I was writing this article a year back with the title – a star is making but then a season has passed and the boy from Brazil has matured enough to have a confirmed place in Arsenal starting XI and is an integral part of our present and future, hence the change in title.
It wasn’t long ago when Wenger retired and Emery took over. We lost our talent spotter in Sven Mislintat and Edu Gasper was appointed as the new technical director to work alongside director of football, Raul Sanllehi and coach Unai Emery. We were excited about a change in regime but often the excitements are short lived. We soon realised Emery is not the answer, and Raul Sanllehi was ‘made to’ depart. Club didn’t say why but everyone guessed the agents’ involvements and Pepe’s 72m deal.
Raul handled some of the worst signings of the previous decade. Denis Suarez on loan from Barcelona was a failure. Pablo Mari was another one which wasn’t exciting at all. David Luiz got added to the list of another transfer failure from Chelsea. William Saliba was an exception, and became an integral part of our team but his handling was one of the worst things that could happen to a young player. Only yesterday, we have let go of Nicolas Pepe after a contract termination. We spent 72m on him. Dani Ceballos, Cedric Soares didn’t do anything much.
Kieren Tierney can be termed as a successful transfer, having been an integral part of our team for couple of season before Mikel decided to bring improvements at LB in Zinchenko and Timber. He is not a bad player, but just doesn’t fit the Arteta’s game. Fair enough, he is on loan to Sociedad this season.
The last transfer of that regime was Gabriel Martinelli for a meagre 6m fee. A 19-year old kid, playing for a Brazilian league side Ituano, having trained with Barcelona earlier and linked to Manchester United. Though, for a large section of Arsenal fans, he was an unknown. It was believed that Edu scouted and convinced Martinelli to come to Arsenal in 2019.
He travelled with us in our pre-season tour to US and scored a goal on his non-competitive debut in a 3-0 pre-season win against Colorado Rapids in July that year. He was set to play for U21 initially and rise through the ranks but his impressive pre-season performances forced Emery to pick him up for the first team. We were also short on talents and we needed all the help we could have got at that time.
Martinelli’s first few games for us were scintillating. He scored against Nottinham Forest in his first competitive start in Carabao Cup. I was there in the stands that day, in the second row and that 5-0 win over Forest was the best game I have ever watched. I was a bigger fan of Nelson at that time, but this is the closest click I have of him.
In his second start in Europa against Standard Liege, he scored another one. He scored again in his next game against Vitoria Guimaraes and then another one against Liverpool in League cup in a 5-5 high scoring draw. He became the first player to score 4 goals in 4 consecutive starts since Ian Wright. Klopp was so much influenced that he termed his ‘talent of the century’ and there had been rumours of Liverpool’s interest in him ever since, in every transfer window.
He got his first Premier League start under Freddie Ljungberg after Emery was sacked, and scored again against West Ham United. He scored against Chelsea in a 2-2 away draw, tripping Kante over and taking the ball from our own half to end up in the Chelsea’s net. It was goal of the season and made Gabriel Martinelli the first player after Nicolas Anelka to reach double figure as a teenager. He was sidelined due to a surgery soon after for months.
Premier League Career
2019-20 : He had 14 appearanced and scored 3 goals for us.
2020-21 : 14 games in his second season for the club, netting twice.
2021-22 : This is when he started solidifying his place in the time. Gabriel started in 29 games and scored 6 times. Mikel asked for for more outputs from his forwards in his press conference…
2022-23 : and Martinelli delivered last season. Playing in 36 games, he scored 15 goals for the club and was an integral part of a team that was having a title run. In the end, we lost to City but everyone noticed his output, dedication and boost in his performance.
2023-24 : He has yet to score this season having played 4 games. I’m sure he will pick up his scoring form from last season.
In Feb this year, club announced his contract extension for a 4 and a half year deal that runs till 2027. In an interview last year, he showed his love for Arsenal by going on record to say that he wants to play for the club for his whole career.
“We have a young group, we have a lot of time ahead of us, players with a lot of quality, I think we will achieve great things. Our focus is the Champions League. Fighting for that top four. A club like Arsenal has to be in the Champions League. It’s our total focus,”
“We always want more. Of course, Arsenal are a giant team. If I can, I’ll stay here my whole life. I want to conquer things, as I said, I want to stay here and win titles, with these wonderful fans, my teammates.”
source: Arsenal.com
The first part of this interview is complete. The second one, partially with his contract extension. I would love to see him become the epitome of success at Arsenal and in him and Saka, we have two of the best wingers in the world.
I personally see a bit of Ronaldo’s enthusiasm and intensity in his game. He has probably the best first touch in our team and the frustration on his face for every goal missed, every poor pass, each loss defines his personality to make things better. Scoring 15 goals for a winger, when Arteta specifically wants his wingers to hug the sideline and when the opposition always double up on him is a great output. We all will love to see him be a legend and be a legend at this club.
I would keep his Olympic wins and the country-career for some other time. I would love to hear what you think of him and his performance in his red and white and what are you expectation from him going forward. If you have any moments from him which you can’t forget, don’t forget to share that too. It’s always gonna be the goal against Chelsea for me, when Kante tried to grab him by his leg because he couldn’t match up his speed
#COYG
Come on mate, we thought the same for Wilshere.
Wilshere had an injury plagued career, can happen with anyone. Hopefully Martinelli remains fit and with the advice from Mikel about controlling his outburst and runs will help him preserving his fitness.
Again, can happen with anyone.
Nice one Ambarish. Martinelli is one of my fav players with his directness. The more he learns, the better he’ll become.
.
Wenger broke Wilshire before he really had a chance to shine other than the Barca game. I was gutted for the lad but that was Wenger’s style with all his pets to play them until they dropped.
.
Sadly, Arteta, until now has been the same. Going forward? Is anyone’s guess.
I have nothing but good things to say about this talented young player, but until we sort out our nonsensical tactics he will undoubtedly struggle to match or exceed last year’s output…now if Havertz somehow rediscovers his Bundesliga form of a few years back and/or if MA reigns in his whole inverted experiment, by deploying Zinchenko in wider and more advanced spaces on occasion, this narrative could drastically change…until such a time he will continue to face a plethora of double-teams, which will undoubtedly stifle his ability to put his stamp on things…hopefully this break provided our manager with ample time for some much-needed self-reflection lol
When other PL Brasileiros are apparently losing their minds (cf the awful Antony and shall we say complex Richarlison) a paean to Martinelli sounds about right. Hard-working, level-headed and a properly good egg by the looks of it, GM can do no wrong in my eyes. As Ambarish says, you think about how he was spotted and ended up playing for Arsenal, you understand the kid’s toughness and drive to succeed. There are brilliant footballers all over Brazil and we found a real gem. I hope he stays with us for a good amount of time and wins things. A terrific player. Still hoping too that Marquinhos joins him back in London.
Credit to Edu as well for taking 5 minutes away from sniffing his daily quota of Bolivia’s finest out of the belly button of a football agent’s, erm, retained ’employee’ in order to get the signing done. And who said LiR didn’t give enough credit to Arsenal’s leadership?
Ambarish
Raul was a cunt, no doubt about it.
But he was shopping in the bargain basement at the time.
So he was always going to sign some duffers ,like you mentioned.
Its this current cunt in charge , who has been allowed to max out the clubs American Express card so KSE can claim all the points.
Martinelli is a great player to watch and has great natural skill.
Just waiting for ‘Tets’ to either injure him in
training or more likely with his frail ego fall out with him, because he has not tracked back the 35 year Sheffield Utd full back.
Just to warn everyone, CL press conferences next week
The cunt will be more unbearable than usual , if thats possible with all his new formations bollocks ,with new hacks on show, so best to walk the dog at the same time.
And I don’t mean that cunt Win.
AF
There has always been money, we spent 72m on Pepe we all know why when they presented the player to Everton for a smaller amount.
I was reading an article from Swiss Rumble the other day and only Chelsea has outspent us in last 6 years. Not City, not Liverpool, not Spuds. Difference between us and Chelsea is that they have also managed to sell well and recoup some of that money which isn’t taken into account in spending by SwissRamble. KSEs are invested and after winning in NFL, they would certainly want trophies here. They have opened the wallet and Arteta will soon have to answer for that.
For now, lets support the lads. Mikel can’t afford to fall out with Marti or Saka, he tested the fans medicine with Saliba and I’m sure he is smart enough to not repeat that… unless it’s pushing an injured Partey onto the pitch.
It’s the only way, Ambarish, support the team with all we have got and hope Arteta is finally going to get it right..
.
It’s the last part I’ve got no faith in. The squad?We have enough to make a good challenge, but as with our last 2 seasons, we are very thin at the back and susceptible down our left still.
.
We have hope and belief in the players and that’s what matters. 🙂
Ambarish
Chelsea do sell well.
They sell their shit to us for utter fortunes
Willian
Luiz
Jorginho
Havertz
That’s over £100 million and with these current cunts in charge and they probably have not finished yet.
I will never support ex Chelsea players in the red and white shirt.
Otherwise , I might as well go the whole hog and go to Stamford Bridge
They are Chelsea and always will be.
Don’t lower your standards for these cunts in charge
And we have a fucking expensive youth academy how about fucking using it and not being a cunt all the time and getting Chelsea rejects for millions.
Havertz and Willian , fuck right off out of here
How fucking lame is that?
Rant over.
🚨 EXCL: Arsenal chief executive Vinai Venkatesham to exit role next summer. Joined 2010, made CEO 2020. Well regarded in football + chose to seek new challenge. Interim period gives #AFC time to succession plan. Business as usual until then @TheAthleticFC
Damn.. someone’s not happy – Kroenke or Vinai himself, not sure.
It’s on the Arsenal website as well. A year for delegating the duties.
Ambarish
That chief executive has clearly been pushed.
No way , is he leaving a plum job like Arsenal.
New challenges, my hairy arse. Fuck off, who are you kidding!
He is a glorified double glazed salesman, Everest would just about take the cunt.
Edu will be next, because they can’t sell players and have completely kiboshed the clubs finances.
New challenges, fuck off.
Think we were all born yesterday mate
Love Martinelli… at the moment, he’s probably my 2nd favorite player on the team after… Zinchenko. Yes, I think he’s one of the main reasons (if not THE main) why we did so well last season, and when he was out injured, things didn’t quite work out. Saka is close 3rd. As for Wilshere, personally, I think he’s one of the most overrated Arsenal players of all time. Never cared for him, or his style. In fact, I believe most of his injuries were avoidable. He’d always wait a second or two more than he should have to pass the ball. Constantly taking on unnecessary challenges. Always trying to dribble past 3 defenders rather than finding a teammate. As a result, he got fouled a lot more than he should have if he had any sign of football intelligence, which in turn resulted in his many injuries. Add to that the fact that he did absolutely nothing to deserve the number 10 shirt, and he falls into my top 3 disliked Arsenal players of all time. Andre Santos, Arteta, Wilshere… in that particular order.
Hi Upstate
If I was compiling an all time top three of disliked players (for whatever reason eg play, personality, attitude) I wouldn’t put Jacko in there but fair play for backing it up with sone analysis. He was far from being an ideal pro but I reckon he played at least some of the time to Wenger’s instructions. In full flow, he looked like a world beater – if only it happened more often…
Here are some of my contenders for finishing higher on that list. There are many more.
Ozil
Almunia
Bendtner
Bentley
Adebayor
Nasri
Gallas
Ashley Cole and Andy Cole
… Can I sneak Fabregas in here without upsetting too many people?
John Jensen
Squillaci/Stepanovs/Sylvestre/Luzhny (fuck – I could just do a list of defenders)
And on… And on. I’m a misanthropic old bastard. Pay no heed.
KP
Ouch… that’s quite a list you got there. I was speaking strictly from the playing perspective. Some of the names you have mentioned were actually really good football players. And if you’re talking Cesc, then I’d probably add or replace him with RvP. That guy broke my heart. I literally threw his jersey in the trash after he went to ManU.
Wahey…
Vinai’s going (being pushed, not jumping I’d wager). I’ve spent all afternoon embellishing (ie making things up on) my cv and I’m confident I’ll be in the hot seat in a year’s time. A shouty, sweary, George Graham adoring, boring old bastard is just what the club needs!
Ambarish and Tony – Any chance I could name you as my two references? Just don’t tell them my moniker is Kroenkephobe because it might affect my chances of success….
Upstate
😊Van Persie crossed my mind. If only he’d gone somewhere – anywhere – other than Manure.
That ‘listening to the little boy inside’ comment when he was an Arsenal fan as a kid, really fucked irked me and also creeped me out a bit.
Is your Arsenal – City/NFL weekend still potentially on or was it a case of discretion being the better part of valour?
KP
RvP had a number of suitors, including Juve. He could’ve easily gone and win his trophy(ies) there. But the prick chose ManU. I still remember when he scored against us, and then ran to the sidelines celebrating like a maniac and hugging Fergie. I wanted to strangle him.
Re: City/NFL – not happening, unfortunately. Wifey isn’t biting. It just so happens that our anniversary is around the same time, and she wants to do something different. Still debating about Spain… or maybe Vegas for a few days. We shall see.
KP
Adebayor certainly tops for me, can’t forget that celebration. As much as I hate Ozil’s last year’s, I will put Sanchez before him because he forced a move, and that too for United.
Xhaka is on the list too with that f*ck off incident and throwing away the tshirt.
Upstate Gooner
It was Wenger gave RVP the CF role and that c*nt has the audacity to join the rivals at that time, giving explanations like the child within me decided that.
“EXCL: Arsenal chief executive Vinai Venkatesham to exit role next summer.”
.
I’ve been waiting for this ever since the twin exec roles of Vinai & Raul where the tail very much wagged the dog with Raul and the board until Tim Lewis came on board to be KSE’s eyes and ears.
.
Vinia knew he wasn’t a good fit for where the club needs driving, he’s a very good negotiator where his roles as Commercial Director is far more in keeping with Vinia’s purview, and where he’s proven successful at, at time when Wenger was doing his utmost to destroy the Arsenal brand in his last 10+ years. VV did a masterful job considering.
.
Personally, I hope VV stays with the club because I would wager VV would get better deals with our potential future trajectory. Notice I didn’t say current.
.
Who do we want as our next CEO, and the one to drive us to City and above levels?
.
For me the 2 key factors to the next CEO are proven sports track record and someone with a football vision for the club to become the very best in say, 5 years be about the right timing?
.
Someone who can deliver and isn’t afraid of changing key management personnel having sourced their successors quietly in the background.
.
Most of all the incoming CEO needs to do his job and keep between KSE and A&E who bypassed VV when Arteta became manager, and what good did making Arteta manager bring?
.
Answer? Very little while A&E continued to make the same mistakes.
.
VV was put in a very difficult position and has done well considering his strengths lie in commercial revenues.
.
I just hope Josh or Tim Lewis are not the next CEO. I have nothing against either, I just feel we need far more experience and proven success than Josh or Tim L could bring.
.
Anyone have a different thinking?
.
KP
I’d get your CV in quickly because Northbanker is suing the same with his CV. 🙂
.
Perhaps you could outline the changes here you’d bring if successful. 🙂
If VV is vacating his CEO post next summer that would suggest the successor has already been chosen. I don’t care what nationality the new CEO incumbent is only that he’s the right man for the job.
.
The conditions of selling our company is for the current CEO (Mrs T) has to do a 5-year handover. Another friend who recently sold his company is only doing a 2-year handover. That VV is only doing about 10 months to handover makes me think the new CEO is a done deal.
Looks like I missed this movie back in 2013. Excellent performance by Daniel Day Lewis our classing the very admirable Matt Damon and a host of names you’ll recognise.
A good movie for the weekend 🙂
Ford v Ferrari https://g.co/kgs/NM9prk
Sorry Christian Bale not. DDL.
New CEO will be a hard nosed yank.
Expect the club in the not too distant future to become more Americanized, bastardized ,monetized and more corporately woke etc.
The Yanks now dominate amongst the premier league owners and we all know they are only it for money.
As one Yank executive said in the week about European and English football, ‘ we have been late to the party ‘ but its now time to make hay’.
It’s why the Glazers are not selling, nor Kroenkes and Boeheys are here.
They want more loot.
All greedy billionaire cunts wanting more.
Tony
Here’s my 5 point plan for Arsenal (as I’ll be outlining in my job interview).
– Swapping 1st team managers. Eidevall for Arteta – simple.
– Replace Edu as well. Everyone needs a bit of coke-fuelled Bunga-Bunga while doing their job.
– No more flights to away games. Get Dennis Bergkamp in as bus driver and joint manager with Eidevall.
– Get rid of bullshitting apparatchiks spewing out club lines. No more Gonnella, no more Pedro. Offer heads of media relations jobs to Ambarish and Robbie, stadium announcers to be Lee Judges and Kelechi and board positions to all contributors to LiR. Tony as stadium sound engineer – music events after games.
– No more stupid second kits. Red and White at home, Yellow and Blue away.
Van Persie went to ManUre on a tip by Wenger the doddering fool that ManU would win the title with Van Persie goals , as Wenger and Fergie sat over a bottle of wine. Fergie could hold his spirits unlike Wenger who became a fool inebriated .
KP
I’ll 2nd those motions in a heartbeat. Hmm closest song?
.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sti_tuBiv5g
Hi Tony
I usually shy away from cover versions of originals because they are, by nature, derivative but I’d say this version is even better than Smokey’s. The worst ever sacrilege in my book was Tina Turner’s version of that Al Green song, ‘let’s stay together’.
https://youtu.be/yYrKe8K9lEY?si=nvIIIiq6-ydM8CKP
David Sylvian’s voice was a thing to behold. I’m not sure if you’d have been a big Japan fan but I’d be keen to know what you think of them. I can clearly picture you in the 80s outside the electric ballroom with some serious back combing and a frilly flared sleeve shirt Tony!
Watching the ABs later anyone against Namibia?
Vinai was a fucking banker who should have never been let near Arsenal. Looking what we pay for players and what we get when we sell players, the sooner he lets the door hit his ass the better.
.
Next work on the not so dynamic duo, Mutt and Jeff.
I think it’s important to make note that Wenger’s unwillingness to spend was what ultimately led to RVP’s exodus…both he and Gazidis spoke pubicly about our purchasing power, yet Wenger continued to propogate the notion that we were short on funds; if Gazidis was little more than Kroenke’s lackey boy and our absentee landlord was behind the whole cash-strapped initiative, why wasn’t Gazidis relieved of his duties for going against his boss’s fiscal wishes
furthermore, it’s clear that Wenger held a certain amount of disdain for the “new” superstar-types, as they didn’t fit his manager-centric footballing model….RVP’s mere presence threatened to usurp his monopolistic control over the room, as he was not only our most prominent player, which meant his voice mattered in the locker room, he was likewise unwilling to remain silent about his desire to compete for major trophies
of course, I wish he hadn’t ended up at United, as that was a tough fucking pill to swallow, but the even more disconcerting aspect of this whole affair was that instead of using this as a lightning rod issue for organizational change, most bought into the whole wag the dog demonizing of RVP narrative, which actually helped to usher in the Wenger Cup era
KP
Loved the new romantic era, and the banning of the press to their gigs; Duran Duran and Spandau especially.
.
The unique style bled into rock with Kiss, Bon Jovi et al with Glam Rock. I once saw the Sweet’s guitarist in full make up head but and whack a guy who had jumped up on stage after said guitarist kept blowing kisses at him and wanting to hit him so the guitarist followed the headbutt with with his guitar in the guy’s nuts, and then carried on playing out of tune while the little Canvey Club; The Goldmine, went nuts.
.
It was never a good idea to have a go at a guitarist live. Confrontations never end well, and that’s before the security gets hold of the offending idiot(s).
.
Back to the music the late 80s to late 90s was a great time for the differing styles emerging. Some like Ska with The Specials, Madness and Selector were new adaptations of the originals, such as blue beat & ska reggae. Out of the new originals (another oxy) UB40 were born with the lead singer being the son of a journalist and writer.
.
I was tour manager on the 2Tone tour back in 79 I think with the aforementioned ska bands. I saw first hand the love for the music and all that went with skinheads. The latter not pretty at all.
.
The glam rock I probably liked the most.
.
Finally, seriously musicians were not taking themselves seriously as the Electric new movement and New Romantic’s sound musicians did; the Glam rockers just outdid everyone with everything. Literally!!!!!!!
.
They were the most fun to be around and work with, with Led Zeppelin being the gold standard setting the ‘sex drugs and rock and roll bar’ by far the highest with the adoring MC clubs’: Go Hard or Go Home rule for life.
.
The punks tried and failed abysmally. I found the punks to be psychologically interesting with all their paradoxical childlike ideas and angst completely entrenched in hatred, forming first from their parents and social conditioning, and then the establishment. Malcolm Maclean was simply the brilliant(?), manipulative 80s versions of Machiavelli in playful mode.
.
Maclaren the Punks’ Yoda.
.
So back to your original question of Japan and the cover? He murdered it. I agree with your other disdain of covers; they are very difficult to do well.
.
Sorry, KP, you can’t fuck with Motown. Uh UH! No way, No how! Junior loves Motown and the almost a capella range of voices that could stand alone of fit perfectly with instruments.
.
By the way the Tears of a Clown single? The B side was better.
.
Here’s a reminder of Beri Gordy’s finest Motown had to offer.
.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3WwuW1Ebyc
.
Tomorrows away game. Saka is fit we are led to believe with no mention of achilles, but Partey is out for a couple more weeks so Rice will be able to show if he can fully cover Partey and if he is an improvement..
.
He has the right attitude and leadership qualities to do well with us.
.
All depends really on Arteta. Ditto Havertz.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yglzDizF2aU
.
One of my favourite Elvis songs also a B side I believe.
My bad it wasn’t Tears of a Clown B side. Can’t remember now.
Now when it comes to a knowledge of sports CEOs, I am sadly lacking other than to read CVs and deep dive on a shortlist to get to the interview stage.
.
However, there is one woman I advocated for our CEO job when Raul was brought in and again after he was given the long walk on the short plank.
.
None other than Marina Granovskaia. We know Marina is a skilled negotiator with her dealings with The Chavs TWs. Perfect to deal with A&E’s devilish good looks but little up top. She would make sure the lift went to the penthouse with those 2,, and if it didn’t get rid of repeat offenders.
.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marina_Granovskaia.
.
It’s a difficult position to fill where there needs to be clear demarcation lines as to who reports to who. A&E should only report to the CEO unless a DoF is appointed above Edu or better in place of.
.
The most important standard the incoming CEO has to set is AccountabilitY from all departments but especially with both A&E’s performances now they have the squad they want/need that amounts to around £1billion.
.
That’s what I’m hoping for the most. However, what if Josh becomes the CEO with his other US sports titles? Will there be accountability for Arteta? I very much doubt it. Josh will be the last to see Arteta for who he is and act on it unless the fans revolt first.
.
The fear is we’ll get a puppet figure with KSE pulling the strings and their sacrificial lamb when needed to clear absolute blame from Stan & Josh when needed.
.
David O’leary sprang to mind, but he made a mess of Leeds.
.
Then also when Arsenal and the board are spoken in the same breath the biggest fear of all would be Arsne Wenger being our new CEO now he’s proved himself with FIFA.
.
What say you lads? Arsene, Josh or Marina fr CEO?
Hi Tony
Don’t fuck with Motown. Point taken. I was brought up on it. Always been a huge fan of Marvin, the Temptations and the 4 tops in particular. Here’s one for junior, another favourite of mine by R Dean Taylor.
https://youtu.be/jDAha2XYIOY?si=bzGoFywN0uuyOtQD
Not sure if he still is but this guy was known for being the only white singer on the label. Wonderful stuff. Almost a crossover with Northern Soul.
On Japan, I’ve come to appreciate them even more with the passage of time. ‘Quiet Life’.
I said this last year and the year before ad nauseam but we’ll have too much a sad old Everton. Nil three. Goals for Martinelli, Unket and Ode. Dyche to spontaneously combust. With any lunch it’ll be the last time we play Everton for a long while.
Cardiff – Swansea tonight…
New post.