Good morning all.
The end of the season is nigh. Thank goodness for that. There has been nothing good about this season. The odd good result and the occasional half decent performance sprinkled in among dour games and embarrassing defeats. Personally I’ve found watching the games a chore. Quote frankly it’s been awful. But enough of that, we will look at the season in more depth when the dust settles.
Right, on a positive note, we have the chance of winning 5 games in a row and go into the summer with the hope that there has been an improvement and all will be well next season. Where there’s life there’s hope I suppose?
Brighton play a lovely brand of football, but because they have so few good players, it looks better than the results that it earns. Their strikers are particularly ineffective which always means victories will be few and far between compared to the quality of the build up play. I think Graham Potter would be very good with a better squad of players, like Arsenal for instance, but I better keep that under my hat?
If results go our way today, or against us, depending on how you look at it, we could end up in this joke European competition they have dreamed up for teams not good enough to get into the losers cup we have been competing for for the past 4 seasons. A horrible thought, but on the flip side we would finish above Spurs, which will be a source of great joy and merriment for Arsenal fans given how bad we have been.
We will bid a fond farewell to David Luiz, and that’s a bit sad for me. I like him, think he has done quite well for us and brought some much needed character to the club, let alone the team. Ceballos and Odegaard will also exit the building both having disappointed to varying degrees, but who hasn’t disappointed this season? It makes me wonder if it was them or…………………oh never mind, we’ll leave that for another day as well.
Also I heard that Steve Bould has been sacked, dear me, what next, ask Pat Rice to stop attending games? Steve has been a great servant to us and this will be another link to past greatness that we will lose. F. sake.
Ok, enough for today, enjoy the game and I will see ya all on the other side.
Pedantic George.
Positively Arsenal 
Kasper Schmeichel with an own goal, it lcfc don’t win they miss out on CL football
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85 minutes Martinelli on for odegaard
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spurs have taken the lead at LCFC, it puts them into 7th
lcfc have once again this season blown a CL spot, but you will not hear anyone say they are bottlers
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FT: Arsenal 2-0 Brighton
Pepe with both our goals
we finish 8th, 1pts of a ECL spot, 4pts of a EL spot and 6pts off a CL spot, the insistence of playing Willian every game for more than half a season has cost us big time in the end.
no european football for AFC for the first time in over two decades,
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we finish 8th for the second season in a row, but a full 3pts more than last season, by the way West Ham improved by a full 26pts this season
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Trust the positive progress process!
Yep, thats a good one.I blame Weng as he left the club in such a poor place…
Lucky Arsenal to Boring Arsenal to Average Arsenal.
Oh well, On we go. COYG!
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Let’s face it, this is the season where absolutely nothing went our way, some of it self inflicted, some PGMOL inflicted, but we were never going to get the luck needed today whatever we did against Brighton.
That said, i don’t see that European tournament as any sort loss to Arteta or the club, probably as useful as a European event last night where I read we got nul points.
Arteta has been very good at talking up problems behind the scenes, issues he inherited, he will not be able to fall back on such things next season, Arteta will have his own players, his own staff, no Raul distractions at the start of the season, he won’t have Europe as a distraction, we will see what he can or cannot do, if he succeeds , great, if he fails, I doubt he will last to new year.
A season to forget from start to the very finish
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well Mandy if Arteta gets many more of his players akin to Willian then we will be lucky to finish 8th next season, we may hope that the new signings this summer are much better for us than the key signing Willian.
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If he gets another Willian, or persists with him should he not go to Florida, Arteta won’t see the New Year at Arsenal, nor Edu.
Arteta is lucky not to be sacked, other managers have been sacked for less at Arsenal, and other clubs would be less tolerant of his mistakes, unless he really did inherit the shit show he implied, To be fair to him, there was certainly a knowledge vacuum when Wenger left with no succession plan from above.
But next season, Arteta doesn’t want to push his luck, excuses surely won’t wash upstairs?
But as bad as the team were at times , only six points from the top four, how many points have PGMOL cheating cost us , I make that more than six points.
But expecting better next year, partly because the players won’t hear him barking instructions if crowds are allowed.
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Did Arteta inherit problems, or create them?
The blaming of the refs simply will not wash.
Whatever the few decisions may have done, what really did us this season is the fact that we regularly could only manage 2 or 3 shots on target only per game.
Arteta sacrificed our attack and 2 of the top players in the world to pursue his process.
Will getting more of “his” players, ie yes men and players who are prepared to do what they are told only, make us score more goals?
At least we can have a couple of months of relaxation before he continues to ruin our team.
If I am wrong, then I will be happy.
If I am not, then I suppose it will still be Wenger’s fault.
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mandy did the PGMOL cheat us of any more points this season than they have in any season over the last ten years,
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today’s squad, Leno, Chambers, Holding, Gabriel, Tierney, Xhaka, Partey, Odegaard, Pepe, Smith Rowe, Aubameyang, Runarsson, Saka, Ceballos, Lacazette, Cedric, Mari, Elneny, Nketiah, Martinelli.
how many will not be here next season,
Odegaard was the last player to leave the pitch today after the lap of appreciation, Arteta said that we will have talks in the coming week with Real Madrid in an attempt to keep him next season, maybe even on loan.
Ceballos looks certain to leave, and its very doubtful that we want to keep Runarsson. I can’t see Nketiah staying, 4 EPL starts this season, he is 22 next week, he needs to be a regular starter somewhere if he is to develop fully.
Lacazette has one year left on his contract, will he get a new deal or be sold off, what of Aubameyang who has had such an up and down season for us. For me he really does not suit the attacking tactics used under Arteta, its an old fashioned center forward that is needed for it.
Will Elneny stay another year as a bit part player, will Xhaka stick around or go where he might get proper support from the fans.
Will Cedric be happy to stay, he is now behind Chambers for right back, and the likes of Ornstein claim AFC are after a new first choice right back.
David Luiz is leaving, and its expected Bellerin will leave too.
Matt Ryan is expected to be signed as back up keeper
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Very good performance today and Partey (whom I have been critical of) played very well and was oh so close to a wonder goal. Trying to imagine a situation where just about any other side in the world would not have been given a penalty for the challenge on Odegaard when we were 1-0 up. Answer, I can’t, and had it been Luiz who had made the challenge he’d have seen Red too.
Obviously disappointed not to finish 7th but I guess missing out on that Europe Conference League thing may prove to be a blessing in disguise.
And after the extended season we have had (remember this time a year ago last season was on hold and with no strong idea of what was going to happen yet) it won’t do anyone any harm to have a couple of months away from it all.
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Lacazette finished our EPL top scorer with 13 goals, that about sums up our lack of attacking intent this season
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the big problems not getting into the ECL is that it means far less chance of any of our youths getting game time next season, and also if the caliber of the teams in it are as poor as many would have us believe, then spurs might very well end their trophy drought in it
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Jjgsol, referees can make a huge difference over a season. If we had experienced the Man Utd treatment, we would likely have made the top four, no matter what our performances have been like . Lack of VAR turnovers in our favour compared with others, ( Utd got 7, Chelsea 5, we apparently got one)
some highly dubious red cards for offences others would go unpunished, dubious penalties against, some very odd offside calls against our players on scoring, whatever that thing was up to when we played Wolves, just to name a few
There are of course valid criticisms against Arteta , the club, some players, and whoever but these refereeing decisions have cost us this season, and quite possibly helped precipitate Wengers sacking .
We may be poor this season, but we do not operate on a level playing field , this team were wrongly deprived of more than the six points that separate from the top four, whether a higher placing is deserved or not
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Spurs winning that could be a long shot, losing their best player ( as close to a one man team as most in this league) and a new manager, and like is, some very demanding, and critical fans.
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so this is first time in 25 years that we did not qualify for europe
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mandy I don’t think anyone on here does not agree that the PGMOL have done us big time this season, but as I said no more than they do us every season. Why we as a club are doing nothing about it, and why the likes of the AST and the AISA and RedAction can mobilize themselves to protest about KSE, but can’t even acknowledge that the PGMOL have been doing us for years, let alone protest about it, or release one of their famous statements.
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Agree Eduardo, prob is no more than prev seasons, but they seem to be able to cost us CL or European football on a regular basis, along with the club/ teams own deficiencies of course. And as bad as we have been, without cheats, we would have made that six points , plus. I know one could say others have been unlucky on some decisions, but again, I would compare and contrast Utds treatment and Arsenals.
Valid point about the club not doing enough about it, just hoping this Richard Garlick might have the relevant knowledge, influence and experience but we shall see.
As for the AST and co, they are prob quite happy with the PGMOL, plays into their hands
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but that mandy is the real problem with the likes of AST and AISA, RedAction, they demand a place on the AFC board, but won’t actually fight the clubs corner against the PGMOL etc.
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Arteta on Josh Kroenke: “He’s very supportive, very passionate about the club and he wants to take the club to a different level. That’s the ambition and that’s why he’s here.”
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here is a question for yee all, lets assume Arteta gets his way and is backed fully by KSE, and he gets four new first choice signings, who for you are the 7 players we already have to get in the team as first choice. who are your 7 and who do you think would be arteta’s 7
my 7 would be
leno
gabriel
tierney
xhaka
partey
saka
esr
and I think Arteta’s would be the same bar Aubameyang in for xhaka
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The poorest showing of the day has to be the little A4 kronke out bits of paper the people in the stadium were waving.
What a shit protest that was ol Josh must have been pissing himself. I think if it was me I would promise the fans that I can assure them I am committed to the club for at least the next decade.
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Ed, I definitely think we need a new keeper but I no the best ones are expensive and were not attractive at the moment. However the long term is what we should looking at and Leno is not right for the club.
Gabriel is certainly one for the future but at the moment he is still naive and error prone. Mari is much better at the moment.
Partey’s PR is still better than his form at the moment even in today’s game he had some good moments but give the ball away far to much and in dangerous areas.
Given our funding and our position I would go potential and youth and also try to buy from teams below us in league.
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Ian I do laugh at the idea that protests are going to make KSE sell up, the same KSE that moved the Rams back to LA despite what the fans of St Louis had to say.
there is one way and one way only to get KSE to sell Arsenal, make them an over the top offer, nothing else will do the job, and it very much seems Ek has not the where with all to make such an offer. Also think that one thing we seen from KSE and the Usmanov battle for AFC, is that KSE do not take well to bullshit PR and the riling up of fans to protest from a rival. Ek is on a loser with his PR game, it looks great to the fans who support him, but its not them he has to curry favor with, its KSE.
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William Saliba capped his impressive loan spell at Nice with the winner away at Lyon
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Shout out at Calum Chambers who was one again very good. Underrated player. He’s delivery into the box is top notch. I actually think he is a very good right back. How positioning and movement keeps improving.
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Mandy, I’m guessing that with way I go on about refs many (everyone?) think I am absolving Arteta/club of any sins. Really not the case, but I do think the ref handicap makes accurate analysis difficult.
Stat today that Utd have had 49 pens all comps since Solskjaer took over, us 17. I know reds against just as resounding. We’ve 9 or 10 think they’ve one. Pens against no doubt grim as well.
In fairness, surprisingly, Spuds and Pool little better in pens received (20)
So how do you really judge us or Utd, us against Utd? Not only do you have those headline stats, they reflect way entire games are managed. Then, in addition to all that, you have the consequences of big calls in games- rescuing bad situations, creating bad situations, etc, etc. Finally, the knock on effects, of good vs bad results, suspensions, confidence, etc, for future games. It’s incalculable
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Switching back, far as I’m able, to trying to judge our capabilities as a team, thought Villareal was a horror show. Got it so wrong. At best there was huge naivety from manager, at worst judgement was really poor.
I know, hindsight, hindsight but Ceballos for Elneny was a stinker, as bad if not worse was not nailing down a team for crucial end of season and instead, if remember right, going with a fairly new style for that away game.The thinking must have been more creative player to feed attack heavy team. The lesson was if base too vulnerable can’t get platform for attack. Urgh.
Also think Xhaka and Tierney’s game time poorly managed given importance to team. Showed no ability to be proactive in protecting them or triage the vital games, paid heavy price
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Yesterday was an interesting one to try judge where we are. Brighton drawn plenty of praise for passing style, but it was clear case of them sitting and waiting for breakaways (until behind at least).
We know that’s challenge we’ll face about 20-30 games (some for all of it, others for long stretches). To me we looked not awful not great for the task, missing something but I don’t know how much.
Certainly not a case for me of ‘now, if we had Bissouma we’d be better set for breaking down these defensive walls’
I don’t really have a candidate, for position or player, to add that something to take us on and see how it goes, especially when considering it has to be robust enough to deal with you know who, and scenarios like that of Wolves away: playing really well and then, bam, an opportunity, no mercy.
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I have watched Bissoma many times and each time I come to the same conclusion, he won’t get away at ARSENAL what he gets with at Brighton. He is several red cards in waiting.
He does look a good player but he will have to reign in his game if he comes to us and if he is replacing Granite then will he really be an upgrade.
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As far as the ref thing goes yes it is unfair but that has been the case for every ARSENAL side for the last twenty plus years. Suggesting we were unlucky this season because of officials is just stating the norm and so when you’re comparing this year’s achievements to others it’s a mute point.
The fact is eighth for two consecutive seasons is our poorest showing for over two decades and at times we have got away with stuff this season.
The close season is supposed to be one of the optimistic times of the year for fans but this year I’m just not feeling it.
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The reason why this blog and untold are the only FOOTBALL blogs worth following in Arsenaldomnis because
a) the blogs are not written by see you next tuesdays lining their pockets with click bait and sd scraps from the super agents they suck hard upon (“Ramsey and Ozil can’t play together” and other gibberish born from this foul union is evidence enough for those brave not enough to indulge the stink (see Willian)
b) they are the Only blogs to have the footballs required to acknowledge the pgmob handicap for favoured teams/clubs. No handicap bonus for Utd last year and they come 6th not 4th, this year it’s a boost up to 2nd from 4th, and if the Arsenal are lucky it’s about the inverse for them. No way are the officials worse then a decade ago when they were literally breaking the legs of the Arsenal players and all these counting blaggers kept their counting mouths shut I guess they were too busy counting the clickbait what will all the counting about they’ve been doing. These blaggers are really good at counting but I don’t see any evidence that they know more then the sweet FA when it comes to the Football. Shower that they are.
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Well, I talked about the ref thing through Wenger’s time, cursing it, hating it and coming to the conclusion can’t pinpoint how much it costs us but it’s a lot, and makes correctly analysing team difficult, making Europe a more accurate gauge (and just maybe FA cup, or more so than league, as Riley not in charge of appointments for it).
I can accept, on one level at least, an insistence that it’s not bad, doesn’t have a big impact, but I can’t understand the notion it is bad but we mustn’t adjust expectations or evaluations commensurately with how bad we think it is.
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Even if we think it’s a constant, so should be discounted, with what Wenger did until close to end as the base (top 4 despite it, lots of good attacking football)…well we think he was exceptional, in may ways, and especially, for me, in incredible resilience, and unbreakable commitment to positive philosophy…failing to match that points to me towards Wenger’s remarkable achievement in the face of adversity more than successors being screw ups.
That said, do have to try figure out where we’re at with pgmol out of the equation, with Europe my most reliable guide, up till now, but plenty to look at in prem as well. At times, it’s been really poor.
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Best formula I remember us having last ten years was prob that team we too briefly had with Santi Coq in midfield, culminating in brilliant cup final performance.
Think we’re some way short of that. Think and hope we should be a bit better next year, but again think we’ll be hit at same rate on the big calls and that coupled with the small call stuff, and at least one rival being complete opposite, means falling short of CL.
Then prob a new manager, and unless they are utterly exceptional, or we can bring through another couple at Smith Rowe Saka level, on and on we go.
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ian I like what I’ve seen of Bissouma, he has speed, tackles well, puts in a real shift covering others, but he is not in the same level as Xhaka at passing, he actually might make a good partner for Xhaka, maybe even a good guy to have behind Xhaka and Partey, with those two allowed to push further up the field.
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The only FOOTBALL blogs worth following are this one Untold and Shotta’s as they are apparently the only ones with the footballs to discuss the handicap for and against various clubs.
Stats from Orbinho on penalties are ludicrous.
Well. There is Pep winning another title with City oh did the pgmob not like that. Is it the style of football (association football not rugby) with attacking players in midfield that they hate. Heh.
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some reports suggesting that Mikel Arteta does not want to keep either Mavropanos or Saliba, and that he wants AFC to sign Seville’s right sided Central Defender Jules Kounde, who is said to have a price tag of £50M
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the Kroenke out protest at the game on Sunday must have been a major flop as I’ve seen barely a mention about it from any of the loud mouth fans who had so much to say about it pregame, in fact the most I seen was one of them bitching about how the fans in the stadium couldn’t be arsed to support the attention seeking twats and their A4’s
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Podcast is up.
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