I took the vaccine on Friday evening and it brought me a hell of a day with side effect. So much that I slept the whole of Saturday and Sunday. Not only it’s gonna save me from any future Covid complications but it did something better by saving me from the embarrassment I would have felt watching City game.
I did watch the highlights, and we were clueless as ever. Losing 5-0 with just 1 shot – off target mind you, Xhaka getting his usual red card with his reckless tackle, Kolasinac still in the playing XI, were just some of the things which summed up our game! There was no aggression and it looked like we accepted the defeat after first 10 mins. You can give a hundred reasons against the loss – a punch to face for Chambers, players (Partey, White) injuries and the red card – which Man United would have gotten away with, but deep down you know we weren’t playing for a win and lack the fight.
I was very excited when we were linked with a modern day coach, who worked under Pep and was credited to improving players like Sterling. It felt like he would bring a new philosophy, better football and ultimately improve us to the level where we will be competing for the silverware.
It’s not going well though, not at this point of time. We have finished 8th for two consecutive season and lost to a promoted team in the very first match we played. Football looks boring, we can’t score for our life and this is after we have splashed a lot of cash. We have been sitting at the bottom of the table after 3 games and have yet to score a single goal.
I personally believe it’s time for a change. A club, as big as Arsenal, deserves to be in Europe. Wenger was making top 4 every season before he couldn’t and we asked him to step down. Emery missed the top 4 by a penalty and a bad start of the season cost him his job. We should use the same measuring tape for Arteta. He had enough leverage compared to Emery, with more than a season and a half under his belt. He has been given funds (Partey 50m, White – 50m, Lokonga, Tavares, Gabrielle, Willian etc) to play his style of game but we still don’t know what that style is. Starting a player against City whom you are trying to offload on free from an year is blunt when you send one of the hottest prospect in Saliba on loan. I deny to accept Guendouzi would be any average than Elneny.
This average mindset should change. We need a leader as a manager who can bring out the best of players we have first, identify the weak areas and then bring in some quality additions. When the whole world knew our midfield is probably the worse in league, splashing 50m on a CB while sending another on loan doesn’t make sense. We needed a Bissouma / Buendia / Aouar, no wonder we are poor in attack and have not scored a goal after 3 games.
Changing managers between a season is a mess and with KSE backing up with more than $100m+ already, any new manager will have next to nothing to spend for a whole season. However, we have a pool of youngsters and some world class players who just looks like not interested currently. We also need the change to bring the best our of our senior players or show them the exit door.
I’m frustrated and I don’t want to go into details of technical director, recruitment or the investment by the owners. Money was available, Arteta prioritized a CB over midfield, we had a full pre-season, football is still bland and nothing changed from last season. It’s enough to look for another option. The change has to come fast and we shouldn’t wait till we get sure we won’t make top 4/6.
Transfers?
Transfer window closes on 31st. We have less than 36 hours to fix everything and to sell the dross. Nelson is moving to Feyenoord for a year loan, with his contract extended by an year with us till 2023. However, the deal for Eddie Nketiah has fallen through with Crystal Palace and we risk of losing him free in next summer! Laca is in the same position of last year of his contract as walking as a Bosman. Maitland-Niles has shown his frustration after the club blocked his exit to Everton; he isn’t wrong here with the game time he has got under Mikel though.
I would still see the day tomorrow to cover it in details and I’m prepared to be disappointed.
Wrapping Up
All in all, nothing looks good. With AMN’s instagram story, you could figure out players have started dropping tools on the manager and it’s a shocking sign. Even if we are persisting with Arteta for the season, we as a club shouldn’t reach to this stage where players feel posting on social media is better than talking face to face.
What’s your take on this? Let me know in the comments.
