It really is a goddamn shame United had to go and fuck him up. Kairat would've been a perfect opportunity for him to break all sorts of records.
true this!
It really is a goddamn shame United had to go and fuck him up. Kairat would've been a perfect opportunity for him to break all sorts of records.
That's fucked the Ethan loan now
WTAF... De Zerbi resigned from Marseille!
I hope Arteta has learned to only keep nerf items in his office, nothing breakable, because I'm sure he will once again be throwing shit every which way upon hearing that news.
That's fucked the Ethan loan now
WTAF... De Zerbi resigned from Marseille!
Until very recently, Arteta has never had to choose between more than two players for CAM and each forward slot. Just such a weird take.
Very recently being this January... and Nwaneri was given nowhere near enough opportunities to pose a potential selection dilemma.
Seems like it's been ages since the opposition just gifted us a goal, talking like the Bournemouth and Manutd ones.
Cough up the gifts you cunts
he raised my eye brow a number of times with that article.
" the ennui enveloping the Arsenal fan base "
ennui? I've seen a lot variations of fan reactions but ennui is not one of them.
"
Until very recently, Arteta has never had to choose between more than two players for CAM and each forward slot. Just such a weird take.
Just read Stillman's latest piece. To attribute the team's attacking struggles to a surfeit of offensive options is really, really off base. You cut your cloth to your measure... and if Arteta can't d...
he raised my eye brow a number of times with that article.
" the ennui enveloping the Arsenal fan base "
ennui? I've seen a lot variations of fan reactions but ennui is not one of them.
" too many cooks "
no, we have just the right amount of cooks. The problem is with how many of those cooks (and possibly the master chef himself) are using nothing but tofu so they're making bland nothingness
" (goals) occurring just after Arsenal score, which suggests to me that the players are switching off "
or the opposition is switching on because they suddenly need goals. After all our talk of wanting teams to come at us, is it possible that maybe, just maybe, we're not as good at going at attacking sides as we think we are or want to be?
it looked it was going wide!
Yeah 🤣
Nice to see Villa giving away a fucking ridiculous goal though
it looked it was going wide!
me too. fucking annoying people chatting shit
Nice to see Villa giving away a fucking ridiculous goal though
I've got the goals show on. No one match worth having on.
me too. fucking annoying people chatting shit
what game should i have on in the background while i do some light admin work?
I've got the goals show on. No one match worth having on.
what game should i have on in the background while i do some light admin work?
Just read Stillman's latest piece. To attribute the team's attacking struggles to a surfeit of offensive options is really, really off base. You cut your cloth to your measure... and if Arteta can't do that it is firmly on him.
Everton seem to manage it. Isn't that why their nickname is the Tofu's?
Ha ha ha!….Boom! Boom!
(to quote an anthropomorphic puppet that some of a certain age may remember).
Everton seem to manage it. Isn't that why their nickname is the Tofu's?
Tofu kills chat
nothing per se but, it would be a little crazy for an elite sportsman to ‘suddenly’ try veganism.
(this can’t possibly be the simple reason for his emaciated appearance).
Everton seem to manage it. Isn't that why their nickname is the Tofu's?
What's wrong with being a vegan?
nothing per se but, it would be a little crazy for an elite sportsman to ‘suddenly’ try veganism.
(this can’t possibly be the simple reason for his emaciated appearance).
I didn't say I wanted to be one. But others can be and that's their choice. No better or worse about it.
Mrs Bass has to eat some vegan food due to intolerances. She says it's OK.
What's wrong with being a vegan?
You can't eat bacon
Some of my best friends are vegan.
Probably something worse than vegetarian..
Pure vegan 😳
What's wrong with being a vegan?
looks it mg but, with an army of analysts it cannot be that simple, Shirley?
In any case, let's hope we sort it out eventually. I'm just so glad to have Havertz back. Gives us an extra option.
Probably something worse than vegetarian..
Pure vegan 😳
looks it mg but, with an army of analysts it cannot be that simple, Shirley?
Arse!
well in bass!
Just giving the captain ‘the eye test’ from an armchair supporter’s point of view and he looks unwell.
It looks as if there is something physically or mentally wrong with him.
...
Probably something worse than vegetarian..
Pure vegan 😳
Arse!
well in bass!
Just giving the captain ‘the eye test’ from an armchair supporter’s point of view and he looks unwell.
It looks as if there is something physically or mentally wrong with him.
If as if he’s switched from a meat-eating to vegetarian diet or something that doesn’t suit.
But you have to think that all the staff would be analysing, testing and psychoanalysing weekly to spot any changes?
something ain’t quite right imho because he has previously been imperious when at his best.
I would like us to use Norgaard more, even in the league. Arteta always says about how some players are more suited certain opponents and game states. I don’t think Zubi should be automatically on the...
This
Ben white against benfica
Martin Z/Ø against Marseille
Ode is clearly lacking in confidence, no doubt due to the injuries he suffered earlier in the season. But being "busy" and seen to be "busy" is not the way back to form when it lacks end product. He's become inefficient and ineffective as a result, leading him to become "busier" in an effort to spark something.
I would also like to see less channeling of his inner Flamini by reducing the pointing. It's become too much of a feature of his and our game.
I would like us to use Norgaard more, even in the league. Arteta always says about how some players are more suited certain opponents and game states. I don’t think Zubi should be automatically on the team sheet each week, as it can lead to many points lost.
"There are a lot of things to work on and correct but it is not as simple as Ode=bad and Kai=great."
Exactly. It's so reductive.
Kai was great, against a really shit team.
Odegaard has generally ...
The stark difference for me yesterday is the positions that Havertz and Odegaard took. Havertz played really high up the pitch.
As soon as Odegaard came on he dropped so deep to collect the ball from our CBs and White played up top. The problem is he does this even when Zubi and Rice play which doesn’t help us at all.
" That's part of what accounted for the apparent difference between Kai and Ode. "
I've been making the argument that our ponderous back and forth build-up herds opponents into a low block. M...
Definitely tough to know the answer. But equally definitely something we have to address.
It was very good to see Kai back and I'm hoping we see more of him very soon.
But Kairat were very poor and very open in that first half. And they did sit deeper in the second. That's part of what ac...
" That's part of what accounted for the apparent difference between Kai and Ode. "
I've been making the argument that our ponderous back and forth build-up herds opponents into a low block. Maybe in the second half Kairat did intentionally sit deeper... or maybe the nature of the way we transition through Odegaard forced them there.
It was very good to see Kai back and I'm hoping we see more of him very soon.
But Kairat were very poor and very open in that first half. And they did sit deeper in the second. That's part of what accounted for the apparent difference between Kai and Ode. That said, Arteta and Odegaard need to figure out what to do about the parked buses.
1. Good to see Real Madrid lose.
2. Great to see their fans unhappy.
3. Bad to see Mourinho happy.
4. Awful to see a freekick given for a good tackle,
but please see 1. above.
1. agreed... but bad to see Madrid not sneak into 8th place ahead of ¢115eh and force them into a couple extra games.
3. agreed... but have to give him credit for knowing at that moment that they needed the extra goal for goal difference.
Eze's performance was easy to miss but he was doing all the simple things we don't do. Receive the ball, play on the turn, and quick vertical passes.
I noticed it...was playing quick passes forward
Califiori looked quite rusty but it's great to have him back.
Havertz looked quite unrusty. Keep that up and he really could be integral to the run-in.
Madueke... gulp! he's looking more and more like a Gervinho clone with every match.
Arse!
well in, bass!
Top of the morning tables toppers and Champions Cup Whatsit finalists.
Winning 8 from 8, it's never been done before!
Well yeah, but it's only the second season.
Quiet you!
Taking into account the level of the opposition, I thought Havertz was good seeing as he's been out fo so long. I thought Eze was bang average.
Eze's performance was easy to miss but he was doing all the simple things we don't do. Receive the ball, play on the turn, and quick vertical passes.
I agree Odegaard's form is super concerning. There just seems to be no understanding of the runs he should be looking for, the passes he should play... just basic patterns of play.
The only repeat p...
Taking into account the level of the opposition, I thought Havertz was good seeing as he's been out fo so long. I thought Eze was bang average.
"There are a lot of things to work on and correct but it is not as simple as Ode=bad and Kai=great."
Exactly. It's so reductive.
Kai was great, against a really shit team.
Odegaard has generally ...
I agree Odegaard's form is super concerning. There just seems to be no understanding of the runs he should be looking for, the passes he should play... just basic patterns of play.
The only repeat pattern from Odegaard is pick the ball up on the right, take a dozen touches while he carries the ball infield, and backpass to Gabriel. It's maddening.
I do think there was something in Kai's performance last night in that it is clear to me the manager is not telling these guys to crabwalk up the pitch. He wants them to be secure with the ball of course but he wants them to be direct and have the courage to play quick vertical passes if they are available. It's not like he only gave that privilege to Kai.
It was poor opposition but I think Eze had a pretty positive performance that was under the radar. A lot of play on the half turn and progressing the ball in the half spaces.
The reality is he was and for whatever reason now he isn't. And he needs to figure out how to get back to that level. But he was a very effective player in that role.
Everyone is purring over Kai's p...
"There are a lot of things to work on and correct but it is not as simple as Ode=bad and Kai=great."
Exactly. It's so reductive.
Kai was great, against a really shit team.
Odegaard has generally been poor against much better quality opposition, but has had some good games too. I'm really worried about him, he's so far off his best level, but this 'Oh Kai showed him what to do last night stuff' is crap analysis.
I'm glad to see people wake up to the fact that Odegaard is not the amazing creative midfielder they projected him to be.
Havertz comes in and shows what direct dynamism and quick thinking can look l...
The reality is he was and for whatever reason now he isn't. And he needs to figure out how to get back to that level. But he was a very effective player in that role.
Everyone is purring over Kai's performance yesterday and rightly so but he's disappointed as a midfielder probably 95% he's played there since joining.
There are a lot of things to work on and correct but it is not as simple as Ode=bad and Kai=great.
Looking forward to Gyok scoring against Viktoria Plzeň should we ever play them in the CL. They're currently in the Europa League
Don’t know which of those two is the more unlikely
I think it finally dawned on me last night that we bought a battering ram with no finess and poor ball control that if given the correct service might manage to score some goals. I think I’ve been in denial up to now but I’m just going to take whatever he manages to get as a bonus
Looking forward to Gyok scoring against Viktoria Plzeň should we ever play them in the CL. They're currently in the Europa League
Ben white against benfica
Is that all there is to it? We've gone from not even letting teams have a shot on target to conceding two goals or, in the case o Man U, three, in our last few games.
I can't help but think having ...
Basically. The opposition score quite often soon after we do whilst we're still poncing around looking pleased with ourselves. You're going the other way and overthinking it. That it it has to be more complicated . Perhaps the team should have a little nap after they score a goal to calm down.
I was just reading an article on Champions League prize money. It estimates that we have earned around £82m already this season before matchday revenue is taken into account.
Is that all there is to it? We've gone from not even letting teams have a shot on target to conceding two goals or, in the case o Man U, three, in our last few games.
I can't help but think having ...
Aye. Get your attackers to attack properly and get your defenders to concentrate on defending. Go back to the basics.
It was our defensive solidity in the early part of the season that's gotten us to where we are currently. Stick with what works. Can't have the likes of Saliba overlapping into attack and Timber inverting in such a way as to physically impede our forwards in attacking positions.
Because we stop concentrating and think that the game is in the bag. It's called taking your eye off the ball......
Is that all there is to it? We've gone from not even letting teams have a shot on target to conceding two goals or, in the case o Man U, three, in our last few games.
I can't help but think having Saliba and Timber becoming fulcrums in our attack doesn't help our defensive stability and concentration levels. We seem to be a bit over the place in terms of game strategy and approach.
Love this from @TomEde1 on X:
Chucking out an early contender for 'stat of the year'
Kai Havertz is the first Arsenal player to score against an opponent whose first three letters are the same as th...
Looking forward to Gyok scoring against Viktoria Plzeň should we ever play them in the CL. They're currently in the Europa League
"8 wins out of 8 in the CL group stage"
You'll never sing that!
Arse
Well in BA
That scoreline leaves a lot to be desired but a win is a win..
...and I was very impressed by our score.
We were. They're from Morocco.
But the semi finals were at Brentford, and the finals /3rd place play-off is at Ashburton Grove on Sunday
Completely ruined my pun, hazza, Heads may have to roll... you have to admit it's a very silly name for a team in English.
I thought we were playing a team called As Far FC
We were. They're from Morocco.
But the semi finals were at Brentford, and the finals /3rd place play-off is at Ashburton Grove on Sunday
I thought we were playing a team called As Far FC
As far as I can see the Arsenal Ladies did very well in Morocco.
- Morocco
+ Brentford
Why are we conceding so many late goals?
Because we stop concentrating and think that the game is in the bag. It's called taking your eye off the ball......
As far as I can see the Arsenal Ladies did very well in Morocco.
1. Good to see Real Madrid lose.
2. Great to see their fans unhappy.
3. Bad to see Mourinho happy.
4. Awful to see a freekick given for a good tackle,
but please see 1. above.
Why are we conceding so many late goals?
Crystal Palace close to agreement for Wolves striker Jorgen Strand Larsen. Talks between #CPFC & Jorge Mendes on behalf of #WWFC advanced; £45m + £5m fee being discussed. Leeds United bids reached...
1 league goal this season. I know Wolves are down horrendous, but is he better than his goal scoring record suggests?
The lack of killer instinct with this team is really something to behold
I mean, it was effectively a second XI and a dead rubber. Some disappointment possible that individuals did not stamp their mark on the game and make a case to start big games coming, sure. Not worth any deep analysis aside form that, IMO.
I also wish that he'd look up at move it forward rather than stop, wait for the retreating midfielder to get goal side, and then go.
So often Saka is open.
I can only think it's instruction, that the percentages are better if you properly get into pre-determined positions
I think Ode played better than other games but this was such a low pressure game with the quality of the opponent being so bad.
He takes too long to release the key pass. At times, it looks like he ...
He always dithers on the ball. Sometimes he waits and waits and waits and delivers a cool weighted pass that cuts through the opponent's defense, but most of the time it just slows our play and is boring. I can't remember if he was always like this or whether he morphed into this type of player, but in any case, this team needs more directness.
arse!
well in BA!
morning, table toppers!
Reminds me of this one
Noel Whelan is the only player with all the letters of 'Halloween' in his name to make a Premier League appearance on October 31, doing so in 1998 for Coventry City.
Love this from @TomEde1 on X:
Chucking out an early contender for 'stat of the year'
Kai Havertz is the first Arsenal player to score against an opponent whose first three letters are the same as th...
Reminds me of this one
Noel Whelan is the only player with all the letters of 'Halloween' in his name to make a Premier League appearance on October 31, doing so in 1998 for Coventry City.
If Wenger had managed Odegaard, he'd have him playing in front of the back four.
Haha
We'd all have our head in our hands when he got rag dolled by some farm hand looking striker
If Wenger had managed Odegaard, he'd have him playing in front of the back four.
Arse,
Well in Bass and the team. Was relieved and happy to see the mass rotation, without exception. Missed the first half as I was putting my creaking body through an hour of "floor hockey", but the...
Need to sort that mentality out
No mercy, stick it in the net
Crystal Palace close to agreement for Wolves striker Jorgen Strand Larsen. Talks between #CPFC & Jorge Mendes on behalf of #WWFC advanced; £45m + £5m fee being discussed. Leeds United bids reached £40m but #LUFC not currently going higher ... @David Ornstein on Twitter. Wonder if Mateta is going to Spurs or Forest.
If Madueke had some better composure/decision making abilities, he would have seriously competed with Saka. He has that "tries to be beat his man repeatedly" feature in his skillset.
His style comes across as very casual and laidback even if it is not his intention.
I think Ode played better than other games but this was such a low pressure game with the quality of the opponent being so bad.
He takes too long to release the key pass. At times, it looks like he is happy to play deeper rather than close to goal.
Well in BA
UL Mrs
Well almighty Blogs
It's been so long since Kai was properly on the pitch I couldn't figure out who he was for ages but he was quite good. That VAR thing though for the beautiful third goal was crazy; I'd already swallowed my disappointment at the "offside" and thought that we were still er...playing on when they finally awarded it. The ongoing second half MadZeke audition made me chuckle with my pro buddy appearing vindicated by some amazing trick then my scepticism justified by a final ball calamity. That last ball is rolling round Morrison's car park as we speak ;p
Ødegaard comes on, our play in the 2nd half is slow and ponderous!
Love this from @TomEde1 on X:
Chucking out an early contender for 'stat of the year'
Kai Havertz is the first Arsenal player to score against an opponent whose first three letters are the same as th...
Our old RB can console himself that he still holds the record for scoring against a team sharing the first four letters of his name. 😉
(Assuming Mssr Wenger never played and scored against Arsenal,that is)
"I hope Zubi doesn't get the Eze punishment"
I mean, that's not gonna happen
And I don't think the Eze thing was punishment, per se – but more about how there are stylistic differences between Eze a...
The correlation though is unquestionable. Don't think it was punishment per se, but more like cognitive bias. We know that with some players who make mistakes Arteta will stick with week in, week out; other players who make mistakes will find themselves outside very fast.
His favoritism is one of his weak spots as a manager. I completely agree though that this needs to be worked out. Bring back fast/non-predictive passing to the front lines.
"I hope Zubi doesn't get the Eze punishment"
I mean, that's not gonna happen
And I don't think the Eze thing was punishment, per se – but more about how there are stylistic differences between Eze a...
Mistakes never cost for Partey either, even though there was one guaranteed big mistake per game.
"I hope Zubi doesn't get the Eze punishment"
I mean, that's not gonna happen
And I don't think the Eze thing was punishment, per se – but more about how there are stylistic differences between Eze and Arteta, and Arteta and Eze. Which we have to work out imo
The starting eleven yesterday would probably not play as quick and direct in the PL, but at least we know they can, as the second half demonstrated a drop in that regard.
Arteta must start getting th...
Indeed. Really needs to let them take more risks without the threat of being unceremoniously dumped from the starting 11 for a mistake. I hope Zubi doesn't get the Eze punishment, which, in my opinion, is one of the worst things Arteta had done this season.
The starting eleven yesterday would probably not play as quick and direct in the PL, but at least we know they can, as the second half demonstrated a drop in that regard.
Arteta must start getting this team to gel offensively. No one is asking to sacrifice defensive solidity (in fact, we were very solid in that clean sheet run earlier in the season) for attacking prowess, but a better balance is possible, I'm sure of it.
So is there another draw after the playoff round, or the round of 16? Not directly 1st vs 8th (or the teams that beat those positions), 2nd vs 7th etc.?
Yep. We know which four teams we could play in the last 16, with the two winners of the playoffs then being drawn against either us or Bayern as the two top ranked. City will be in the same situation with Sporting.
The winners of those four last 16 games then get drawn into quarters so we could play either Sporting or City, with Bayern playing the other.
Assuming PSG get through, they will play either Chelsea or Barcelona in the last 16. City could get either Real or Inter (they play in the playoffs). Atleti and Juve are playoff opponents and the winner plays the Spuds or the Scunts.
Arse!
Well in Bass. Unlucky Missis. *woowaves*
Norgaard and Havertz when receiving a pass look to progress it forward, hopefully Arteta sees this and has a lightbulb moment.
Love this from @TomEde1 on X:
Chucking out an early contender for 'stat of the year'
Kai Havertz is the first Arsenal player to score against an opponent whose first three letters are the same as the first three letters of his first name since Lee Dixon against Leeds in 1996.
Arse. Well in BA.
Morning all.
Good: Havertz, Martinelli, MLS, Norgaard
Average: Mosquera, Calfiori, Hincapie, White, Eze, Gyokeres, Jesus
Shite: Madueke, Odegaard
Young fellas: Bailey-Joseph, Ibrah...
Am I the only one underwhelmed by Hincapie?
He seems alright at left back, but I'm not impressed when he plays CB. Mosquera and Calafiori are far better there IMO.
That spoils my narrative.
My understanding is that it's not guaranteed we'd play them in the quarters; it depends how the draw works out. They could face Bayern.
So is there another draw after the playoff round, or the round of 16? Not directly 1st vs 8th (or the teams that beat those positions), 2nd vs 7th etc.?
Yeah, they were rubbish – which is why the second half was a bit disappointing
Yet we still made chances. Jesus bottled at least two very good opportunities.
Not chuffed about the number of English teams in the next round. Long gone, but one of the joys of watching European tournaments was the prospect of coming up against a team you didn't know much about.
I'm looking forward to Bruce ending his dryArse January so that everything can return to normal.
He did the other day
Arse. Well in BA.
Morning all.
Good: Havertz, Martinelli, MLS, Norgaard
Average: Mosquera, Calfiori, Hincapie, White, Eze, Gyokeres, Jesus
Shite: Madueke, Odegaard
Young fellas: Bailey-Joseph, Ibrahim
Trying to keep warm: Kepa (he got a spare ball from a ball boy at one stage and did some exercises)
I don't like the fact we need to face Man City three times in about 11-12 days, if both of us make it to the quarter finals. Make it four encounters with them in four weeks, if we play them in Carabao...
My understanding is that it's not guaranteed we'd play them in the quarters; it depends how the draw works out. They could face Bayern.
I'm looking forward to Bruce ending his dryArse January so that everything can return to normal.
Should it worry us that we only won by one goal, and we conceded two goals from the absolute whipping boys of this stage of the Champions League??
The lack of killer instinct with this team is really something to behold
I want to see us play with more tempo and oomph. A sense of properly going for it hard and relentlessly which simply wears down our opponents. The Cesc team used to do this, often scoring two, three goals in quick succession. Our Jenga-style slow, slow, slow build up is not only inefficient, but it can't be good for our players in terms of how many touches of the ball they make to no discernible effect. Waste of tendons and ligaments!
Should it worry us that we only won by one goal, and we conceded two goals from the absolute whipping boys of this stage of the Champions League??
yeah I thought it would be a chance to fill our boots, like pool did. Instead we dillied and dallied
Lost our way
yeah I thought it would be a chance to fill our boots, like pool did. Instead we dillied and dallied
Eze certainly looked better and more direct than for 2 months, but Christ almighty, Kairat Almaty were bad. Not sure I've seen a worse CL team since we came back into the competition.
Yeah, they were rubbish – which is why the second half was a bit disappointing
I don't like the fact we need to face Man City three times in about 11-12 days, if both of us make it to the quarter finals. Make it four encounters with them in four weeks, if we play them in Carabao Cup final as well.
Eze certainly looked better and more direct than for 2 months, but Christ almighty, Kairat Almaty were bad. Not sure I've seen a worse CL team since we came back into the competition.
We don't need a high touch, controlling 10 when you've already got Zubi and Rice on the pitch.
A low touch guy who wants to move it directly is more complimentary. Be that Eze or Havertz.
I'm glad to see people wake up to the fact that Odegaard is not the amazing creative midfielder they projected him to be.
Havertz comes in and shows what direct dynamism and quick thinking can look l...
yes as someone arsed in the 2nd half - we're playing Ode-ball
Kai looks to pass forward at the soonest opportunity, Ode literally runs in circles sometimes (the Odegaard pirouet)
Arse,
Well in Bass and the team. Was relieved and happy to see the mass rotation, without exception. Missed the first half as I was putting my creaking body through an hour of "floor hockey", but the second half was like when I play football with the kids. One side simply eons ahead of the other in class and experience, but 5-10 goals left out there somehow. I wonder if the boys felt the same level of compassion I do for my daughters, as a basic dragback works for the nineteenth time in a row, and I purposefully stroke the ball wide of the post to keep their spirits up.
8 from 8! Not to be sniffed at.
I read the entire blog and then realised it was 0 arses
well in Bass
I'm glad to see people wake up to the fact that Odegaard is not the amazing creative midfielder they projected him to be.
Havertz comes in and shows what direct dynamism and quick thinking can look like on the pitch.
Our captain is simply not a no. 10. If he's an 8, play him as an 8. And come to terms with that fact. When he plays on top we revert to the U-shape attack. With Kai on, I thought we were a lot more vertical.
That's the third time I logged in it wouldn'tlog out Boo.