)
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asked why he liked Fenerbahce he replied
Mesut Özil
@MesutOzil1088
·
2m
I grew up as a @Fenerbahce
fan as a kid in Germany – every German-Turkish person supports a Turkish team when they grow up in Germany. And mine was Fenerbahce. Fenerbahce is like Real Madrid in Spain. The biggest club in the country
🇹🇷
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Fenerbahce’s President Ali Koç on Mesut: “He is still a dream. Not a single person from Fenerbahce has made a statement. There are some issues between Mesut and his club. We are closer than in the past, but it is not done.”
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Mesut Özil
@MesutOzil1088
·
3m
He made the difference in the last couple of games as a No 10 – really happy for him… and that he showed that playing with a No 10 still can make sense in today’s football.
Keycap ten
Flexed biceps
@emilesmithrowe
Quote Tweet
Akwaowo koko
@AkwaowoEkpa
· 11h
Replying to @MesutOzil1088
Your views on Emile Smith Rowe #AskMesut
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Arsenal away to the winner of Southampton v Shrewsbury Town in the fourth round of this season’s Emirates FA Cup
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man utd v liverpool the big tie of the round
man city get another easy one, away to cheltenham
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wycombe v spurs
chelsea v luton
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in the 5th round its Chorley or wolves v Southampton/Shrewsbury Town or Arsenal
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if city get through the are away to winner of swansea or nottingham forest
everton or sheffield utd v wycombe or spurs
barnsley or norwich v Chelsea or Luton
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when asked if he misses Wenger
Mesut Özil
@MesutOzil1088
·
7m
Arsene Wenger is a special coach in my career, one that I have total respect for. He is a great coach with numerous titles. Most of all, he’s a great, sincere person. I associate him with my greatest Arsenal successes. I will always remember that time with him positively.
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its not a great Q&A from Ozil, far too many of the questions are basically what he answered in his last Q&A only a few weeks ago
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Mesut Özil
@MesutOzil1088
·
2m
I definitely will. There are two countries I want to play football in before I retire: Turkey
🇹🇷
and USA
🇺🇸
. If I went to Turkey, I could only go to Fenerbahce.
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Not a great cup draw for us, we will have to play our best team against both Saints and Wolves with a big chance of going out in both.
When other teams are getting chances to rest players we won’t.
We could of done with a bit of luck and a break to maximize our chances in league games. I think we will do well to get into the top eight this season so we need all the help we need.
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its amazing how easy the cup draws keep being for both man city and spurs
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is it time for Ainsley Maitland-Niles to leave Arsenal. Despite all the praise from Arteta during the summer when Wolves came in for him, AMN has only started 4 of our 17 epl games this season, he remains a utility player at AFC, he is now an England player and at 23 surely he has to be a regular starter if he wants to keep progressing.
He can’t get a game in his preferred central midfield slot, not even ahead of Elneny, he certainly is not going to oust Tierney at left back, and even when Bellerin is rested its Cedric that gets that slot. AMN is a very talented player, I’m not always convinced by his efforts, oddly he does seem to play better in the big games, and also when given a specific man marking job to do, but are we ever going to see the full development of the player we hoped we had on our hands when he bossed the midfield at Old Trafford when only a kid.
A lot of the same questions can be raised about Willock and Nelson. Do they need loan moves at the least to get the regular game time to progress their game. Willock’s big talent as he came through the ranks was his Ramsey type runs form midfield into the box to help create the overcrowd, get a goal or an assist. He still makes these forward moves, but seems to be a bit hesitant when he gets there now, especially v EPL opponents. He does not look fully at ease yet.
Nelson has massive talent, and shows flashes of it, but has not really made a big impact yet.
I could throw Nketiah into the conversation too. An out and out goalscorer, who I think will score lots of goals in the right set up, is Arsenal the right set up for him, I’m not so sure, but I do believe he will score tons of goals in his career, just not sure where that might be.
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AMN to leave Arsenal? Absolutely not, he is one of my favourite youngsters and in my eyes part of the future core. Versatile player with technique and graduate of Wenger Academy. Can play midfield as well. Can not wait to see him next to Partey. Bit like Ramsey/Arteta backin 2013. If we have one player that can possibly develop into a Weijnaldum for us its him Ainsley Miatland Niles. On Nketiah agree, Belagun much much better. Willock as well in trouble as ESR is clearly far more ready and plays with more conviction. Ozil should never have been signed. The only issue i have with Arsene Wenger. Entrusting his hard earned money to a guy whod rather play fortnite on ps4 rather than follow the example of Rosicky who at the age of 34 was pressing creating getting involved and scoring bangers.
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As I said earlier in the post there are at least eight teams better than us so all those players you have mentioned should be kept and played as often as possible.
For me Auba, Pepe, Ceballos, Cedric are all players who should be on the “for sale” list first.
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ian we can;t sell Ceballos as he is not our players, only here on loan thankfully.
gilberto can’t agree about ozil, he was a big factor in ending our trophy drought and as for AMN, he is 23 and looks no closer to being a regular here, and he will not replace Xhaka in our team, if the swiss is replaced it will be by a new signing, not by AMN. Arteta clearly does not see AMN as a suitable midfielder, after all he is not only behind Willock and Ceballos, but also Elneny, let alone our two best CM’s, Partey and Xhaka.
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These pecking orders are intriguing, and without knowing exactly what goes on in training, the dressing room and whatever contractual arrangements may or may not be in place all we can go on is what we see on the pitch in matches (and if we only watch on TV we only get a partial view of that too). I like the way Eduardo demystifies it and it certainly helps to get a logical perspective on it.
I find AMN interesting and my reaction to his play equally so. At times I have felt he was the second coming: great ability, terrific touch, seemingly boundless confidence. At others I have felt him frustrating: too clever by half at times, lethargic and often appearing lazy. I suspect he has been at the club for too long now and needs to be challenged by less familiar surroundings. I would not be in the slightest surprised to see him flourish beyond The Arsenal, but I no longer think he will do that here. I sense three managers have felt much the same.
Willock, Nketiah and Nelson seem to have halted their immediate progression just now. That doesn’t mean their progression has stopped, but rather proof that plateaus sometimes need to happen. As Eduardo says, its easy to see Nketiah scoring plenty of goals as he has the poacher’s instinct: I suspect he may need a period away from the game to gain strength and bulk to go with his speed and skill. Over the years I have seen plenty of succesful athletes make just such a transformation. Gold medalists, presidential all-rounders, rugby internationals, footballers emerging from the amateur ranks. As an agent told me a few years ago, most clubs have a Dr Needles.
Nelson is harder for me to predict: he wouldn’t be the first child star not to fulfill all that promise. I remember video clips doing the rounds several years ago of his prodigious skills, but he has found it hard to produce at the very top level. I think it would do him the world of good to play somewhere else for a while. He looks a bit lost to me jsut at the moment.
I was impressed earlier this year by Willock and still feel he could have much to offer. But he (to quote a racing phrase) looks to have run up a little light. He looks tired and a bit leggy and maybe needs a little break from first team action. I wonder too if his confidence has been knocked by the sudden and succesful emergence of Smith Rowe?
He seems to have surprised the manager (and unlike many I would not use this as a stick to beat Arteta with). He has taken to the first team as to the manner born, and I wonder if he needs whole pitch games (rather than training routines) to show his best. I find it uncanny how often he seems to be on the ball, a hallmark of the really good players to me. I hope that the referees protect him.
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For a long time it has been all about squads and not first eleven so when we look at players we need to look at their value to the squad not the first eleven.
When I said we should be looking to his rid of Ceballos, I know he’s not our player but he will be on more wages than Ainsley, Joe, Eddie etc.
My son informed me that Ceballos derides from the latin Cenballon which translates to Centre Back on.
Whoever said Partey is part of our best CM partnership, he hasn’t played yet and could turn out like 72 million signing Pepe. I don’t think he will but let’s wait until he’s done something first.
The over big factor when we are judging players is exactly where we are. Under Arsene youngsters had to get into a top four side playing CL football today we are a mid-table side looking to build for two seasons time.
The youngsters should be the core of the team going forward and are they good enough to be mid table this year and to help develop into a decent squad in two seasons time well absolutely.
I know Arsene would have any squad playing better however he also knew the value of money and I’m sure he would do a full logIscal analysis on each player and consider there worth with the position the club is at and where it is going. Different players are worth much more to clubs at different stages.
Right now do we need some of the bigger names that are not producing the same or much more than the lads who have come through or are coming through the academy.
Take Auba, we would get a decent amount lose wages and give a place in the squad to younger player.
Imagine Balogon signing a contract after being told Auba is going and were not signing a replacement until we have seen how he and Eddie can give to the side.
We definitely need to look at building a side in a different way we are not a top four, six or maybe even eight side anymore. When we are realistic about where we are maybe we will be realistic about the player we should be keeping.
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Arteta says our next two games, Crystal Palace and Newcastle will define our season.
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AMN has said himself that, like many players/athletes, he performs best when in rhythm & playing regularly. His touch to me looks shades heavier when he plays cold. Monreal was a recently obvious and classic example of this sporting cliche to my eye.
he’s not had much of a run this season, could easily have played at LB against specific opponents such as Townsend on Thursday.
Hard to speculate why when we accept that the coach’s recent comments were inadvertently mocked by ESR’s tennish cameo off the bench!
Will this mob spend £40M on a player not as good as Iwobi to support ESR? Given the “model” who knows but when it comes to transfers or squads the expensive misses far outweigh the hits of late which is a significant unavoidable burden upon this non-petro club.
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man utd have gone top of the league by beating burnley 1-0
everton are 4th after beating wolves 2-1
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