At home
Unai Emery’s new Arsenal team is a work in progress being only marginally better than Pellegrini’s hammers.
After much analysis from AA’s reservoir of keen students of the game, it has become clear that the Arsenal right side needs some work. The first and third goals against West Ham came from Bellerin providing width down the flank. Arnautovic’s lucky scuffer from the edge of the box resulted from Anderson being given the freedom of Islington on Arsenal’s right.
Thanks to eagle-eyed observation from fgg, we saw that Xhaka and Douzi both wanted to play left side in the double pivot. (Maybe they assumed Mesut was going to be there). Lucas Torreira provided much better balance and stability when he emerged from the bench. Perhaps Cardiff will see his first full Premier League game?
Our new centre-back combo are like chalk and chalk. Both a little lacking in pace and seeming not to possess any Beckenbauer-like sweeping abilities. But it’s still early days and any long-term relationship needs plenty of effort to drag it through the dodgy times.
Up front, Auba needs a goal and Micki is looking to be settling into a floating attacking role in Emery’s new Arsenal.
Elsewhere
Three teams are still on maximum points. The chavs had a late and spawny victory up in the North East. The scousers made hard work of Brighton – Klopp trying to convince himself that he wasn’t worried because everyone could see Liverpool were the better team. Watford won again, which is odd but Brighton, Burnley, Palace as opponents goes some way to explaining it.
The sugar-coated, Amazon documentary-producing, oil wealth-exploiting boys in sky blue could only draw at Wolves which brought a warm fuzzy feeling to most who might have been watching. Well that’s two points off the guaranteed 114 they were predicted to get at the start of the season. 🙂
Anyone who chose Burnley defenders as good picks in their fantasy team, with Dyche’s team low on goals both scored and conceded last season, will be puzzled by them shipping 7 already and having just one point to show for their efforts. Their European tour might be having negative effects even at this early stage.
Palace losing to Watford yesterday meant that we crept above them into tenth spot and the top half of the table. Not what the media was hoping for at all!
Tonight
Possibly the two most unlikeable teams in the Prem face off at the Old Cowshed this evening. If the spuds win, we can console ourselves with Maureen’s impression of a disconsolate floor mop. If the mancs win, we will see my favourite result from any game involving our execrable neighbours.
But as usual perhaps the best result would be a draw, with a 23 man brawl, points deductions, player suspensions and the odd long-term visit to a sickbay thrown in for good measure. 🙂
chas
Arsenal News 24/7
arsenalarsenal.net 
Morning All,
I wrote a post as well, so we are covered until Weds 😀
chas. Last para. Perfect. Let us pray…
Chas 0727
Don’t you go knocking anything up at your age!
Thanks for the post and double expectation of more to come!
If the tackle from behind law has not changed, why did Chelski get a penalty last night?
Interpretation, interpretation, interpretation, my dear Watson!
Chas
The reason your posts take more than five minutes is because you use too many words 🙂
If Mikhi is becoming a floater, and if Mesut isn’t ill and Unai simply doesn’t like him, would The Armenian be our best option central in a 4-2-3-1?
Another question, is that other greek bloke, Mavaropsu’ink fast?
A good fun read, thanks for taking the time.
Who needs black scarfs and bits of paper when..
https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/charlton-fans-hurl-bags-of-crisps-on-to-pitch-in-protest-at-owner-roland-duchatelet-a3920331.html
Happy as a dog with two dicks
Ants
Sad to see such an empty Valley. Pretty sure Charlton hold the record for highest ever league game attendance
There seems to me to be a simple fix to the issue of there being so much space behind Hector when play breaks down high up the pitch.
If it is assumed that Hector is under instructions to play the way he does and with two assists and a goal from Monreal on the other flank against West ham I think that, that is a reasonable place to start, and if so, it absolves Bellerin of much of what goes wrong behind him.
The finger of blame is therefore is aimed squarely at Emery. But he has an excuse. Up till now he has played Xhaka as an DM the person who is supposed to see the gaps that appear behind Hector and — fill them.
Emery’s excuse is that Xhaka is not a DM and going further does not have a defender’s mentality. This raises the obvious question of why pick him over Torriera. The answer is a simple one and that is that Emery hasn’t been able to because the Uruguayan has not been ready.
Look at the difference Torriera made when he came on? When play broke down high up and Hector was still in the opponents six yards box (sic) Torriera just moved seamlessly across to cover.
And that is the simple fix: Torriera simply sits in front of the back four and plays the role he does best — shields the defence.
The thing that then gets interesting is who plays next to him in the midfield?
A bit too much football too early on………………….
LB
Micky’s and BR’s posts touch on the same thing, so it’s all a little confused at the moment!.
But as usual perhaps the best result would be a draw, with a 23 man brawl, points deductions, player suspensions and the odd long-term visit to a sickbay thrown in for good measure. 🙂
Favourite quote
We’ve all been calling for Torreira to start. Maybe he’s not fully fit but that isn’t the impression I get when he comes on. I think the problem is that UE has plenty of pieces to his jigsaw … but it seems that they don’t all fit.
I’m sure Torreira can play DM … but he was taking corners for us with 5 minutes to go on Saturday!
There was talk of Chambers or M-N slotting into the DM role … but that’s not going to happen now.
I think RC has said that UE likes to play with 1 or 2 DM’s … but so far he doesn’t seem to have attributed that specific role to any of our MFs. In fact, it has been Guendouzi who has been the only player back at times when the CBs go up for corners … and that was ridiculous when he was up against Aguero who had already embarrassed the more experienced Mustafi last season.
It’s definitely a work in progress!
I really hope Torreira gets the nod against Cardiff. From what I saw in the training ground clips, Torreira seemed to have bult an understanding with Ozil … so maybe having Torreira means we can get the best out of Ozil.
Great fun, Chas, 🙂 particularly that last para. I’m off to pray.
Apart from that, lovely footie bolleaux from all. Thank you. 🙂
That VAR review thing is very interesting
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-45296015/flamstead-scarecrow-festival-winner-announced
Rasp
Torriera surely is a DM, that is the position he played for Uruguay in the world cup.
The reasonable assumption must be that he has not been fit enough or UE has felt that he has simply not been ready to start, this makes sense as any player who plays that position would need time to acquaint himself to his new surroundings. While this has been going on Xhaka, as you know, has been playing that role with poor results.
Torriera took all Uruguay’s corners in the world cup, the man is extremely accurate at any set piece. He had cover in the world cup while he was doing so and Xhaka fell back on Saturday to cover.
It must only be a question of time until Torriera takes up his obvious role of DM and as I said above the intriguing question then becomes who plays next to him?
I’d go
Douzi Torreira Ramsey
Ozil Laca Auba
Perhaps a song for Torreira could be based on the Vieira song – at least everyone knows it.
Torreira wo-ohohoh
Torreira wo-ohohoh
?????????
?????????
Torreira wo-ohohoh
Or
Xhaka Torreira Ramsey
Micki Auba Mesut
I quite like this.
——-Torriera
Ramsey—-Ozil
Mikhit, Laca, Auba
Hi LB, I agree, his permanent slot can’t come soon enough for me.
Great shout chas
Torreira wo-ohohoh
Torreira wo-ohohoh
He’s only 5 foot three
He’ll kick your arse for free
Torreira wo-ohohoh
Thanks Chas,
Wow the posts are piling up in the bomb bay.
I like your 1:50 Chas but I would swap Xhaka for Guendouzi or Ozil.
I feel that Torriera would be the cover man while the other two could forage forward.
But I should really keep out of this formation stuff…….
“bomb bay”. 🙂
How’s about,
He’s only 5 foot 3,
He’ll punch you in the knee
I agree that it will only be a matter of time before he’s starting. I’d be very surprised if we end up with him being the only DM and Özil and Ramsey central, so I expect he will be played alongside Xhaka for now until Geundouzi becomes a guaranteed starter (he’s young and I think Emery will want Xhaka’s experience in the team for now).
If the rumours are true and Ozil refused to play can he even come back from that?
I like that lineup to but will ramsey be disciplined enough to do his defensive duty when bellerin or monreal high up the pitch
Fred,
We already know the answer to that question! Ramsey is too attacking to play as 1 of the 2 deeper midfielders. We’ve seen it a million times before. He loves getting in the box and making an extra man up front when we are attacking.
The only way that we could possibly get away with it is if Torreira turns out to be the next Kante. If that’s the case then I would be tempted to play Ramsey in the 2 against the lesser sides, but maybe against the big boys we strengthen the middle of the park a little bit with Xhaka or Geundouzi.
Özil will either be sold or be back in the squad next week. My guess is he’s back in the squad and it’s all forgotten about. There may be some truth in him having a whinge and tefusing to play, but if he’s back in the squad next week and giving his all then nobody will care what really happened and we’ll probably never find out.
He comes from Middle Earth
His father was a Smurf
?
We wanted him at the back
But Wenger bought Chamakh
He comes from Uruguay
That’s why he’s not so high
His legs aren’t very long
But he’s better than Alex Song
Fred. Can Ozil come back? Of course he can but IF (big IF) he has argued with the new manager, then I am afraid Ozil’s days are numbered as Emery has to enforce discipline
He may only be a runt,
But he’ll make you look a……idiot
He comes from Fray Bentos
He’s better than Senderos
He came with great expectations
But turned out to be a lame duck
🙂
Slim
This is exactly it.
“The only way that we could possibly get away with it is if Torreira turns out to be the next Kante. If that’s the case then I would be tempted to play Ramsey in the 2 against the lesser sides, but maybe against the big boys we strengthen the middle of the park a little bit with Xhaka or Geundouzi.”
I for one certainly expect (your 4.32 is hilarious) to turn into the next Kante, it certainly looked that way in the World Cup. And important to remember that Ramsey has never played with a real DM. We haven’t had one since Gilberto.
I feel slightly guilty for posting a football comment you guys are on fire with the songs.
Well that is not much fun Arnie.
Arnie has spent too much time in Botland
He’s shorter than your gran,
But he’s Unai Emery’s man
ha ha. LB-Raddy. 🙂
Hi G5 shouldn’t we play with two Dm instead of having the like of ramsey going forward since both fullback will be attacking it might be impossible for one DM to cover both position
He’s a Uruguayan rocket,
He’ll put you in his pocket.
I’m done now, I promise!!!
If ramsey is told by the manager to stay back then I think he can still be a good option at Dm(providing he listens)
Xhaka picks up a far to many yellows for my liking
Fred. I am happy for Xhaka to take a yellow if it stops a counter-attack. Too often in the past have AFC been too nice. Check out Man City’s foul rate on counter-attacks, it is the most in the PL
Fred,
You make a good point at 5:51.
Or emery days could be number as well
Big rumours of a £300m kit deal with adidas from next season. £60m a year. Third biggest deal behind Barca and United. Not sure how concrete it is but we are due a change after this year and would make sense.
Expect some decent kits over the next few years after some awful Puma ones.
25 yellows in his last 84 games for club and country. 0 red cards.
Xhaka has a reputation from his younger days but after those 2 quick red cards at the beginning of his time with Arsenal he hasn’t been sent off and seems to have controlled his game a little bit. Maybe he’s matured a little on that front. I do wonder how much that control has taken away from his game though as he doesn’t seem the aggressive type we were hoping for. A bit soft in the tackle now, if anything.
Yep no one can be as bad as puma
fgg wins
He may be just a runt
But’ll make you look a…
☺
Nope. 3.46 the clear winner
MU/ Skinny Cocks. Rare to watch a game with two such horrible clubs/managers.
I quite admire Poch for taking a complete shitehawk of a team and turning them into also rans in the PL. Hopefully, we will see a return to the ‘Arry Spurs of old when he leaves.
MU. What on earth were the BoD thinking when they took on Merino? I always thought they were a class club, one of the world’s best, then they employ a disgraced manager who has consistently shown himself to be an arrogant, self-obsessed cheat.
Wonder if either manager will play an attacking game?
Nice one chas
What did I learn yesterday?
Firstly, for a Club that generates a £300 plus turnover why are the sugar sachets so old that you need a mallet to get the sugar out. Even wasps and fat men weren’t interested. Disgraceful.
Secondly. For those who have not seen us live yet, think about the centrebacks splitting to receive the ball from Chec. Throughout the game, especially first half, we were hit on the counter with our shape been a 253? Honestly, we are as open as a man turning up at an ex girlfriends house with a bunch of flowers only to find a man in his underpants open the door and say he will give them to her after they’ve finished making love.
Thirdly, after looking like a mug, the best thing to get over it is to regain confidence by pulling as many women as possible and scoring plenty of goals. The problem is? You have to be ready. You can’t overcompensate by looking like you have had a stint In a French Guiana penal colony. You need teeth and to shake off the leprosy. The forward players we have now are not good enough for top four.
Finally, when leaving the ground, the final feeling I got was one of “greed”. The situation we are in is a culmination of fifteen years of owners making loads of money to the detriment of the team and the Clubs soul.
Fizman, Devin, Bracewell Smith, Usmanov, and Kronke have all made loads of dosh. At one time or another they have all capatilised on the share price, boomed by the stadium move and the growth of football in general. Constant change at the top has led to constant transition and ultimately shit results.
None of these people have or give a shit about Arsenal, and I won’t accept any crocodile tears from any of them. I’m a greedy F*uck, but I draw the line at Arsenal and possibly my children.
Apart from that, I was impressed with our new boys and Emery is a class coach, so despite been stuck with an owner who has no genuine love for the Club, I still have hope and believe we can pip City to the League.
He’s at it again that Terry……….
Ugly confession.
I have an intense dislike for both teams but watching the game I find myself hoping that United win.
“You can’t overcompensate by looking like you have had a stint In a French Guiana penal colony. You need teeth and to shake off the leprosy. ”
Only Terry!!
Utd rolling over
Mourinho time is so much more entertaining than Fergie time. 5 extra minutes of Pogba walking around sulking, Sanchez realising the squad is worse than Arsenal’s, Mourinho with a face like a slapped arse contemplating how he can make his latest cock up look like someone else’s fault, and thousands of morngy Mancs streaming out of the stadium. Love it!
Is he going or is he just irritated that lots of fans left?
Hope he goes!
United fans wanting a selfie with Lucas Moura.Football has changed so much. If he’d have got that close to away fans in the past he’d probably have got punched!
Ginge, Moronio is a narcissist. I know this for a fact because he displays the same behavioral patterns as a bloke I know called Greg Greguchi.
Like Moronio, Greguchi is a grown man who lives with his mother and had a life size painting of himself hanging in the living room. It’s a contemplative pose, finger on cheek, but also displaying a non functional sexual prowess.
The mother worships him. No girl is good enough for Greguchi, so like Moronio, he lacks emotional intimacy and gets shit results against Totnumb.
Greguchis mother has another son she despises for not sharing her bed. Unlike Greguchi and Moronio who keep her up all night on how no one appreciates defensive tactics or the merits of middle aged men wearing nappies.
When I use to beat Greguchi at Subbuteo he would attempt to shake my hand before the final whistle and when I refused he became a jibbering wreck, getting on his knees and hugging my legs. Moronio will do this on Sanchez later.
Greguchi, after been caught stealing money from his Company, and losing Five nil to me, finally cracked and had to be institutionalised. Like Moronio, he blamed lack of backing in the transfer and the fact he is better than everybody else.
Tonight, I will write a letter to Moronio, explaining how I could help him with a bit of counselling and Terry style therapy. I will also offer him a game if Subbuteo.
ha ha ha, Terry. 🙂
http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11667/11483970/jose-mourinho-storms-out-of-press-conference-demanding-respect-for-title-wins
Who the specialist in failure now Jose
Should we do a swap deal for ozil and sanchez, surely with the new pressings system sanchez would strive
He say the 0-3 stands for the 3 titles he have 😭😭😭
NEW POST