Klopp got a dose of his own medicine

Thanks Ambarish, good piece.

I’m really happy for the gifted win.

The game reminds me of when the Invincible’s went to Manure I think, and we tanked. No reason, we just blew it, and several games after. The bubble was burst. Hopefully someone will correct me if I’m wrong.

I honestly think Klopp’s leaving admission worked against his players rather than for, in it being too much pressure to perform. That, and they missed Salah, and that tends to make Trent less affective with no Salah to hit balls, for him to chase.

I also think Salah being away allowed for us to nullify Trent, and why he was subbed at half time. When Salah is playing we can’t keep both quiet 100% of the time.

The pool players looked and acted overawed by Klopp leaving because it will inevitably cause doubts if Pool’s players’ heads’ about the uncertainly in the coming summer with a new manager to be found. The new MF must be pissed if they went to Pool because of mega-gnashers.

Because Pool were way off their usual game I thought Jorginho had a good game contrary to my earlier disdain, still would have preferred ESR, who I feel now seeing Pool play, would have had a field day with VVD and co.

I’m happy for my club and fellow Gooners, especially Marc who was there to witness the truly unbelievable, and proves that Allison has the odd Ramsdale moment, too.

Raya is really too nervous to be an elite keeper. Why he didn’t smother the Saliba panic with his body? He froze. Ramsdale would have probably taken out Saliba and who was behind him, but there would have been no goal.

Other than that, a rather fractious game kicking lumps out of each other collecting cards for fun: a red was inevitable. The football was dire from both sides to the point that VVD has been blamed for all 3 goals, so when you’re that bad from the back, it’s never going to be your day.

Other than Havertz; my pet peeve who to be fair was asked to do the Job Jesus does as our anti striker and go defend from the halfway line or in our half. This meant Saka was in his position for the awful header, but Havertz is aerially and heading challenged, as much as he is with his shooting timing challenges; he misses 8/10.

Was Havertz Pool’s best player as VVD was our best player?

I’ll leave that to you all to answer………

Just how many times does Jamie Carragher have to prove what an ignorant vile individual he is before Sky bin him?

As we all know I tend to take a more critical eye when it comes to our performances…my propensity to do so clearly has something to do with the manager, due to his oft-times stifling tactics and his seemingly constant goalpost moving inklings, but I would always rather we win than lose…what really gets my goat though is that I find myself once again in opposition with a large segment of our fanbase, as it’s my belief that this particular manager hasn’t the wherewithal to get us over the proverbial greatness hump and I’m tired of us settling for 2nd best

as for all MA’s touchline histrionics, it just seems a little too fake and contrived most times, whereas when Klopp does something similar it seems more on brand, which doesn’t mean whatsoever that I side with those clowns in the media with clear biases…for whatever reason it just makes sense when Klopp unleashes his most animated self, which is further buoyed by the manner in which his players, both past and present, heap praise on him and the fact that he’s achieved footballing greatness…as such, I’ll have nothing but positive things to say if MA finds a way to replicate Klopp’s achievements and acts in a similar fashion, as I know it will be coming from a place of truth

have a more not take…

Good stuff lads. Balanced but tending towards the upbeat. This must give them confidence going into the WH game and a chance to avenge the two defeats this year.

Ambarish – if you reckon Wengo was calmness personified, then I suggest you check out GG’s reaction to us winning at Anfield in 1989. A 71 double winner and the manager that took us to a first title since that one, he is so cool in the final few minutes and after the whistle blew. I loved seeing that – GG knew he needed to show respect to the Anfield crowd and players just a few months after the horrors of Hillsborough. George was a true giant.

I agree Tony that the bin dips were shockingly bad.

KP-I want so desperately to be impressed, but there’s so little to hang your hat on, minus our current position in the table…all of our big boys from last season, Ode, Marts amd Saka, are rather pedestrian in this new/old sideways system…frankly, I can’t even seem to remember a single strike from distance or anythng resembling a highlight goal, minus maybe one from Tross…as such, I just can’t envision this brand of football leading to titles of consequence, unless we continue to be gifted victories like this past weekend…it’s all too ordinary for my liking…all that said, it’s certainly not impossible that we could find our way into the catbird seat if our closest competitors continue their somewhat inconsistent ways and we stop giving away points to lesser light squads

it’s weird to think that during our latter Wenger years I would have been absolutely elated by a victory against a top 2 side, regardless of the optics, as our record against the best and the brightest was so piss-poor that anything remotely resembling a quality victory would have been unduly praised…in my opinion though, this settling disposition is no longer acceptable, especially considering the unprecedented spending…by this juncture we should have already ushered in a new era of exciting/expansive title-winning football…instead it’s always two steps forward and 3 back…last season we finally showed some bravado on the pitch, then we come to find out that it’s back to basics this season, even after a 200+M summer shopping spree…to make matters worse, whenever accountibility comes into question the goalposts invariably move, with talk about phases on top of phases, which begs the question why didn’t we simply build upon what transpired last season by properly replacing Xhaka and investing in a quality Striker…so I’m pleased with the 3 points, but I’m far from satisfied by the managerial direction of the club

Hi Vieira
I agree with your last sentence. Better times in spite – not because of – the lunatic on the touchline. A stopped clock is right twice a day and all that. I’d like it to continue but it’s not worth getting one’s hopes up. The team needs to reassert it’s usual authority over the Hammers (who are wildly inconsistent). Score early (a screamer from the currently shot shy Sir Declan Arborio would be especially welcome) and keep the foot down. Will it happen? Who knows!

I think the reason why the bin dippers game affected me in such a positive way was because Cardiff won the previous day at Watford having made 6 transfer dealings before the window closed. Two good results like that will easily put me in a better frame if mind. The long suffering Ms Kroenkephobe jumped out of her lay-z-boy in shock and annoyance after Saka scored.

Marc
Too many times apparently

KP, Vieira, Marc, Ambarish, Hoopah et al.
I don’t care what Arteta does after a win, that I could never like such a nasty cretin stealing a living at our club thus far. He could 3 CL cups on the bounce, and it would endear me to him one iota. There are few people I hate in this world but Arteta is chief among them along with Pedro. Another idiot stealing a living from Josh.

So, what next?

West Ham, Burnley, Porto away with us entertaining Newcastle at home.

Entertaining who am I kidding?

If we go with a glass half full after our sterling demolition of Klopp’s mighty warriors now crestfallen whiners, then all 6 points and a 0:3 win at Porto will set us up nicely to behead the be-headers or at least their scalps for another delicious 3 points to savor after using Porto as a sorbet of sorts.

For anyone who has read me before, and I’m truly sorry if you’ve been scarred, it’ll pass, but this author is going to take a leap of faith and say somehow the above is going to come true.

Why?

I’m going with well, why the fcuk not? Seriously, fellow Gooners for life and suffer group, I think the silly fcuker might stumble over accidentally, of course, and find last season’s pre run-in form. Somehow, I know now why, maybe shit loads of water from Loudes, where if so Our Ladies there are doing a fine job because other than sick notes: Jesus and Partey, we are not looking too bad.

Kiwior, might just, please God, Allah and any Deity needing pleading with, keep that fcukwit liability Zinchenco on the bench only to be brought on when Arteta wants confusion on the pitch. Sadly this tactic affect us badly too.

It’s abundantly clear that if Arteta remembers how he deployed ESR 2 years ago to such great effect that he got an England call up. This memory will see ESR playing 8 and the old inside left channel to great effect. As Vieira says switch to a back 3 and then Jorginho becomes a much more viable contributor to the midfield with Rice. They can pivot easily and centrally together hold the midfield tight with Tomi, Saliba & Big Gabs at the back with Ramsdale back where he should be.

Ode and ESR with flying Gabby and Saka all interchanging in the final third, goals will come. I’d throw one of our Hale Ender strikers – whoever is doing best on to fill the aerially challenged forwards we currently have. 6’3″ and built like an outhouse then let’s have at it tell him to Kolo Toure anything that moves in front of him and hope he isn’t colour blind.

Kolo took out Wenger in his Arsenal trial, as is well depicted in the Romford Pele book on the brilliant Ray Parlour’s Gunner days.

We don’t have the silkiness and natural elite guile of City who rarely have an off day or get serious injuries with the levels they buy at. That is a matter that will hopefully have some negative bearing on their future although I’m not holding my breath.

Certainly, nothing will happen this season.

What Arteta has banded together is more akin to a ‘Band of Brothers’ squad where they really do fight for each other, and often create some decent, but not goal scoring worthy football from open play. Without looking it up I believe most of our goals are from dead ball positions: corners and free kicks.

I think we just need a bullying beast up top and is why Toney would have been the guy to help us pip Pool and city to the PL crown.

Now, while I can’t fault Josh and Stan for making funds available to the tune of about £600m+, it just seemed so Kroenke-like not to put their hands in their own pockets for once ands bought Toney or similar if he is out there.

Now, if that screws buying Raya then, cry me a river I don’t care. The Spanish Manuel-esque, diminutive keeper should never have been bought along with? Way to many to name now as I’m on a role. Out Piorot look alike Cedric can leave tout suite s’il vous plaît and partey, too. He’s about as useful as tits on a bull these days.

FFP? To win a season after City has done it for their Qatar existence? Who cares? In the scheme of things many have questions to answer, and I thought we’d outed the Wenger bleating of we must be blanc de blanc.

What did that get him? Fired is all.

We needed a Drogba, but a Toney would have done. Toney would have scored the Saka missed header Sunday evening, which would have turned the game, and where given Pool’s deplorable play, we might have really reamed Klopp a new one instead of sticking Arteta’s finger in and finding the G spot.

As sloppy and on a plate as that victory was, there was something there is the chaos of it all that showed me we could actually win the league.

What could possibly go wrong after that performance?

Mikel Arteta!!!

Buying a striker is a moot point now. We have Crozier-Deberry available and Tyrece John-Jules and Taylor Hart could come back from loan.

The usual Arteta fcuk up fore this season was…..drum roll……… Bolagun who is in the top ten Euro strikers and will actually make Edu money: shocker I know.

So, I felt this song from Cher appropriate considering Bolagun would have had us at the top and probably won the league form us, but we kept Eddie……….

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9n3A_-HRFfc

KP – my wife and I regularly bumped into GG in in a Italian restaurant in Winchmore Hill. We were there the evening a drunk Kenny Samson got out of hand. GG signaled to David O’Leary to remove him.

After Samson had been dispatched in a taxi – GG came round to all of the other occupied tables, sat down and apologised. After we had finished our meal he joined us again with Luigi, the restaurant owner and bought us after dinner drinks.

My wife was impressed. She had previously met another AFC Manager who was also a ‘gentleman’. I had sent her to Highbury to collect my semi-final tickets from the box office in Avenall Road. By mistake she entered the main entrance in the East Stand. She wasn’t sure where she had to go but took the opportunity to marvel at the architecture in the main hall. Terry Neill was passing through the hallway and asked if he could help. He pointed her in the right direction but then showed her around the East Stand offices, changing rooms etc.

Fabulous story, Norg.

I’ve always felt GG was out best manager. Had Wenger left in 2008/9 Wenger would have been in the mix, but he failed Europe. How that must still grind his gears today.

We supporters live in a perpetual paradox with Arteta. For example I’m ever hopeful, but ……. It doesn’t matter what follows but because for sure something with Arteta will be the cause. For me right now it’s selling Balogun and keeping Eddie.

A 3:4:3 fits Arteta’s style best for me. Same last season.

Let Nelson be the workhorse and dropping deeper to midfield and then sub after 55 minutes.

Ode – Rice – Jorginho – ESR midfield can do real damage and keep our core tight. I’d put Marts at 9 and Saka LW and Nelson on the right. WE have the utility players now to fill in as required either defensively or attacking.

As Partey filled in for Xhaka last season, Rice can assist Jorginho’s slower game with cover, equally Reis can assist, too. That leaves us very strong mobile attacking options and keeping it tight in midfield, something that eluded us for too many years now with our soft underbelly midfield.

We have the squad to win the PL now; anyone think different?

Saka plays his best football telepathically with ESR. Why not switch it around for the remaining games?

LiR has become vow. A real cerebral site. By comparison Le Potage could be termed a hooch bar of the lowest quality and patrons calling each other names

Tony – a couple of years later I was taking the kids to Trent Park and we stopped off at a mini-market in Cockfosters to buy some snacks. George was in the shop pushing a trolly dressed immaculately as ever – grey flannels, blue blazer, crisp white shirt, tie with diagonal red and silver stripes and a cream Mac draped over his shoulders. With him was TV – dressed in a shabby shell suit and trainers that looked as if they were about to fall apart.

The annoying this about Arteta for me (apart from his dull playing style that mirrors his own when he was a player) is the parade of goalkeepers that have passed through the door. Arteta hated Emi and hated the fact that Emi would confront him. Our useless goal keeping coach would rather have Ruunarson than Emi.

Balogun is a natural player – his style is loose and efficient. He can smell a chance. Playing in the right system he will score goals.

For me ESR is the key. Unfortunately for him he doesnt fit with Arteta who obviously cannot tolerate any player that does not follow his instructions to a T. Your formation would create a more exciting approach.

NORG

Thanks for sharing those stories. Absolutely priceless. We’ve talked about this on LiR before but GG was a terrific manager for me – the best we’ve ever had, given the resources he had and the fact that I was 40 years too late for Herbert Chapman. Very much in the style of Alex Ferguson (ie a serial winner) but with far more good grace, moral rectitude (Pal Lydersen notwithstanding) and an Arsenal man through and through despite his occasional liaisons with Chelsea, Millwall and the Spuds. That story about poor Kenny sounded typical of George’s class as a human and his inclination always to do the right thing. It was lovely to see him in the crowd vs Palace a few weeks ago. He looked pretty well. Interesting that he asked Spider (DOL) to look after Kenny. Two other great characters in our back four in the late 80s along with Viv.

I’ve been wracking my brains about the ‘TV’ in your message. I’m usually pretty good at that sort of thing but do you mean Venables? Great story. George in his full managerial ‘outfit’ buying some custard creams. I lived in Highbury for years and never bumped into any of them – that’s what you get for drinking in the Gunners, Woodbine and the Highbury Barn I guess. I wish I’d been there in the late 70s though and bumped into Brady in a chip shop.

My relationship with this club is back to it’s weirdest and most bi-polar. I was becoming really cheesed off with them after the new year and January period but that win against Liverpool has re-kindled something.

Tony – I liked your first message. Your basic point about riding the crest of the wave is spot on. That said, I didn’t realise the MDMA was soooo good in Thailand mate!

KP TV = Venables. They were good mates – probably from their time together at Chelsea. The North London rivalry passed a few people by – Rix and Hoddle were best pals. Rix & Jennings both lived in Winchmore Hill – Pat was often to be seen leaving Oddbins with 4 wine bottles in each hand.

We used to drink in the Lord Marquis, just off Highbury Square. Youngs took the place over – it was a bit run down but the beer was good. The Highbury groundsman also drank there before he went to Real Madrid. He had some interesting stories.

Pre-match was always in the Compton – Alan Green and Sammy Nelson (retired) were often in there. Its a wonder Green didnt swallow his mike when commentating – he usually put away several pints.

Tony-you know my thoughts regaridng the whole 3-back gig…fuck we have the perfect personnel for it, considering that White did so in BHA and Gabs is always playing in wider spaces when Zinchenko et al are being inverted….the only concern is that MA will never bench Havertz and play the likes of Nelson on the regular…if I had my druthers I would have Ode and Rice in the middle of the pitch, as teams can’t send enough players to cover both and still double our wide side players, then I would have ESR tucked in behind Marts and Nelson with Saka similarily aligned on the right…they would be a nightmare for defenders, as we could properly deploy overlapping/dummy runs and they could switch roles on occasion…meanwhile Ode could enjoy some space that Rice would afford him, so he could face the opposing goal and properly unlock defences…in doing so we could inside-out the fuck out of teams, add some much-needed directness, while still having our best defenders on the pitch

TRVL, Tony

Why is it we can all see where the best position is for players but Mr Stubborn (Mk II) will not change or even experiment when an opportunity arises. The problem it is rare for AFC to be miles in front in a game as the Lutons of this world have a good go for 90 minutes.

With a different set up we should be on top and scoring instead of just passing sideways.

KP I’ve heard good stories about mdma found at new moon parties but believe it or not I’ve never been to one yet.

These days I’m content with my thc vape. 💨 once the crazy hot summer is over I’ll look to start roaming around taking pictures. With 100mp cameras you really need rigid control of the camera. Top lens have the ability to absorb slight movement and now the 100mp cameras also have image stability internally too.

So much detail being captured will show the slightest of tremor rendering the shot useless.

The beauty of Hasselblad is its very light including lens.

Hope you’re not snowed in with what’s supposedly coming your way.

TRVL, Norg
It’s not hard to see the issues that need fixing, but Arteta is stubbornly blind and only sees His genius. The emperor’s new clothes et al. Arteta is myopic to his own beliefs.

I knew you elaborate with something more tangible in tactics TRVL. That would work perfectly, but sadly we need a new manager to install that kind of tactical nous.

If Arteta wakes up to what is needed we have the squad to win the league. City is a well oiled machine but can also have the odd poor game. We just need to keep adding points from every game, if we do that and lose the title to City, at least we competed well with consistency.

I’m not convinced Liverpool are in a good place right now, and City will be the team to beat to the title.

9 points from our next league games is the only acceptable view we should be taking. Bar codes at home should be no problem, right? The West Ham game is the tricky one, Burnley should be a 3 pointer.

If we want to win the league, then 9 points is the only acceptable result for out title push.

The Porto result will depend on Arteta’s galaxy brain approach instead of using our best basic staple player to win.

Norg-more often than not people will scoff at the notion that an “armchair Quarterback” would have anything noteworthy on offer when it comes to roster construction and/or the deployment of tactics, whereas I would disagree with that supposition…having a comprehensive understanding of how one might best construct a team isn’t the sole province of those within the professional ranks, although it might provide some with a decided advantage…as someone who played this and several other sports at a highly competitve level, then became an avid consumer of the sport from the “sidelines”, I feel that I’m in a good position to speak on this particular subject…not to mention, I studied coaching/managing both at University and within the private sector, which provided me with the necessary accreditation to coach at a professional level…at one point I thought I might enter the coaching realm once my playing days were done, so I took this as an option course 2 years running then subsequently wrote the required tests…sadly this is no longer a requirement for employment

of course, I’m not so naive as to suggest that I have a comprehensive understanding of the more nuanced innerworkings of our club, but I understand enough about the tactical side of the sport to know what’s presently on offer isn’t working…that said, I get why MA might have some consternation when it came to relying on the likes of ESR and/or Nelson, due to their respective injury histories, but he could have quite easily targteted similar type players instead of pursuing the likes of Vieira, Tross and/or Havertz, who clearly didn’t make sense if his intention was to take what was on offer last season to the next logical level…in fact, I would suggest that he knew that he couldn’t compete with the Klopp’s and Pep’s of the world so he took the “safer” route and leaned into his previous “sideways” tactical inclinations…Cheers

Thanks once again for the kind words Tony…have a good one bud

Real Life disaster is averted, back to some shooting the breeze about Six Nations and Arsenal.

Six Nations, what a fabulous start and also watched the episodes of the Netflix series Six Nations – Full Contact when they filmed the 2023 tournament. At present the cameras are filming the 2024 Six Nations and hopefully there will be a Full Contact Season 2.

Arsenal is in a good position but could have been much better had Galaxy Brain not dropped 11 points from 15 in the run after X-Mas. I am still mightily upset about the players we brought in over the last 4 TWs. Rice is fantastic and we will see what happens to Timber after he is fit. Trossard is also a decent addition but with multiple competitions I can only hope that the duds our manager in training has brought in get shifted quickly.

Everyone marvels at the squad City has, we could have had a much better squad if there would be somebody at the club that can identify talent. City buys this top talents early on, loans them out and then puts them in their squad. Now every marvels at there bench filled with talent that would make the starting XI of most clubs. The amount of money that Artedu spent on Goal Keepers is just one area that supports the fact we have no talent spotting personnel.

Looks like le-arteta.co.uk is going the subscription route, glad I am here with some expats.

Killroy – just checked the above and yes – full blown subscription. Now readers have to pay to be insulted -mugs.

Killroy
Good to have you back mate. Hope things are on the up.

Not sure what the weekend’s rugby told us. Italy going to be slightly better? Competing with Wales not to finish 6th? England not as far forward as their client press imagined? I guess the strongest certainty revolves around Ireland’s GS credentials.

I think Arsenal-wise, the general mood on here is one of very guarded optimism following the miracles on Sunday, the main reason for which was the mess created by VVD and the GK. I’m not naive enough to think Alpha-tross would have scored were we not already in front.

There you go mate – back up to date with my jaundiced view of things.

Paying to read Le Grove? Nah, I think not…

Kilroy, good to see you and the 6 Nations should add to some decent sport. Brave move by Pedro. He should have done it at the height of the AKB vs WOBs I think we all would have laughed up to keep writing back then.

Now? I rarely go there and it’s lost all it’s good contributors. Hopefully, more will migrate here and make the wring easier to keep the content fun and interesting. Far less rambles from me.

KP, Alpha-Tross, one of your best mate, really laughing at that one – thanks.

@KP
Six Nations been absolutely fantastic. Round 1 results to my liking with IRE and SCO winning except the Scots should have gone for a try BP. Round 2 again for me 2 tests to watch FRA v SCO and ENG v WAL.

Here is an excerpt from a Telegraph article regarding Netflix’s Full Contact series.

“Six Nations’ Netflix hopes receive huge boost as series one proves a ratings hit.
Exclusive: Viewing figures in the UK, Ireland and France raise hopes a second season of the fly-on-the-wall documentary will be commissioned”

“Although Formula One’s equivalent, Drive to Survive – which was made by the same production company and the same executive producer, James Gay-Rees – has developed into the gold standard for sports documentaries, commanding nearly seven million UK viewers since its inception, it is understood that it took four series to match last week’s ratings of Six Nations: Full Contact.”

That’s it for me, until we can dick around again with the mismanagement of our Arsenal football club. We need a change to develop a squad that challenges City by smart scouting and investing. But most important we need to get rid of Pep’s cone boy.

Good to have you back and sounding off once again Killroy…as to your last comment regarding our organizational squad development model, I agree wholeheartedly…since our move, we’ve been more Ajax/Dortmund than City/PSG, due in large part to our hesitancy to spend, yet we never fully embraced a similar academy/recruitment model…I thought that might have changed once Diamond Eye came on board, but once the grifter Raul won the day, I knew that was off the table…even when our MIT was subsequently hired, following the emergence of Saka, Marts and ESR, I figured they might have reinvented our structural wheel, by using them as a means to attract the next generation of blue chippers, but not a single academy-developed piece has ever cracked the senior lineup as of yet…thus the chequebook managerial tag…Cheers

on a side note, the whole LeGrove subscription model gig is the functional equivalent of going down the street to use a pay toilet at a gas station even though you reside in a 12 bathroom mansion…that clown will do just about anything to line his own pockets

TRVL
Your comment about using a toilet down the road reminded me of a sketch by Bird & Fortune at a Secret Police mans Ball.

LG – Pedro thinks he is better than he really is. He probably spends most of day in front of a mirror.