We have a game against PSG on April 29 and Thomas Partey, due to his idiotic yellow against Real Madrid, will be suspended from the game. Mikel, in his last press conference, wasn’t sure about Jorginho’s availability for the PSG game. So, we don’t have a DM for the biggest game of our season, the semi-final in Champions League. However, the positive thing is that we can use today’s game and the game against Crystal Palace on 23rd to find a solution.
There’s a problem as well to this. We are sitting on 2nd position and Liverpool has a 13 points lead with 6 games to go. We won’t catch up to them, lets be real. Also, there’s a very good chance (still) that we end up outside top 5 and don’t qualify for the Champions League next season . Forest is sitting on 5th position, only 6 points behind us. We have to not only prepare for the PSG game, but we have to make sure we don’t lose games, confidence and our form while doing so. A conundrum Mikel needs to go through!
Ipswich are a tight team. They will most likely get relegated after a sensational Premier League promotion but they can make fun of you sometimes. They don’t have anything to lose and this gives them some freedom to cause chaos. We have to manage this chaos, from the midfield. I’m a big Partey fan but we have only 2 games to find a solution for PSG game, and I would rather let him sit on bench. There are a few options we can try –
Move Timber to LB, put Ben White back to RB and promote MLS to midfield. A midfield of Odegaard, Declan Rice and MLS should be able to hold the fort against Ipswich and if it clicks, we find a solution.
The second option is to keep the defence line as it is, with Kiwior + Saliba as CBs, Timber on the right and MLS on left and introduce Nwaneri in the midfield. This is the best solution according to me, we are disturbing only 1 position (Thomas Partey) and keeping the rest of the winning squad in their position.
Mikel might also bring back Merino in the midfield and put Trossard up top, this is the most likely solution but I have never been convinced with Trossard as a striker. Against PSG, with Donnaruma in their goal, he wouldn’t be so much effective.
Back to today’s game. Calafiori will not be available along with the usuals – Havertz, Tomiyasu, Gabriel M and Jesus. It’s Ipswich last chance to survive the relegation and I am pretty sure they will put up a fight. This is the third consecutive year where we are playing on a Easter Sunday, and we have drawn the last 2. It makes me nervous a bit, but we should go through.
Also, it would be exciting to see one of the Nwaneri or MLS start in the midfield, because (I know you will come after me) ultimately we would have to improve on Odegaard.
We need to win, and we can do that in first half. Lets start the usuals, score couple of goals and then introduce Nwaneri / MLS in the midfield. We can start with that line up against Crystal Palace to practice one more time.
What’s the weather there? We have been suffering with this heat and the only thing keeping me sane is football. See you during the game, I have my set up ready.
Amuniasaynomore
“the maverick skill laden game changer”
Like Mesut Ozil you mean , who was treated abysmally by Arteta for basically questioning whether staff would be laid off despite the players receiving a pay cut.
TRVL
“the whole victimization narrative drives me fucking batty…”
Is it a victimization narrative if it is true.
I would say that Arteta has remained quite reserved in his criticism despite some pretty dubious decisions that are probably into double figures by now , including the obvious hand ball winner yesterday from Bournemouth, a hand ball (elbow ) that has been given 100% of the time this season if it directly leads to a goal.
Some don’t like the truth, I understand how fans think our football is too low risk , too negative and lacking in creativity, there is nothing wrong with honest criticism but you also have to be honest as to why we haven’t pushed on as we should of done this season , namely a squad decimated by injury and as I mentioned previously, many decisions that have cost us points, plus of course we should have made a similar move to villa in the January window and brought in at least 2 offensive players..
To not give Nwaneri game time recently is a head scratcher I have to say as he is a player who can create and score goals out of nothing.
Players like martinelli and saka who have just returned from injury should not be playing almost every minute of every game, a player coming back from injury at this stage of the season is basically in pre season mode and needs time to build up his full match fitness so should be used sparingly especially in the league where we are basically playing for nothing as top 4/5 has been as good as guaranteed for months now. If Arteta needs to play sterling to give them a rest then play him as it’s obvious to me that saka and martinelli are only playing in 3rd gear in the league matches.
Senor Pricksy—god willing you will never see the inside of a courtroom, but if it were to happen you would be wise to submit a collage of your posts here so as to avoid any potential lengthy prison sentence…now you might need to spend some time in a facility until the presiding judge felt that you no longer presented a danger to the public at large, but there’s no doubt in my mind that you will find a whole host of like-minded individuals who will undoubtedly buy what you’re selling…sweet dreams my little Flat Earther
Almunia
Hiya mate. Very good to know you’re still out there kicking against the pricks. It’s a reasonable bit of analysis to suggest MA and DT share the affliction of chronic narcissism. There are far too many people in positions of power these days who would not have passed the basic standards for mental acuity demanded of leaders when the world appeared to be fairer.
I can almost imagine Arteta describing himself as a ‘stable genius’ in a post game press conference when, as I fear, another season turns to dust at the Parc des Princes this week. My suspicion is that the Kroenkes are blinded to his bullshit and will open the cheque book again this summer when what the club is screaming out for is new leadership.
Same shit, same smell.
Wicksy, I wasn’t really a fan of ozil myself,felt that Wenger indulged him too much but in terms of the point I was making that Arteta struggles with certain personality types he is a very good example. You can’t be a good manager if you can’t manage people,simple as that. I once worked with a teacher who cherry picked the best students for her class and refused (through all kinds of tricks) to allow the more challenging students take her subject. For me that woman was never fit to call herself a teacher,end of. I see Arteta in the same light. Everyone knows how Cantona changed everything for Fergie at utd. How would Arteta have reacted if the chance to sign him occurred? Or if he had been at the club when Arteta arrived?
This isn’t a criticism of a small flaw in Arteta’s management style,as far as I’m concerned it’s the reason he shouldn’t be our manager. He’s too limited.And he won’t change or learn. That’s my take on him anyway and each season,each transfer window he only seems to convince me further.
KP,
Likewise it was always comforting to come here and know that you and the lads were all well and fighting the good fight! I gave up there for a while,the football was truly awful to watch,though there were some exceptions which unfortunately were all too rare. Saka aside I don’t know how the regulars get excited enough from week to week to justify the cost of attending games. I can’t even watch them on telly!
Presume you’re cheering Williams on today,he has it all to do,that Zhao kid is fearless. Did you ever make the move to Spain? Was out there over Easter for a week,was lovely but I don’t think I’d survive the summer heat! Back to the grind now for a few more weeks and then another year done and dusted,tempus fugit.
TRVL
Yes , did see. Gaslighting , what an apt imaginary . Is relevant still , until the next fortunate falling up the stairs.
Can’t stop laughing Boss.
Madhu
Wondering if you’re watching the women’s team being humbled by Brighton.
There’s a mile wide losing streak that runs right through the club. The youth sides have been losing badly too these past few weeks. We’re as soft and supine now as we were for those last 10 years under Wenger. Leaders and want players in the beach. Rotten culture
Here’s my theory about Ozil. Most of you have heard this before but here it us again, capitalised for extra effect.
THE WORST VALUE PLAYER THAT HAS EVER PLAYED FOR THE ARSENAL. A LAZY, SOFT AND UTTERLY POINTLESS PLAYER WHO SET US BACK A DECADE.
And I’m holding back there…
Hi Almunia
Tempus fugit indeed, but we rather got bogged down by COVID and still find ourselves in Wales. Catalunya beckons at some point and I’ve been filling in the time by learning Catalan which is akin to a hybrid of French and Spanish (probably a highly controversial thing to say).
I got a sense in this year’s snooker WC of the point you used to make about Rocket Ronnie and his lack of respect for the game and other players. Although Zhao looks a terrific if rather tarnished player, Ronnie to my mind gave up in that semi-final. As I write I think Williams is about to lose which is a shame because he’s a very likeable player. I’ve always enjoyed talking to you about snooker and hearing about your beer assisted pool playing exploits and it crossed my mind to put something on here a week ago asking who you thought might win. It’s really good that you’re back on here mate. I’ve had a few hiatuses (is that a word? hiatusii?) myself and these are only to be expected following a club like this.
Hope the clan are all well.
Hey KP,
Yep,just finished watching it myself,Williams is one of the most likeable guys out there,no doubt. What I’ve read about Zhao suggests that he was seriously mislead and he never fixed or attempted to fix any match. He put bets on matches for someone else. Stupid,but I’d give him the benefit of the doubt. Ronnie has always been fascinated by himself more than is healthy and that’s as kindly as I can put it.
I can’t answer your grammatical question without googling it and that’d be cheating!
I can’t even remember the name of the Arsenal player that was worse than Ozil imo but he was a left back. Santos was it? Unlike Ozil I don’t remember him doing anything worthwhile ever. And the cringeworthy shirt exchange with RVP who had just become public enemy no 1 still sickens me! Ozil was everything that was wrong with latter day Wenger but that tool was everything that is wrong with modern day football.
I made several attempts to return to the online Arsenal world but each time I drew back because I was only annoying myself. Believe it or not it was the approaching off season that attracted me back. I can come on here and shoot the breeze with you lads without getting worked up over Arteta, Clan is good,hope the same goes for you.
KP – I followed the score of Women didnt watch it though. Looks like Slegers is doing opposite of Arteta preparing for finals against Barca. She is not playing the full team. Against Villa which we lost there was 9 changes and against Brighton 6 changes. The last match of the season is against Man U at the Emirates and we need a draw to hold to second place and a guaranteed entry into CL. With no realistic chance of catching Chelsea for the title I suspect she is resting players for the finals. But the two defeats is not good for the general morale. Let’s hope they can get a result against Man U and secure second place. The finals against Barca is the pivotal game of the season. Hope the women get the better of Barca.
KP
Capitalised for extra effect.
Cristiano Ronaldo: “MESUT OZIL MADE ME THE WORLD’S BEST STRIKER.”
Say no more.
KP
What did you think of Sanchez as a player for Arsenal?
Wicksy
You’d take the word of an utter fucking wanker like Ronaldo over mine? Really? I thought we were mates? 😁 Ozil was, is and will be the biggest waste of money that Arsenal ever spunked on a player.
Almunia – I should have been more explicit. You’re right, Santos was terrible along with many others but Ozil costs were more than an Arsenal duffer’s XI combined (might be time for another one of those…) I was looking at Ozil from a cost v benefit standpoint. He bled millions of quid out of the club while successfully spurning those away trips to the likes of Stoke, Burnley and various other English hellholes. I saw him once at the Liberty Stadium as he set Monreal up with a beautiful floated cross to the back post. Swansea had the audacity to come back at us, Ozil rapidly gave up and we lost 3-1. He was never really focused enough by the time he joined us. A once galactico who wasnt even good enough for the Galapagos league by the time he joined us.
NORG – Sanchez was a completely different kettle of pescado in my view. He came to us from Barca with a point to prove. Those early games when he bust a gut for the team really lifted spirits. Notwithstanding the dog and the piano playing malarkey (like Liberace with a lurcher), his energy, determination and goal scoring prowess made him the welcome antidote to Ozil (The massive contrarian that is Wicksy probably hates him). He also did us a few favours when he was sold to Manure by becoming absolutely shite in their system.
https://youtu.be/8PCVyEL4VWU?si=OHVyYJvtvLM9fqer
Check this out. Minute 2.10 for the Ozil to Monreal cross. All downhill after that. But at least Ozil would have made about 250 grand for appearing and being utter fucking piss.
KP
A friend of mine lives and works in Santiago. On a business trip to the north of Chile one weekend end he drove instead of flying. On the Saturday evening in small town he was in a restaurant – it was Sanchez’s home town and his favourite restaurant – and in came the man himself. In this town he was God – he could walk on water. My friend despite coming from Reading was a Gooner, Sanchez had already left North London for the Mancs but did say it was a move he regretted. He also said playing alongside Giraud and Ozil was really good as they both provided the service he required.
At the end of his Arsenal career Ozil milked the club – Wenger having lost Sanchez made sure Ozil didnt follow him out of the door and gave him a massive contract similar to the one Havertz currently has. Initially Ozil’s languid style deceived many but his skill set was enough to provide a high return of assists.
How Ozil became an Arsenal player is an interesting story – nothing to do with Wenger.
Hi NORG
I see Sanchez hails from a burg called Tocopilla. Never been there but I know Antofagasta to the south and Iquique to the north on the border with Peru. Hot, dry and very little rain. Chile’s geography is mad – as you’d expect in a country shaped that way. Iquique has all this classical greek looking architecture made of wood. Chileans are cool people – I’ve been in the south too where it’s green and full of beautiful lakes and inlets plus the Torres del Paine. I spent nearly a week in a place called Puerto Natales eating trout three times a day.
The thing that struck me about AS was not only his work rate but his willingness to take risks. No wonder he won the fans over. Arteta would probably use him as an RB or holding midfielder. I think he made a really positive impact at Arsenal.
Would like to hear that Ozil story if you ever have time. My assumption was that it was (just) money that brought him to N5.
“Cristiano Ronaldo: “MESUT OZIL MADE ME THE WORLD’S BEST STRIKER.”
Say no more.”
Except that demands the question – then why did Madrid fucking sell him?
Mkhitaryan playing for Inter. I’d imagined he was about 50 by now. Another massive waste of money.