I have two choices – support Mikel’s every decision and dedicate my life in proving whatever he does is brilliant, or criticize him for the things which I feel could have been better. Second option comes with a caveat that I may be proven wrong in due course, but that would only mean Mikel achieving things and winning trophies at Arsenal. It would still make me happy, because I love the club.
First thing first, Mikel needs to stop gambling with our playing XI. Trossard in place of Martinelli can make sense, because there isn’t a drop in performance and it’s a like for like replacement but Thomas Partey at RB doesn’t make sense at all. Gabriel on bench, when he started 37 of our games last season is bonkers. What it will do is, when you realise your experiment is not working anymore, you integrate Gabriel back in the playing XI but he would be lacking the match fitness and the confidence. What it also does is, devoid us of the protection Partey offers in midfield, and his exceptional reading of the game.
With enough words, anyone can prove anything right like the Twitter space is doing. Give me all your explanations about why it’s a good move, and why 3 at the back while Partey moves to midfield is a masterstroke, but I am not buying because the 2 games we have played, haven’t looked like a game from a title challenger. Convincing wins boosts confidence.
Right, that’s me done. Back to the game.
Fulham at home, should be 3-points for us. They were sensational by their standards last season, and are looking to improve on that.
In team news, Tomiyasu is going to miss today’s game because of the red card he received for wasting 8 seconds and NOT pulling the shirt of a player. It wasn’t deemed a clear and obvious error and it couldn’t be over-turned because it wasn’t a straight red. I think it’s high time someone ‘clearly and obviously’ confirms what this means.
Zinchenko is back in the fold and might get his first start of the season. I don’t see any other changes, unless Mikel notices that we played our best football with a RB in White, Gabriel and Saliba partnering at CB and Thomas Partey in the midfield. He would have to upset his new buys because you can’t fit em all in your XI.
Gabriel Jesus is back too, but I don’t think we are going to rush him back in playing XI. We did that mistake last season, let’s not repeat it.
Paul Tierney is officiating today, and that’s a big concern. I saw Arsenal.com highlighting our track record of not winning a single game since 2021 (6-in total, losing 5 and drawing 1) when he has officiated for us. That’s quite a record when you consider that we won a lot of games last season. Let’s hope they don’t find a way to screw us up today. And someone at the club probably has directed the managers of the website to highlight these points. They did for Tomiyasu’s red card in the post match coverage and they are doing it for Paul. Good passive aggressive stance, but how much it will affect the guys who gave David Luiz a red card because a player sprinting with the ball touched Luiz knee by himself and trips over.
Right, my laptop has died and I’m writing this on my phone so please excuse me for any errors. I’m expecting a 3-0 win today with Martinelli scoring because it’s been long, and I always love a clean sheet.
Hope you are having a good weekend. See you during the games.
Nice piece Ambarish
The reason someone us who aren’t part of the cult of Arteta criticise decisions is because they don’t work very well.
Yes we’ve won our first 2 matches of the season but they were against teams we should be beating and with better performances and more comfortable margins.
Your posts improve all the time, Ambarish. Keep them coming.
Error-free Ambarish as far as I’m concerned. 😊
Really good article, with a handsome smattering of well-placed cynicism about the manager’s lack of leadership ability. One thing we can always count on with Tets these days is mystifying selection policy. I hope the more senior figures (Ode, Rice, TP etc.) feel able and confident enough to take over when the bullshit starts to pile up and get in the way of winning.
Interesting 🤔 line up COYG
Game on
It’s becoming less interesting WTF
WTF…..Where is all 11 ?????
Very bad…!
That was really a WTF.
Ohh ……missed it
No goal
what a shit show, both with the selections and with that baffling first goal for Fulham…if I was teh opposition I would be pushing to get behind this makeshift back 4 all day long
surely Gabs must be on his way out, unless this is just another MA doghousing gig…not to mention, Zinchenko simply can’t be relied upon as a regular LB due to his obvious fragility and Havertz seems to have a Eddie-like first touch in front of goal
Cross pass missed…..open highway missed….what is this…again missed…just too close to the goal post….!
Nothing interesting in today’s match..!
Come on guys….run fast and do the perfect pass
Thank God….this time, they missed !
only positive thus far is that there was a stretch ball to Havertz sighting…that said, Fulham look to be far better prepared for this match than the home siders
Where is our defenders..??????
Reality is we could be 3 down.
they could easily be 2 or 3 up…we don’t seem to have a clue
Tony-great minds think alike lol
our touch in front of goal has been so pedestrian I kind of miss Eddie
Is Trossard wearing steel-toed boots today??
TRVL always on the same wavelength
MA’s new moto must be “scoring is so overrated”
Arteta – no there’s a manager with sauce.
Deary me what a shit-show. Havertz is pedestrian and always a fraction of a second late to connect with the crosses..
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Plenty of huff and puff but we lack a CF. Let’s see what Jesus can do in the 2nd half.
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How much did we spend?
I said to Junior we’ll probably scrape a win now, but as for serious challengers? Not even close.
to quote Killroy, this is some full-stop Galaxy Brains horseshit
Tony
Our two previous matches have been poor performances, God knows how today will turn out but the manager can no longer dodge responsibility or hide behind the squad.
He’s picking what can at best be described as odd selections and its showing.
Arteta is so fearful of a poor result that he’s actually made a halftime sub
When is Arteta going to realise it should be either Trossard or Kia for 8
TRVL
I’m not at the match so can’t comment on individual performances but taking off Trossard and leaving Havertz on just confirms what we were all worried about – Havertz is untouchable and will continue to be picked not matter how bad he is.
So Partey is at CB now because White is a better RB and Saka needs support.
If ain’t broke, don’t fix it – someone needs to shout it out in Arteta’s ear.
what a clusterfuck of backwards passing
The rain has contrived to keep Arteta on his seat and out of harm’s way ….lest his hair styled is messed up
WTF is going on here!!! Arteta must be in full-on panic mode
Oh f Viera coming for Partey when Fulham is still pressing hard.
Kiwior had to go off, championship level for me and Havertz looks like he’s finding the system and pace to quick for him
it’s like we can’t see Leno, as every shot is directly at him…is he actually wearing an invisible cloak of some sort??
maybe Arteta put Eddie in charge of our shooting drills in training, which would explain why everything is directly at the Keeper or airmailed into row Z
that might have been a shot by Eddie and not a pass to Marts
what a potential undeserved gift from the footballing Gods