Hello lovely positives.
Another week of basking in the reflected glory of an exhilarating display from Arteta’s young guns. And enjoy it we should, the last 5 year seem to have been one disappointment after another. It’s not been a lot of fun, the odd little peak and some horrible troughs for a club of our stature.
Many on this site, not least of all yours truly, have been very critical of the direction the club was taking and Arteta has taken some severe stick. “The Process” has been questioned and mocked, the PR openly laughed at and the sails were set against Arteta. I don’t think any of the criticism was unfounded and I believe some very bad decisions were made. HOWEVER, it appears the ship has been well and truly turned around. Of course it’s early days, but fair is fair, we didn’t see this coming and we should be big enough to accept, despite the trips ups along the way, that Arteta has produced an exciting team that has the potential to improve a lot more. We must not become so fixed in our thinking that it stops us acknowledging improvement and enjoying the upturn. I personally don’t like Arteta, but I don’t have to like him for me to want him to succeed and get fully behind the team.
We’ve played 3 games, and although I wasn’t much impressed with the performance at Palace, the last two games have been a joy to watch. I don’t know about you but I’m going to enjoy the ride for however long it lasts.
Anyway, here is our latest podcast where we analyse the last game and look at what we can reasonably expect.
Pedantic George.
Positively Arsenal 
A really balanced and fair analysis. I am sure however we felt or feel about the process we basically want it to work. Watching some football to get excited about is what supporters have longed for. Long may it last.
LikeLike
Great podcast and review again. Thanks.
I am optimistic this season’s run of top form for the squad will last longer then a month and that there’ll be more then one such spell.
Early days to early to call but I do see indications of better or improved stewardship of players’ fitness: the gentle reintroduction of Tommy and Rowe after their preseasons were interrupted, to fully blood them in the Europa games makes sense and I hope that is the plan. Saka and Martinelli can’t slug it out all game long for a whole campaign especially with the World Cup so fingers crossed from me that this has all been considered.
As always Ian & George’s thoughts on the footy are worth reading and listening to. Five wins on the trot to start the season was a big ask at the end of the last campaign I’ll be impressed if it happens!
COYG.
LikeLike
So now manure, Liverpool and Chelsea have all lost games, its just a shame the spuds and city managed to get draws against Chelsea and Newcastle otherwise we would be the only top six left undefeated even this early in the season.
LikeLike
A first game of the season against a very noisy newly promoted team and crowd, then playing the two teams who were potential champions. After a bad preparation to the season it wasn’t totally unexpected we would lose all three last year.
This season with a much more stable set up a better preparation and a couple of excellent additions it was highly predictable we would win all of our first five.
Now the Norwich at home, Burnley away our first two wins were actually when we got to realise just how bad we were.
Now although I think most of us thought we would improve through the season most fans would of thought eighth would not be out of the question which this season we do so there has been an improvement but because of the fixtures we really can’t tell how much especially when you consider our rivals.
I think we are playing well on patches but there is still far too many dull periods especially against Bournemouth a side who offered nothing going forward. Although I agree you can’t go hell for leather for 90 minutes going home at twenty is taking the piss
With the lack of the home teams ambition and ability going forward I would say Shotta was kind giving the whole defense 7.5’s although I suppose maybe a clean sheet warrants it.
The Odegaard mark was something I would expect from a media pundit marking for the goals not his performance. I thought he was average and if the ball hadn’t fell to him nicely twice we wouldn’t of noticed him at all.
Zinchenko was MOTM closely followed by Xhaka those were the two who controlled the game.
Going back to the not being able to play high intensity for 90 minutes, the way to keep that going is to make some fucking subs. We have five subs available and it’s important that later in the season they have enough minutes with the first team when they are required to be in it
Finally on ESR, he was brought up through the academy and youth sides as a number ten. If we hadn’t of brought Odegaard he would be a much better number ten than he is now. He proved that against Chelsea when he saved Mikel’s job and if he was given the same playing time as MO they would be very close. I think time on the left and the change in his playing style this has had has sent him backwards.
LikeLike
There appears to be a reluctance by most of the regular commenters on this site to give even a small amount of credit to Mikel Arteta and Edu now that the team is performing well.
A little bit of humble pie would not go amiss.
LikeLike
There’s been a lot to enjoy so far, starting I think with Gabriel Jesus’s dynamic pre-season debut. A long way to go, but so far so good. I do like Arteta, and for that I blame George who used to write so eloquently about him as a player, arguing that he was instrumental in translating Arsene’s ideas into action. He showed his nerve with that twice-taken penalty in the FA cup 1/4 final against Everton, and then his cynical side when sent off against Palace for a halfway line professional foul. I’ve loved him ever since, and choose to see the good in him rather than dwell on anything else. And yes, I’m well aware of what that makes me, but I’m afraid I can’t help myself.
LikeLike
I think we on this site have always gave credit where it was due but as far as humble pie is concerned I think that would only be the case if comments were incorrect.
The mistakes of the past are still the mistakes of the past and we still have a few black clouds hanging over the club. With the money Edu has spent will anyone be congratulating him if we don’t get CL qualification this season. I think the Kronkes might think differently.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Brighton at home in the league cup not an easy draw let’s hope they rest some players
LikeLike
I think the team have looked impressive at times this season, expect them to get better as well
Very early days, but first impressions, could be an interesting season, Liverpool don’t look all that, they seem to run out of energy and fitness every now and again, I still find their spells without injuries almost suspicious considering the high tempo way they play, but they have a few at the moment, Mane could be a big loss. Chelsea don’t look great, Spurs look a little laboured at times but are lucky and ref assisted as usual , know there are bigger tests to come, but Arsenal just look good
LikeLike
Credit where credit is due for Arteta and Edu for the start that they have made, it certainly looks a lot better than last season but just like last season, things could look different further down the season.
I like to wait for at least 10 games before I make an assessment, but for the sake of positivity, the team seem to be playing with confidence, (most of)the new players have hit the ground running and inspired others around them to play better and the football has been more watchable than most of last.
Hopefully the team can keep up the good work and what ever arteta and edu are doing seems to be working.
Jesus and Zinchenko look like bargains!
Seem to have transitioned into cheque book club with a cheque book manager, think Arsenal were the top spenders this year and last (I think) interesting to see the shift, and will expectations be higher than ever now we’re spending with the big boys.
LikeLike
So probably Edu’s biggest mistake finally leaves on loan. The only surprise was it took this long to work it out.
Would we have got a decent fee and saved on wages if we had sold him earlier or was he impossible to shift who knows.
If he does well at Nice we may even get a reasonable fee for him.
LikeLike
PSV are obviously good but with the top two going through we should be confident of qualification.
LikeLike
I’ve enjoyed reading the gibberish written about Alli.
This agent’s pawn, this investment, was never great at the football. Bang average. Yes John Jenson was a far better player heh.
But Alli had great protection from the officials for a few seasons & now after a few big transfers the shameless charade is over and everyone’s a winner. Especially the agents.
Very funny to me that such a poor footballer was given so much hype and protection.
The pgmob do love to blur the line between panto and sport, they do love the product they love to market. alas the European and National trophy cabinet is the one that suffers. Could be a great squad in Qatar they might not get as good a chance as recently maybe the opportunity has gone but you never know. hopefully the agencies have less influence on this squad selection.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Group A
• Arsenal
• PSV Eindhoven
• FK Bodø/Glimt
• FC Zürich
LikeLike
With Palace two up at the Champions seems like the right time to share this very enjoyable and interesting interview with Viera
Didn’t think Viera could go any higher in my estimation but hearing him describe the boss (Gary Neville) of the hack interviewing him as a clogging cart horse of a footballer (let’s not focus on his coaching) was beautiful poetry.
Hearing him describe the change in the game from his playing days will not help the people who turned on their own now but it is a good reference for the idiots who wanted to watch Vinny Jones over Kante in the internet age.
Oh. The second name he gives of the modern central midfielders that he admires is, of course it is:
It is Xhaka.
There it is.
Truly the Arsenal blagger knows sweet fa about the footy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So no Zinchenko today. It will be interesting to see how we play. Will Keiran be asked to do exactly the same job or will Xhaka’s role further forward be sacrificed.
Our left side has been brilliant so far this season but maybe the right will be asked to do more.
If there is not as much creation at the back Odegaard will have to impose himself more as well.
An interesting game ahead COYG
LikeLike
Oh and of course the returning keeper who as standard will have a worldwide against his old club
LikeLike
It does seem strange that seeing as the left side has been weakened that the emperor has not come in on the right.
LikeLike
Liverpool 9-0 AFC Bournemouth
FARMERS LEAGUE
LikeLike
Arsenal: Ramsdale, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Tierney, Elneny, Xhaka, Odegaard, Saka, Martinelli, Jesus.
Subs: Turner, Smith Rowe, Nketiah, Holding, Cedric, Tomiyasu, Vieira, Lokonga, Marquinhos
Fulham: Leno, Tete, Adarabioyo, Ream, Robinson, Palhinha, Reed, Pereira, De Cordova Reid, Kebano, Mitrovic.
Subs: Rodak, Duffy, Cairney, Chalobah, Mbabu, Diop, Francois, Bernard Harris, Stansfield
LikeLike
Ah the Ozzie pgMob Rules (OK?) ref.
Just in case there was ever any doubt!
Can’t find a ref from the parts of the UK churning out the best footballers but they can find some chump from a place which has less people living in it then the Orkney Islands (slight exaggeration).
The pgmob are more transparent then a sheet of transparent aluminium (which is also found in Scotland thanks to Scotty).
COYG
LikeLike
Ian spot on as always. Tommy would be better on this day with Zinchenko out.
But you have to laugh at the fraud pretending to officiate this contest. More time was lost from arguments when he lost control of the match then he added on for injury time: Transparent aluminium! It’s the real thing!!
LikeLike
Yep the refs blindness and customary first yellow to an ARSENAL player after letting lots go and the ball just not bouncing for us have held us back but actually it’s us overplaying which has been the main cause of only having one shot on target.
We have a little bit of Ian Wright syndrome with Jesus at the moment, always looking for him when other players are better placed.
Let’s hope the crosses and pull backs come quicker in the second he half and we can score a few.
If it stays like this for 15 minutes we will need earlier subs otherwise we could come unstuck.
LikeLike
1-1, an own goal, a defender couldn’t stop odegaards shot
LikeLike
the goal credited to odegaard
LikeLike
2-1 might be Gabriel, VAR will look as fulham protest
LikeLike
var looking for a handball on the goal
goal stands
LikeLike
tomiyasu on
LikeLike
5 minutes of added time to be played
holding coming on
LikeLike
FT: Arsenal 2-1 Fulham
a comeback win, Odegaard and Gabriel with our goals, missed a shit load of chances, gave away a soft goal but managed to win to stay top of the league four games in
LikeLike
Character won out there, a couple key players out, a difficult and clearly well motivated opponent, a ref allowing rotational fouling , going behind, but an excellent response, Eddie coming on certainly helped.
Well done to all of them and TOTL
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well that was a rare thing a comeback win.
Chuffed in the end but fuck me we were put through the ringer watching it
LikeLike
Good to see the earlier (for arteta) attacking subs after the goal to get a comeback for the three points early in the season. I believe that does build confidence, an early season comeback.
There was an imbalance as Ian described & that highlights the quality and positioning of Zinchenko. Credit has to be given for getting in such a quality player.
Ian & George’s predictions of 15 from 15 looking good with one game to go.
LikeLike
Aston Villa up next on Wednesday, and the transfer window then shuts before our game next weekend. I think today showed the squad is still a bit short in some areas, it has only taken partey three games before he got injured, he has missed very large chunks of both his seasons here, we could do with some competition for his place, we have let Pepe go so it looks like we need back up for Saka, unless Nelson gets a surprise chance this season, some reports suggest we want a back up left footed CB, and of course we keep seeing Tielemans linked, but rarely do transfers get done that are linked for so long
Its expected that Bellerin and AMN will leave, some rumors Lokonga will go too
LikeLike
Thought we played very well until we got to the penalty area.
LikeLike
Anyone know where Jigsol is? Oh, wait …
LikeLike
Just watching the dodgy Aussie fixer in action. Not sure how we ended up with more yellows after the first half.
LikeLiked by 1 person
With West Ham having just signed Paqueta I wonder if Declan Rice might be on the move?
LikeLike
Elneny has joined Partey in the treatment room, shame, the Egyptian does a great job when called upon.
A chance for Sambi? AMN or the transfer market?
LikeLike
I thought Partey felt his muscle tighten so he was out as a precaution at the weekend, if that’s the case he should be back.
Ainsley hasn’t been allowed anywhere near the squad so can’t see him coming in.
So that would leave Sambi as the starter and maybe an extra defender on the bench.
Zinchenko also was a precaution as far as I was aware so obviously he is another midfield option.
LikeLike
Scott Parker knows his team better for sure than the Bornfootandmouth board members who sacked him. In this case the manager wasnt the problem. I heard Ancelottis coming to save them.
LikeLike
Actually ESR and Vieira could play the advanced role with Xhaka dropping back. Also Azeez has returned to the club and is available after last season’s loan.
LikeLike
Real shame about Mo and hope he’s not out for too long. If I were picking the team I’d always start him ahead of Partey (shows how much I know!).
LikeLike
I think most fans who look at contribution rather than cost would agree with you Tim. The Xhaka/ Mo combination has been reliable for years even if now the system is slightly different.
LikeLike
Seems to be a strong rumour we’re interested in a flying Ukrainian winger, Mykhalo Mudryk.
LikeLike
Matt Smith on the bench is Azeez injured.
LikeLike
Big night for Longkonga. I wish him well.
LikeLike
One up. Could have been more. Referee a disgrace.
LikeLike
Referee and VAR are a disgrace, cheats, have an agenda, or are totally incompetent, whichever way you chose to look at it.
Personally, I am sure Mike Riley won’t want Arsenal doing too well in his final season of polluting the game ( that’s assuming he doesn’t pop up in some other role)
If they had their shooting boots, we would have been out of sight, but credit to them for the way they responded to some cynical and dirty tactics, that officiating and a nervous finish.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Felt we could have done with the physical presence of Eddie a lot earlier this evening. But a great wholehearted performance from the team in a game that was ruined into a dirty disgrace by Gerrard and the ref.
LikeLike