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.
https://www.arsenal.com/news/arsenal-release-new-202324-mens-away-kit
Have to say I like the video!
“Mikel Arteta didn’t speak to William Saliba for a week in ‘cold shoulder’ approach”
Bob
You wonder why I don’t like Arteta try reading the above article.
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The kid had just lost his parents and Arteta wanted to see if he had character? Please don’t try to put a spin on this, Bob. You’ll make yourself look worse than Arteta.
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What an absolute cunt Arteta is.
I’ve aways seen strength in Saliba, never weakness. Youthfulness, sure, he’s what 19 then?
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Saliba has said today he wants to be the best in the world; I don’t think he’s far off it and it’s why we paid £30m+ for Saliba. Arteta didn’t want him because he didn’t sign Saliba. Arteta did everything to get rid of Saliba at the time including deriding him.
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Shows that Saliba has more maturity and inner strength than Arteta will ever have.
As Gooners we all live as one and then emotions gets the better of us and things get disjointed for a while while we lick our surface wounds and become one again- wash, rinse & repeat.
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The point I was making about Havertz being the top earner with us and Rice earning less was purely down to: we know what we get with Rice. With Havertz we don’t have a clue. His stats are poor in the PL and his first run out was underwhelming the label he made his own at The Chavs and I guarantee Rice’s first outing will be raved about because he’s a far better all round player, in a more key position and likely captain.
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Something that junior pointed out the other week and said to me, “Bob does like his nuances where he never really addresses the point; he sorts of skirts round it”. At first I was impressed with his English. Then I said how very observant of you.
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We all say it, Bob. Last person was Marc. It’s not a problem for me or the others per se here, but you can’t claim to have impartiality if you don’t address the topic fully. To chip around the edges to find something to spin with does not match your real intelligence; it devalues it.
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We’re all family here even if you are the black sheep
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The essence of this is I still think Arteta the man (I use term very loosely) is a 24 carat cnut!!!!! The football manager? We are still waiting to find out after nearly 4 years, aren’t we?
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Arteta will never change the weak man he is inside in dealing with people. The problem is this inherent weakness that leads the bully in Arteta also permeates into his football tactics, which is why we haven’t won anything yet.
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Ten Hag who I wanted instead of Arteta is well documented from 2 seasons ago. Also a ruthless manager. He has the same challenges as Arteta had joining Manure and yet he managed 3rd and a cup in his first season. Thankfully, Ten Hag has to fight the Glaziers, so it’s unlikely he’ll start this season the way he will have wanted to.
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Hate to say it I will be very surprised if Pochetino doesn’t have his side purring by Xmas. Again, a far better manager than Arteta who would have been better for us, and his players highly respect him.
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Addressing your belief that Harvetz is going to be the LIR poster boy subject of hate and ridicule; well, if he merits it? Yes he will come under serious attack, and so will Arteta because then we’ll have our highest paid player turning out to be another Auba or Ozil or Willian even, who we can’t get rid of for 5 years. Sound about right?
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Unlike LG we tell it like it is here. Sadly, we are rarely wrong in our beliefs, as so many weren’t on LG before being binned for telling what turned out to be the truth. Pedro, is as weak as Arteta. It’s why he needs to be: Salnycparadise, Coneta, NT and a few others to boss and troll his blog. Stands to reason he’s been doing it from the start with Geoff I mean why would he start now with NT? Up to him if being a fraud is ok with him, and this is the way he has to control his blog. Still a few great posters there, Bob, you being one.
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It is what it is, Bob. We are all bored stupid waiting for the season to start, not to see Arteta fail, but where the process wheel stops next?
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In 25 days we’ll start to find out and ten weeks after be able to state our views on the season where hopefully we are top again. Without a 20+ goal a season striker we won’t be is my thinking so let’s hope I’m wrong.
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Europe is getting our summers; 45*C to 50*C are not unusual each year. Problem is Europe is not prepared for it. If it hits the UK, I hope you all invest fun A/C at least on one room.
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Clime change is very real!
*are not unusual for S E Asia each year*
climate*
Aitcho
I didn’t really have time to reply last night my time.
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I’m not saying the 70s was violence free, far from it. Nor were the villains of the time gentlemen. But, they are in isolation of a few gangs north and south of the river then up in Manchester. How many gangs today are extorting their own people? How many drug wars are there today compared to the 70s?
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You can find facts to support your argument, but again I have friends in Canada who give us the full story of what living in Canada is like.
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Aitcho, may I suggest you live in other countries before you just quote statistics. I base my UK opinions firmly on people who I respect their views who I have known for decades and still reside in various areas of the country. You, on the other hand have the Internet’s facts, but no personal data, just black and white facts.
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Your dislike of us who feel the UK is systematically falling apart is unsubstantiated by fact. You seem to think we are clueless expats. It is, if you open up your eyes to what’s really going on. It’s a fallacy if you think we expats aren’t in touch with friends and relatives still living in the UK. The Internet and press are the last areas we look.
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With friends from around the globe, we all talk and discuss world events as we see them happening in the affected countries. All of us would like to move or would have liked to move over the years, but to where exactly? Our moving would be more for a change of scenery than not liking where we resided. Itchy feet if you like.
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My wife is just back from 2 weeks in Europe on business and also assessing Europe as a whole and didn’t like what she found. Brexit has screwed the British chances of permanent residence in a warmer clime and healthier way of life. So, yes, the government you elected are useless and will increasingly be useless for you to live with.
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Do you not consider, Aitcho, that standards have declined so much over the last 50 years? Schools, Health care, homeless, crime and many more areas. Finances are running out and services levels are dropping. Migrants are getting 5* luxury while the homeless some from the armed forces get nothing and looked down upon.
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Yes, great city to send Junior to if he even wanted to go.
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You sound like you are wealthy and live above the poverty lines in middle class or higher. Therefore, you are not affected with day to day life worrying about inflation and paying the bills.
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On top of that London is one of the world’s terrorists’ top targets and continues to be with 39 foiled attempts reported recently.
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As a family we were looking forward to a life in France, but my wife and very successful friends have warned me off, as they were looking to France first as an expat residence.
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It’s a very sad world these days. Will Putin go rogue who knows? Before you start quoting countries stats go live in them first or at least have traveled to a certain country enough times to have spent moths there and then you will b e qualified to tell me different because, like me, you will have experienced it.
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Having lived in 5 countries and worked in many more, I have a good source of intelligence from around the world from people living there offering me local knowledge today and from the past.
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You, on the other hand, have the Internet and the press who never let the truth spoil a good story. You’ll find I’m a lot different from your average expat as are my circle of global friends.
You alright Tony? Seems like you got out of the bed on the wrong side?
I find it hard to ignore it when someone has an extremely forceful opinion that I don’t agree with. I don’t think Arteta is either a c*nt or a terrible man manager. Is he without fault, of course he isn’t!
Often in my responses I try to avoid stating categorically that someone is wrong, I put out an argument that hopefully gives someone their own opportunity to consider their position ( nuance if you prefer).
Better stop there.
Britain is different than the 70s, some changes are certainly for the better, some things less so. The idea that migrants are getting 5* luxury does sound like it’s come out of a Daily Mail, Express editorial mind you!
It would be interesting to hear KP’s & TRVL’s thoughts. KP has probably lived in twice as many countries as me and is currently in the fine Welsh valley’s coastal parts.
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TRVL being our resident Canadian can give us the real lived Canada thinking on this subject while the football is slow.
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Bob and I have touched on this before, so I know how he thinks the same as you, Aicho, considering London and the UK safe at least, and Bob has lived in less safe environs in Central America, so he does have a valid comparison of the country and culture.
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Have you lived outside the UK, Aitcho? Would help to know so as to see where you’re drawing you’re experience from outside of online?
“I don’t think Arteta is either a c*nt or a terrible man manager. Is he without fault, of course he isn’t!”
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Morning Bob, No, I got up in a decent frame of mind and I’m not forcing any view on you but Arteta’s treatment of Saliba was deplorable. I didn’t say what you thought other than to gloss over the situation saying Arteta is not without faults. Your Arteta thoughts are well known and dare I say it but sitting on the fence with “he’s not there yet” and “I’ve not fully bought into Arteta yet”.
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That’s fair to say, Bob, but I’m struggling with you thinking Saliba’s treatment is down to a fault. You appear to trivialize the situation when others are upset and triggered. Also, let’s not see this in isolation; ESR, Martinelli, Saka (played too much), Eddie, Bolagun and others no doubt. I’m the one saying Arteta is a Cnut! I’ve called out Arteta tactics since he’s been here and especially for the last 2 seasons. He was a poor manager or we would have been in the CL last season and won the title this season.
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You have a unique way of defending the indefensible by bypassing the main point and wrapping it conveniently such as in his faults. Faults to me is talking while eating, personal hygiene et al.
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NOT seeing if a 19 year old kid who’d just lost his parents and was in a new country if he would break. Arteta is a Cnut for doing that to Saliba and others.
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We are always going to butt heads at times, Bob. we often have opposing views when the shit is hitting the fan. I say we lost the title you say we did well coming 2nd. Can you imagine what that says to a serial winner who would throw a runner up medal away privately.
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I’d bet a pound to a penny with you that if we had Ten Hag instead of Arteta we’d never be opposing each other’s views. Ten Hag is tough and even ruthless, but he’s also very fair.
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It’s why so many of wanted him. Let’s see where Ten Hag is after 4 years and make a comparison. That is if the Glaziers ever decide to sell.
Telegraph not Daily Mail:
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2022/11/04/albanian-migrants-among-dozens-refugees-housed-luxury-hotel/
What about the floating barge? Why couldn’t that house your homeless instead of migrants?
I’ll leave you to answer the last question, Bob.
Tony, you reckon migrants are treated too well? Ok, believe the Torygraph if you will.
Your views are warped. If the list of young players were treated as badly as you suggest, why are they are they happy to be playing, signing new contracts etc. You would be the first to criticise if they were mollycoddled and you know it! Sometimes it isn’t always an easy path but to construct an argument that these players are thriving in spite of Arteta, rather than because of Arteta is a difficult one to pull off.
When it comes to Immigration Thailand is light years ahead of the UK. Spain is looking like it’s adopting Thailand’s financial rule of thumb of needing a certain amount of money in a local bank account; 800,000THB. It has to sit there doing doing for 6 months.
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That’s for a retirement visa. Tourism is a big part of Thailand’s income as is the expat community who could afford to live, work and retire here. What is happening in the UK would never happen here.
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I’ll leave you with this even though I’ve paid my NI fully to get my pension, which I still haven’t registered for. If I were to come back to the UK, I would have to pay the NHS for any health issues I had in my first 6 months of being in the UK. Migrants get it straight away.
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That and so many other reasons make the UK what it is today. Anything, but fair for Brits and migrants first.
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Nowhere is perfect to live; paradise doesn’t exist except in our minds of what paradise would be. Britain is not geared to have 70m+ inhabitants where your internal free systems (education, NHS, dentists et al) are at saturation point and cut backs will continue to persist.
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It doesn’t matter who is in power Britain is firmly on a downward slope unless it makes radical changes that the masses will rebel about. It’s happening all around the globe.
doing nothing*
A compelling argument, Bob, but right now if you were a young player who who would you feel safe to move to and get playing time. Barca and RM are broke, Bayern Munich is a one horse race team. Equally, the PL is the world’s best league that pays the most.
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That old filthy lucre old chestnut. It’s not like those who have signed are being paid peanuts; no, it’s Wenger’s tactic of offering them the most to keep them.
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City would be a bench situation. Manure and Chelsea are in transition, so unstable to go to. Not really much choice and they know Arteta will be gone if he has a bad season.
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Right now Arsenal, as a club is better for them, not necessarily if Arteta the right manager? That is still an unknown quantity. They do know, though, the pets at least will get game time until they are injured or bad form from being over played.
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I only those the Telegraph as being a broadsheet newspaper. The news is covered by all forms of media, so take your pick.
chose the Telegraph*
Bob, I’ve never followed politics or even voted once. As KP alluded to about my 70s and 80s I did my own thing even when working corporate. My results spoke for me so I did what I wanted and missed annual meetings and team building and other corporate BS. Never went to a Xmas party; I only worked for the company they didn’t own me and they never fired me either.
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I still do my own thing and am very successful at doing it. 10 years as an employee who it didn’t suit was enough for me. I’d done my time in corporate and knew how to conduct business globally having been very successful at it.
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I would imagine your vocation is fully met to suit who you are and that is admirable and something I greatly respect. Our lives have been so different and yet we find mostly common ground. It’s no good quoting me Torygraph or any political views as they will be lost on me, Bob, as I simply don’t care about the UK any more than I do France.
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The UK cannot affect my life, but it will continue affecting your’s, Bob. I prefer it may way!
For some who is not fully taken by Arteta you sure defend him as his MVP fan, Bob.
You’re right molly coddling would not be supported by me either but a sympathetic understanding of Saliba’s torment at the time would have been far more humane and show sound management.
Not sure if you have the insight to know exactly how Saliba was treated. He should have played in the first half of the season before going on loan. He seems happy now!
All I would say is that for the most part the papers are to the right so quoting an article from them, has to have a recognition that there is a prism in operation, reflecting the vested interests of the ownership.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/sport/football/kai-havertz-makes-arsenal-history-as-first-player-to-set-embarrassing-pre-season-record/ar-AA1e3xxQ?ocid=entnewsntp&pc=U531&cvid=2c4c5bb378374961a1a151c03f110381&ei=12
Little do they know that this is all part of Arteta’s genius masterplan – make other teams think we don’t know where he’ll play and other players thinks he’s shit and we’ll win the PL & CL at a canter.
When I read things in the paper you can tell if that is click bait or had more truth then falsehood in it if you have followed Arteta over the past 4 years a trend will emerge and you build your opinion on that.
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For me Arteta will die on the Havertz hill and hopefully be gone next season. I am just looking at the young players that he discovered and the record is dismal. So one trend is he trust more buying players then developing academy players. So if the papers report on new players, I look at the situation through that lens.
It’s an opinion blog, so I will have mine too :))
I think for the first couple of years, everything was wrong with Arteta except getting the crowd together. He has improved (learnt on his way, and the leadership deciding project youth is the way). He surely made us play some beautiful football last season, and ending up second was an achievement. However, he is stubborn about rotation and we paid the price in terms of injuries, drop in performances and it also meant players coming from bench didn’t have enough game time to pick things up (Holding, Kiwior).
Started worse, improved on his way, got into Champions League and has a proper fight with Pep’s side. Rotational aspect and team management can be judged better this season when we have two games to play every week, and he has basically got the back ups he needed.
Costly, yes but he got em anyway. So he will be judged in his 4th season. Anything less than a trophy and a good Champions League run will not be considered a progress. He talks about setting the standards high, those standards applies on him too.
Killroy,
I’ve not been very impressed with Havertz but I have a feeling he will improve his game and us drastically.
Feelings are sh*t most of the time though.
Agreed Ambarish.
The Havertz Hill, as predicted.
Out the horses mouth, Bob. From Arteta.
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Anyway, it triggered me to know what went on. I really felt for Saliba and I’m extremely impressed he has matured so well. Proves he’s had good advice and support from his family and agent, who I was impressed not to move Saliba on for a huge agent’s fee.
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It really angered me and just confirm’s my thoughts on Arteta the man, not the tactical coach – that has still to be decided when or if Arteta brings home a PL title or CL trophy.
Very well said Ambarish.
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Bob, I’d be very happy for all us gooners to win the title this season even Pedro. I’d want to see if Arteta can win the CL, so I can look past the manager and take heart in the important silverware he wins us. Doesn’t mean I have to like or respect him as a person because I never will and Arteta will never change. The later is very evident if you look at him over the last 40+ months.
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In general manager’s job is 2 things; to make the right decisions and delegate.
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Arteta has proven numerous times he’s a poor decision maker and even worse under pressure during games. The worst part is when things are going against us the camera focuses on Arteta chewing his nails or fingers looking lost. Then Albert Stuivenberg wanders over casually offering Arteta choices, which invariably he doesn’t use. Wish, rinse & repeat. Will this habit change? I have no idea.
To be fair, Bob, even you said you are unsure about Havertz, so you can’t be surprised we all feel the same. I’d love for Havertz to be the dream buy we all missed completely. If Havertz nails the #8 this season, I’ll be one of the first to acknowledge what a genius signing it was.
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However, if it all goes Pete Tong then we are stuck with a £338k a week underwhelming player no one wants so we have to pay him off.
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It’s not a remake of Calvary Hill with Havertz and he has more than a fair shot of showing what he couldn’t do at Chelsea. If he doesn’t, he will have that cross to bear.
No one Havertz to fail (well no Arsenal fans at least) my concern is sometimes a player just isn’t suited to a particular league or style of play for example Bergkamp great at Ajax, awful at Inter & God at Arsenal, Veron was great in Italy, awful and ManU and worse at Chelsea.
Now Arteta might be able to bring the best out of him but for a player who’s looked bereft of confidence for sometime we really need to stop any negative media stuff it’ll just make matters worse.
Marc
Agreed we all want Havertz to be the next Bobby Pires as their styles are somewhat similar when Havertz is on song. Big shoes to fill but also for a much bigger fee and income. Alan Ball was a silky ball player. Freddie Ljungberg also a great 8, as was Rocky. Parlour another.
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I know the playing style is different now, but as effective 8s the above names were truly magnificent. If Havertz is as good as Nasri the he may just justify his price tag.
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There are others and Ode is wearing the #8 so reality is #7 the great Liam Brady’s shirt number.
Tony
Not sure Saka will be happy with you taking away his shirt number!
When sticking to numbers and facts it took Arteta over 3 years to beat Emery’s total points. Emery inherited Wenger hang overs was not monetarily supported by KSE to the degree that Arteta was. You can only play the football with what your players are capable of. Emery was sacked because of the clueless fan’s pressure and politicking from the Club.
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Arteta finished 2nd place after a bottle job and owns the unenviable record of sitting 240+ days on top of the table without winning the title. Sure an improvement over finishing 5th after another bottle job.
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Are you trying to tell me that with the hundreds of millions investment in players another manager like De Zerbi, ETH, Nagelsman or even Emery would do a worse job then Arteta? Not a snowballs chance in hell.
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This season will be a do our die for the generational one and we will see how he handles pressure and how he treats the squad when feeling that pressure.
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23rd of December after the Pool game will be evaluation day and no excuses from the Apologists.