Things have been going pretty well for us this transfer window. We have managed to sign Declan Rice, a right profile 24-year old with loads of experience and hungry to achieve more. I don’t know if Rice would be able to fix the problem Thomas had last season, but we have tried to address it. We have got Timber, which allows us the flexibility to use White as CB if and when needed. Last season, we ran out of ideas and bodies when both Tomiyasu and Saliba were out, injured. We had to play Holding because White couldn’t be shifted to CB, and Kiwior is still raw to adapt to the style of play Arsenal does. We have also addressed Xhaka’s immobility with Kai Havertz. Despite his Chelsea’s performances, I am hopeful on this. Kai will prove to be a much better player for us, and will certainly have more runs in him than Xhaka.
We have stop gaps in other places, Tierney is a very decent defender if Zinchenko get injured (again), Nelson/Jesus can cover for Saka at RW, Trossard provides a cover for Martinelli and can play up top too. We have ESR in the mix this season, who can cover for Odegaard. We have a solid, young team who just finished 2nd and is going to fight till death to improve it. They are going to play at the grandest of the stages in Champions League and I’m sure players who fought to get the #10 and #7 shirts at Arsenal would want to prove they deserved it.
So, what is this reality check?
First, we are playing in one of the toughest leagues in the world. Second, last season was a transitional/poor season for most of the top 6 and they are aggressively fixing their problems. Third, it’s not a one-game-a-week for us and Mikel is not very good at rotation I’m afraid. Lets get into the details.
First point is evident. It doesn’t matter if you are Manchester City, Liverpool or Arsenals of the world, you are not guaranteed to win against the likes of Brentford, Brighton or Wolves. Even a newly promoted side like Forests can restrict City to share points. We didn’t make it last season not because we lost to Man City or Liverpool, but because Everton beat us, Brentford restricted us to a draw at home and we couldn’t get past the Southampton defence twice. There’s no guarantee in March 2024 that a team which sits on top can easily beat a team fighting for relegation. This is what makes Premier League exciting and is something you can’t do much about, than to concentrate on your game and improve as much.
Second point is concerning.
- Liverpool – Last season Liverpool fell of the cliff after Mane left. They had a very old and tired midfield too. They have let go Firmino, Milner, Keita and Chamberlain while strengthening their midfield by getting deals done for Szoboszlai and Mac Allister. Again, the same philosophy as ours, bring in young legs but experienced. I’m sure Klopp would be serious to get back into the mix after having missed the Champions League spot.
- Man City – Well, Man City have only brought in Kovacic as of now and half of their title winning team is off to Saudi. That’s a good news till you check that Pep is still there and he can build a team from scratch whenever he wants. All the money that is coming in, he will use it to fix what’s getting broken. They have unlimited money and one of the best managers in the world.
- Chelsea – The best transfer for Chelsea has been their manager. They have brought in Pochetino, who is great in building a solid team playing a definitive football. All the talents in the world and they were poor because there wasn’t anyone to manage them. Now, they have one and they have let go of the players that weren’t performing in their system. Mason Mount, Havertz Pulisic, Koulibaly, Kovacic, Mendy are all gone and it’s the last transfer window that will help them. The likes of Mudryk from last season are going to improve, and there recruitment is still going on. I personally think they will be the ones to watch out for, and are going to make life tough for everyone around.
- Man United – Well, Ten Hag is doing what Arteta has done at Arsenal. He is another non-emotional manager, has let go of De Gea and replaced him with Onana. Maguire has already been stripped of captaincy and he has brought in Mason Mount from Chelsea to strengthen his midfield. United are in Champions League, they have added motivation to invest and ETH is a very capable manager in building a team which can fight. They are going to be a pain in the arse, as always for us Arsenal.
- Newcastle United – They are the new addition in top 6. David Howe has gotten them the Champions League spot, after bringing the likes of Guimaraes. They are yet again in the market trying to improve on their 4th place finish, and has already brought in Sandro Tonali from AC Milan. Another oil money club to fight against, with virtually unlimited money and a manager who has done pretty well after taking over a relegation fighting Newcastle a year and half back.
- Tottenham – Well, they are going to be sh*t always, so nothing to worry about them.
It’s not going to be easier this season, that’s for sure.
Coming to the last point – we are all aware of Arteta’s stubbornness in playing a fixed starting XI, with last 10 minutes subs. It has it’s Pros and Cons. When these players play together regularly, they develop a chemistry and understanding about each other’s game. Also, a winning team is very high in confidence and any changes to it likely causes a small disruption. However, not all players are built like Saka or White, and playing them week-in, week-out can cause them fatigue and injuries. We have seen Partey broken, we have seen Saka not playing to his best, and we have also seen what happens when a player not rotated enough comes back in the fold when one of such cases happens (with Holding).
I’m in the favor of sticking to a playing XI but not that rigidly. It’s as simple as subbing out Saka a little bit earlier if we are 2-0 up against Forest. Showing a little bit of confidence for the bench players against the bottom half teams can keep these players fresh for the important games.
This season is going to test Arteta on his rotational skill. We are going to play twice a week and it’s not like no one would care this time. He will have to manage players in a way that they do not get injured, do not get stale, do not feel dejected; all while keeping them motivated for every minute they play.
As I said the last time, it’s going to be a tough season for the Manager, having to manage the team in two important competitions while improving on the last season’s performance; players after staying on top of the table for around 30 weeks and not winning; fans because we have seen improvement and the frustration and anger has changed to hope.
Right, see you in the comments.
Kroenke, Marc’s question on Blair, after the Tory pile of shite that we’ve suffered from for what feels like forever, appears like a classic case of ‘whataboutery’.
Farage, what a dicksplash. Acting like he’s all hard done by when Coutts offered him a Nat West account. How embarrassing to be impressed about having a Coutts bank account in the first place for that matter.
Morning all
For a few days football hasn’t featured at all in my daily life, so much so, I forgot about the Barca game. A pleasing win particularly so with Trossard putting in another superb performance. Kia has competition and, as we all said here, Trossard should have played 8 after arriving last January.
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Saka missing another penalty is a worry, but easily remedied.
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Some better things to take from the game than the Manure loss and looks like we’re still busy in the TW.
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Not much else to say other than have a good weekend and I’ll return to my research.
Kroenke
What’s got worse that’s directly a consequence of BREXIT – there’s some nuisance issues and the EU could have been more sensible in its position of the negotiation rather trying to hand out a punishment beating.
The truth is the major problems we are currently facing would still be happening whether BREXIT Had occurred or not.
My reference to Bliar is something I thought you’d be able to take on board – a major reason BREXIT happened is a result of him allowing to much migration too quickly. Part of the inflation issues are the QE that was started because of Bliar / Brown’s cock up in changing the financial regulations that were in part responsible for the crash.
The Tories haven’t been good enough but to think Labour would be better is naïve bordering on insanity.
Bob
What would you say if a Bank closed the accounts of anyone who was a Union member because they’re screaming lefties?
You’d go fucking apoplectic – Farage was only offered the NatWest account after all this had come out. Coutts released personal confidential information on a client in an attempt to smear him.
Farage’s politics are irrelevant what the Bank (how many other banks have been doing it?) has done is not only immoral but deeply disturbing.
Tony
I’m actually quite enjoying taking a summer (mostly) out of football. Usually I’m bouncing off the walls if there isn’t a Euro’s or World Cup.
I think its all a result of ABFS (Arteta’s Bullshit Fatigue Syndrome), we’re lucky LiR provides a
remedy.
Marc, everybody agrees Coutts and Nat West screwed up by being so public. Doesn’t make Farage any less palatable. Not sure what point you’re making.
Coutts is so establishment it’s ridiculous. To answer your question, any union member with £1m in assets outside their house value(or whatever counts) could apply for an account if they wanted to wave their Coutts card around like a badge of acceptance to an elite club. Whether they’d be want to apply or even be accepted in the first place is questionable.
Marc
Thankfully, only 2 weeks to Forest at fortress Emirates. I’m enjoying doing something that equates to work if tons of screen time can be called work. It’s been interesting deep diving into the UK’s property market. Done half the country and looked at over 1000 properties between £1m – £5m (not bragging) it’s crazy how prices have jumped in nearly 25 years.
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It’s been a fascinating study of varying prices/areas across the country and necessary as I have a couple of developer projects I want to do for a very niche target market. So, it’s been football what football?
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Should have the bulk of my due diligence done before we kick off with Forest. 🙂
Marc
Here’s a list if things that have worsened as a direct result of Tory/UKIP Brexit. Ready?
The economy. Less overseas trade, instability for exporters, reduced levels of inward investment, surrogate bilateral trade deals that offer no help to UK companies.
Immigration. Less cooperation in managing migrants since the end of working relationships with EU countries, France in particular where it’s Dunkirk 2.0 for small boats crossing the channel. This may not qualify as a deterioration to you, but many more migrants losing their lives in the channel and traffickers getting richer. Appalling racist rhetoric coming from brown and white Tories.
Foreign Relations. UK now seen as isolationist not only by erstwhile right wing EU colleagues but by the US too. Biden’s concern about the Long Friday Agreement and holding Sunak to ransom over a trade deal. Argentina flexing it’s muscles again with sympathetic EU countries over the south Atlantic.
Health. NHS crisis worsening with lack of funding, industrial action and exodus of key workers. 350 million Tory fucking lies every week while our relatives died of covid.
International Organisations. UK withdrawal from scientific and technological organisations. That’ll only help cunts like Michael Hove who abhor experts.
Fragmentation of the UK. Scotland, Wales and the North of Ireland increasingly convinced that Westminster doesn’t work for them. Isolated, arrogant little England raking over it’s shoddy past.
The empowerment of scum like Bojo, Nadine Dorries, Rees Mogg, Matt Hancock, Farage, Britain First etc.
The end of free movement, tariff free trade, access to EU financial services markets (are you feeling the pinch?)
If you’re intent on blaming a politician who didn’t play any part in negotiating Brexit, you should be looking at corrupt Farage and that pig fucker David Cameron who brought the refendum about and fucked off like a coward when he lost after a campaign of utter complacency. Blame Blair for the loss of UK life in Iraq, but no one would say he had a part in Brexit. FFS.
Come on Marc. Raise your game. You are to Brexit what Tets is to football management.
Kroenke agree with every point except the last sentence!!