True story* I was going to write a post on Saturday about how I didn’t feel anything going in to this North London Derby. I had just one fleeting moment of anxiety where I worried that Arsenal might lose this match and then it was back to feeling dead inside.
I didn’t write anything because I couldn’t figure out why I felt nothing. And since this blog is literally just me telling other people my feelings, I decided that my truest expression of myself was to say nothing. But I still spent all day thinking about feeling nothing.
I came to the conclusion that after 20 years of Arsene Wenger I was disconnected from the team. See, under Wenger I knew what to expect. I knew how he played, what our faults were, and why we lost the games that we lost. I knew what to expect both good and bad. If Wenger was the manager yesterday, I would have written about how we need to show strength, how he can’t have both fullbacks forward, we can’t leave the back open, and how we need Ozil and others to step up and have a good game. I would have also probably told you that it felt like it was a foregone conclusion, Spurs were going to beat us. They would outwork us. Harass us. Press us off the ball. Force turnovers and errors and make us look like a team who can’t pass the ball.
But Wenger is not the manager and I didn’t know what to think about this team.
It’s not that I lack passion for the club, I love the Arsenal of course. Actually, I mostly love the other supporters (mostly). What I felt was something more akin to simply being disconnected to the team. Like it was Arsenal and there are red and white shirts (also those hideous aqua numbers) and some of the players seem familiar but I just hadn’t bonded with anyone yet.
Sorry if that seems weird. Some of you had already fallen in love with these players and maybe even this manager and you were all in. I just wasn’t. Yet. This match changed that.
It started when Eric Dier ran over and shusshed the crowd. Lichtsteiner grabbed his elbow, to say “listen here young fella” and Guendouzi and Ramsey were warming up nearby and immediately got involved in a little fracas. Ramsey especially was there in Dele Alli’s face. When I saw them talking, for some reason I imagined Ramsey saying “on the pitch, I’ll do it on the pitch.” And then Dier told him to “fuck off” and pointed to the tunnel as if they were going to have an old-fashioned tunnel fight in the year of our lord 2018. Because Eric Dier is mental.
I love to see my team stand up to a bunch of thugs. And let’s not mince words about Spurs, they are the dirtiest team in the league. They are snide little cheats. They dive (of course) but also love to leave a foot in on tackles and try to bully people in dead ball situations. So, to see Arsenal standing up to them, to see the bench players getting involved, and just say, no, you’re not doing that here was incredible.
But it wasn’t over yet. Son fell over and Dean awarded them a penalty. We had been playing so well up to that point. We were showing strength, passing well, and getting good chances. It felt like the Arsenal of old was back and that this was the moment that the team were going to collapse.
But we didn’t. Torreira followed the ball into the back of the net, plucked it out, and got the game started again. And at half-time, Emery made a change, he brought on Lacazette and Ramsey. I sat there with my mouth open as I saw Unai Emery bring on the player who was LITERALLY ready to fight for his team’s honor. Emery later revealed that he had thought through this situation beforehand, “Before I started the match I prepared in my mind different situations in the match. One was this. Why? Because Lacazette has very big efficiency in scoring against every team and because Aaron has experience against Tottenham and in derby matches. He has experience of coming back against big teams.”
Whatever thoughts I have had in the past about Emery “getting it wrong” at the start of matches, I have to give him props for this double change. It takes courage to admit when you’re wrong and even more so to make the changes necessary to right those wrongs. And it takes big brass cojones to bring on a player like Aaron Ramsey, who just had his contract denied by the upper management, and expect him to change the game. Which he did.
Maybe Ramsey had told Alli that he was going to show him on the pitch, maybe I just imagined that, but even if he didn’t point to the wall like Babe Ruth calling his final homer it was his two assists which sparked the Arsenal comeback. The first drew us level and then Tottenham started to look shaky. When Emery brought on Guendouzi for an injured Mustafi, he’d brought on the two players who were itching for a fight from the start.
Foyth made a mistake, Ramsey took the ball from him, and Lacazette’s shot went in off Eric Dier’s shin. It couldn’t have been much more perfect than that. But it got better.
For the fourth goal, Torreira turned Dier – who was left slide tackling the air – and just drove in and scored. You could see that Torreira had wanted to score the whole match. He’d taken more shots in this match than any other and when his shot earlier just barely missed, you could see the look of desperation on his face. So, when he scored, and ripped his shirt off, and slid on his knees, the emotions were real, they were relief and joy.
That was the moment for me. That was the moment that I connected with this Arsenal side. That was the moment I got my Arsenal back. And now, like you, I’m all in.
*I know that most of the time when someone says “true story” it’s probably not true but really, this is the truth!
Beautiful. I choked up a bit reading that. Laugh at me. I don’t care.
All in Tim made me fall in love with his writing. I’m so warmly ecstatic that he’s back 😍
Teams are reflections of their managers.
An Argentine defender turned coach, you can bet your bottom dollar his team is going to be borderline dirty.
On the flip side though, I never hear Pochetino complain about players diving against his club, so at least he’s not a hypocrite.
I know the feeling Tim.
From flying to London from Chicago to watch Arsenal live, to never missing a game via broadcast, to kinda becoming just a bit more than an occasional viewer the last few seasons myself.
I’m glad to see you back all in though , seeing how much time you’ve been dedicating to this club through this blog and others for our benefit.
Good for you.
I’m not there quite yet myself but if Arsenal spank Jose’s United at OT and send him packing out of the PL for good( wouldn’t that be poetic justice),… Imight be.
Not that anyone should care of course 🙂
Hear! Hear! Brotha Tim.
Hear! Hear!
Tim my bro, we were waiting for you to write this. Before or after the game, in the end it doesn’t matter when. Welcome back.
I’ve been all in on Torreira every since I saw the fight in him from game 1. I wanted you overcome your doubts and to like him as much I do. Looks like youre getting there. We like fighters. Vieira, Keown, Adams. Even artisans like Cesc and Bergkamp had a touch of bastardliness. But he takes free kicks for his country, and he gets involved in the attack for club and country. Premier league transfer of the season.
Auba said jokingly in a tweet that he’s not just a tap-in merchant. That hit for the equaliser was as sweet as anything that Thierry ever served up. First time hit, from a first time touch-on from Ramsey, from a superb through ball from Hector. And that run from Ramsey between the 2 defenders…
One the Son pen, a really hard one for the ref when a player slides in like that. Mustafi does that and we wouldn’t hear the end of it. On the whole, I thought that Mike Dean had a decent game yesterday.
If any of our defenders had put in the kind of dozy performance that Vertonghen did, we wouldnt be hearing the end of that either. His dreadfulness his pleasingly eclipsed by Dier’s, even if Dier scored (Twice.Ha!). I’m not one for roughhouse on the field, but I loved the way we took turns physically mannersing Dele yesterday.
Im saving the last word for Ramsey, about whom far too much silliness gets spoken. Whatever disappointment and bitterness he must feel, I cant speak highly enough about the way he’s applied himself to the task. Let’s not forget where an injury would leave him in terms of his job prospects.
While warming up he raced along with Licht and the other subs to confront the Spurs players and got into a shoving match with Alli, showing that he’s a gunner through and through. And, along with Lacazette, he changed the game. He’s joint assist leader in the Premier League, notwithstanding his limited minutes.
Regarding the impact of the subs, Andrew put it best on Arsecast this morning… Emery is showing that there’s no preferred XI or even a preferred formation. You have to do what you have to do, play who you have to play to change the course of games.
So (as Ive pointed out many times here), Ramsey still brings considerable value to Arsenal. Given Ozil’s absence yesterday and Emery’s refusal to sugar coat things, much of the debate has predictably shifted to whether we should ditch Ozil and keep Ramsey. Why? We need both. It’s a squad game, and we play something like 10 of them in December. Big clubs have big players not making their starting XI every week. You should have seen Cavani’s face, sitting on the bench against Bordeaux. I hope to see Mesut back for the game at Old Trafford.
I’d start Ramsey at United over Mkhi, even out of position wide right. It’s not Mhki was bad.. it’s just that he doesn’t seem to have that much impact, and has spells where he gives the ball away for fun. He did score against United last season, though.
It was a fight and that got me juiced.
I remember watching the Spurs v Chelsea game a couple seasons back and being bummed because there’s no way our team would have held our own in a kickfest like that game. But now, this team, I know we would. If Emery had a fourth substitution he would have brought Lichtsteiner for Auba just to get some studs on Son’s ankles.
Is Ozil finished? It’s no lie, he’s not the player for these kinds of fighting games, he’s a flat-track bully who looks all-world against the Fulham’s of the league but would he have been in the middle of that fracas? No way. I think the club would probably rather give Ozil’s money to Ramsey and sell Ozil on, but we all know that’s impossible and they’re not going to pay two players for the same position 300k a week.
Your figures are off, Jack. Ozil = 350k, not 300k.
Reports (not sure of their veracity) said Ramsey and the club settled at about 175k, just below Auba(no 2 highest earner at 180k) . Let’s say 200k was agreed with Ramsey for the sake of argument. He’s still nowhere near 300k, or Ozil.
So is Ozil finished? No. Not at all. It’s a squad game. Emery wants his players to buy into the collective, which includes the understanding that they’re not untouchable. But any one player who has a wage nearly double the next nearest man, IS, to all intents and purposes, untouchable. If he isn’t, his wage defies financial logic, and therein lies the Ozil issue.
But Ramsey wasn’t going to get anything near what Mesut gets.
I would think part of Ozil’s high wages would be due to his image rights being worth more.
“Much of the debate has predictably shifted to whether we should ditch Ozil and keep Ramsey. Why? We need both. It’s a squad game, and we play something like 10 of them in December. Big clubs have big players not making their starting XI every week. “
Totally agree Claude.
I’m not as big a fan of Ramsey’s as you are , or Ozil’s as PFO is but this Idea that every player has to give 100% every game to have real value is unrealistic.
The question should always be : are we better off with so and so at the club?
And in both cases I think the answer is yes.
So right, Tom. We definitely need both. Emery is not someone who is looking for a single formula. Each game seems to be a recipe designed from scratch to fit the occasion. As are the substitutions. He will err on the side of over-intervention instead of passively hoping things turn around. Having multiple types of players in the squad for different opponents is just giving him more ways to solve the puzzle. There will be games that require one, both or neither. We don’t seem to have a best eleven. It’s best eleven for that day, against that opponent. That’s refreshing.
FAN-tastic post Tim!
Yesterdays match and the amount of fight, passion, desire and resolve took me back to the days of Adams, Vieira Keown etc.
Even at half-time, despite the frustration and disappointment of being 1-2 down an ‘Old Skool’ feeling was running through my system basically saying “Son don’t worry we’ve got this. We’re gonna cave their head in” and my adrenaline was surging bursting point in anticipation for the 2nd half.
The playes, the subs, the boss and all the fans did us proud yesterday. Well done to us all. Lets stay as one
Best moment of that Torriera celebration for me is the action of him hitting the ground showing how much he wanted this goal!
That was one of the best games I’ve ever experienced at the Emirates. But the post-match celebrations were almost worth the ticket price alone. There seems to be a fantastic togetherness in this squad now and they look like they’re enjoying playing again. Witnessing from the front row Guendouzi polishing the boot of Auba who then comically hopped along on his other foot, seeing Hector bend down and kiss the turf after the winning goal was scored was as enjoyable as their willingness to man up to Dier, Alli and co on the touch line.
The Licht may be slow as a cart horse but he’s no shrinking violet. A fiery competitor who always seems ready to rumble, I’m sure responsible for some of our added bite this season and his dressing room contribution is probably more important than his occasional appearances. Seeing him react and itching to get stuck in was a delight.
I know exactly what you mean Tim. It’s been weird for me. This whole season. Even the end of last season. Though it has more to do with things outside of football. I’ve had moments of excitement and feeling connected but most of it has been on autopilot. I don’t know if I’m finally all in, but yesterday really made me feel connected to the team just by how much they wanted to win.
Familiar failings still there. Not clinical enough, Goalkeeping, defensive errors. Plus penalty against from a dive. And for a bit following the first goal, we lost control.
Even the second half didn’t start exactly in control, but we settled down. Bellerin to Ramsey to Auba to goal was a thing of beauty, and then I just knew we’d win.
Sokratis was great yesterday. I don’t know if that’s true from a technical PoV, but he brought some sneaky knowhow and solid aggression. He’s been a clever purchase.
Plus Licht lighting a fire is exactly who he is. I was surprised Dean didn’t show our subs a couple of yellow cards.
Torreira had a great game. Xhaka was quietly commanding. Some great finishes. But my word, Ramsey. We’re being so stupid about this. If he played for Spurs/Chelsea/ManU and was available on a free for 200k a week, we’d be jumping all over that. On top of that, he loves this club and is a fighter. His impact on the game was fantastic. I know he’s as good as gone, but I feel so sad about that.
Still, this game is not about feeling sad, but joyous. Spurs can be hilariously spursy at times. Dier telling Ramsey to sit down led to a great pic from Ramsey on his instagram post game. #sitdownhesaid
Ralf Hassenhutl being linked to the Southampton job. It’s crazy that this is even believable. The EPL’s money really starting to shout now.
I had the sentiments Tim describes a few times over the past 10 years or so, and while we have been winning, the lacklustre performances always gave me pause . But as Tim has said , it seem a lot changed (for the better) yesterday.
A monumental match. Best of the season by far:
1) MOTM – Auba, Lucas, Ramsey? All good choices. But mine isn’t a player, it’s Unai Emery. He really made a statement about who he is and what he’s doing. Best manager’s performance of the season from any club so far.
2) Whatever happens next season, if this match doesn’t cement Ramsey as one of the great Arsenal players of the last 10 years, nothing will. He was a consummate professional and pure class yesterday. He came on and changed the game, in a North London Derby no less.
3) Yesterday was made more special because this is one of viliest S$%rs sides of recent times. Dier, Ali? Monumental wankers, the lot of them. And we totally did them in! They couldn’t live with us for most the game. We pressed our butts off and they were clueless for the big parts of the match. Loved it.
4) Yesterday is also a tonic for restoring my enthusiasm for going to Old Trafford and putting a beat down on one of the very worst Man U sides in living managed by the worst villain in living memory.
It is very much indeed a great day/week to be a Gooner.
Easy, tiger.
Whatever the state of United (or a Mourinho side), they almost always rise to the occasion against Arsenal. Remember Park Ji Sung? He and the likes of Ashley Young (suspended for Wednesday) used to play like world beaters against us. Glad to see the back of Rooney, even the old man version. They also had a longer rest period between matches. If we get a point out of that game I’d be happy. If we beat them (and we can; Im just being cautious), I’m celebrating Christmas early.
Emery’s Arsenal are no longer flying under the radar. This is one of their biggest games this season, and they’ll be prepared accordingly.
Good points, Claudeivan and I’m not saying I’m necessarily expecting three points Wednesday given our dismal history at Old Trafford this past decade BUT I am the most optimistic I’ve been in years, especially seeing the fight and spirit yesterday and I’m actually looking forward to it which is a massive change. Won’t be easy, but there are good reasons to believe we won’t be easy either.
That was an outstanding Arsenal performance. I just hope this 4-2 win is not a false dawn like the 3-0 win over Van Gaal’s Man United or the 2-0 win at City in 2015.
Have faith.
Tim – Eloquently put. It really summed up my experience as well. Yesterday was catharsis. I think Torreira’s goal and celebration said so much. He wanted to score as much as all of us wanted to believe. Really believe. We’ve had a nice unbeaten string, but we’ve all questioned the performances, more often than not. Until yesterday. Spurs were lucky to have been in the match at all. Our defense was incredibly steadfast. Sokratis made brilliant tactical fouls to keep them from getting counters started. Torreira sniffed out passes to kill the break. Kola (yes Kola – they guy we were all saying isn’t ready for PL) was tracking back and making defensive stops. And Bellerin played with a kind of fire and authority I’ve never seen from him. It’s a weird thing that happens when you go from complete lack of confidence in your team to starting to really believe. You don’t trust it. You look for the dark cloud in every silver lining. But yesterday, I wasn’t in despair mode after we went down. I willed away the “Same old Arensals” and thought, “we’ve done this before.” I was nearly in tears after the 4th goal. I could feel the electrcity in the crowd from all the way in LA. We all wanted it so badly, and we finally got it.
welcome back to goonerdom, tim. nothing like a good-ole’ nld to get the arsenal juices flowing once again.
starting on the bench, i didn’t think emery needed to make substitutions at halftime as arsenal were bossing the game. however, his decision was inspired and after the subs got up to speed, arsenal were again rampant but also clinical.
in the back, leno is so close to being world class but his athleticism seems to infer a false sense of belief that fundamental don’t apply to him. if he focuses on getting the fundamentals right, arsenal could have a top goalkeeper. i like the back 3 while hector and sead seem to absolutely love it. playing with wingbacks and a front 3 is going to always pose problems for any defense. mustafi looks more solid with three in the back and sokratis is continually impressing. with mavrapanos, ignacio, and laurent soon to return, i say run it. the only downside is you’re playing light in midfield.
in midfield, torreira is exceeding my expectations. i still think certain teams will target him and man united is one of those teams. xhaka is still spraying long passes like it’s nothing.
up top, what more can i say? they all seem to enjoy playing together. a few weeks ago, i noticed ramsey’s attitude seems to be, “hey, i can’t do anything about the contract so i’m just going to go out here and enjoy the game”. it’s almost like a farewell tour. he’s having a blast. i’m falling in love with this arsenal, too.
Sorry to wax on here. Emery is deservedly getting a ton of credit for the turnaround. But I think it’s time to also cheer Sven’s work. Torreira, and Sokratis have really solidified our spine, and Lichtsteiner, despite his on-field limitations, has brought a new attitude. Guendouzi has fire and huge upside. Leno has been largely superb (yesterday nothwithstanding) And there’s that Auba guy, too. True, it’s nothing without Emery putting the puzzle together, but you gotta have the pieces first, and Sven got a lot of stick for being a BVB recycler. And people foolishly questioned Leno, Licht and Sokratis early on. Don’t doubt the diamond eye.
We’ve drawn non league Sollihull Moors or Blackpool in the FA Cup 3rd round.
Arsenal critics said that there was a power shift in North London. Maybe a ripple these last two years but “we are back again”.
People claimed that our 18 runs unbeaten streak didn’t include any really good teams and they can now say our 19 games unbeaten streak didn’t include any strong teams.
I am still in shock today that Mike Dean spotted the Vertonghen handball let alone gave us a PK. On the Son PK there looked to be a touch on his foot by Holding so it was not a Fallon d’Or candidate but we’ve seen less contact result in PK’s.
Maybe Dier was offside on his goal but Leno has to hold his position at the post and that doesn’t go in.
I love Emery’s tactical mind to start then change his formations multiple times in the game, to make not one but a double switch which completely destroyed *****.
There were several MOTM performances in this game, Ramsey with his 2 assists, Aubameyang with his 2 goals, Lacazette with his game-winner, Sokratis for making kane disappear into the ether but for me it was the Uruguayan honey badger, Lucas Torreira who at one point out battled both kane and ericksen to win the ball and kept the play moving. Where is the pundit who claimed that Eric Dier was a better player than Lucas Torreira, you look a right Jack ass about now. Right now, Lucas Torreira is the leading candidate for player of the season IMO.
Where is the pundit who said Kane is a better striker than Aubameyang, certainly not today?
Stewart Robson on ESPN FC stated as fact that ***** were the better team and that Pochettino was the better manager. Neither of these entities has won anything since Rip Van Winkle was a boy.
If you were looking closely and I was since I brought it up pre-match, ***** began to tire around the 60″ mark and those 3 Arsenal goals just put a pin in them. Pochettion admitted as much post-match that the Inter and Chelsea games wore them down. Too bad you’ve got the likes of Foyth and we have players like Guendouzi to bring on.
The tying goal from Aubameyang was such a strike of beauty and precision that it had Lloris riveted to the spot.
So lets see how much shite Mourinho puts out pre-match Wednesday. I would be very, very quiet if I were him because you dont want to see Arsenal when they get angry, you won’t like them when they get angry.
A word about Klopp and his celebration, what an asshole. Did he win a Champions League final, did he win a World Cup final, no his team beat a mid-table Everton team. Show some dignity and class that befits your teams’ position and aspirations.
The power shift in North London came to a sudden and jarring collapse yesterday when ***** were flattened by a red semi-trailer drove by a man shouting good ebening to all and to all a good night.
Stewart Robson are you still eating those comments that **** were the better team and Pochettino was the better manager. Those comments should have you erased from the record as an Arsenal player. Maybe you were in some alternate universe. For the record, Pochettino nor ***** have won anything in their reign of superiority while we have managed a couple of FA cups. I’m just sayin’ ya’ll. That’s the reality of where the power is in North London. ***** have gone an slipped on a banana skin.
I know Tyrann Mathieu is nicknamed the “Honey Badger” but I would like to nominate our own Lucas Torreira for our version.
There so many candidates for MOTM yesterday, Ramsey for 2 game-changing assists, Aubameyang for his 2 goals, Lacazette for his game-winning goal but for me, the award goes to Lucas Torreira for overall outstanding compete level that just nullified the ***** midfield.
You should have noticed that ***** got tired from about 60″ on and Pochettino admitted as such in his post-match conference. Thank you, Chelsea and Inter Milan for taking the starch out of *****. A big shout out goes to Pochettino for thinking he replace Alderweirweld with Foyth. Next, you know, some wise ass while the claim that Harry Winks is better than Guendouzi. That will be in that alternative universe of superior British footballers.
Just a word about Klopp, did he win a Champions League final yesterday, did he win a World Cup final yesterday, no, so then show some class and dignity that befits your club’s position and aspirations. What a tacky human being. Just another reason to be thankful this holiday season for the gift of Unai Emery.
+1 for the Honey Badger
dude, you’ve been here for years and never written that much before. granted there were some redundancies, as your initial post was likely caught up in mediation, i read both posts and absolutely loved it! this game had gooners enjoying the ride.
Glad to see you’re back on board. I had a similar feeling in that I didn’t think I hated Spurs anymore. My step son supports them and while I’d never gone so far as to like them I could appreciate their good play for what it was. Yesterday I realised I still hated the wankers like I did as an 18 year old going to games.
This game was a tonic for the Arsenal soul. Just SO GOOD.
Checkout Scott Willis’ by the numbers over on arseblog. Arsenal allowed 0.13 non-penalty xG to spurs in this game! Comfortably our best showing of the season, and it’s not in a vacuum. I felt we played similarly well against Liverpool and yes, even Chelsea though we didn’t win either game. I have literally never said this before but I can’t wait for our game against Manchester United, at Old Trafford, against Jose Mourinho. Win that and, well, I’m already a believer but I think that would unite Arsenal fans not seen since the glory days. Spurs, sure they are annoying, but United? That’s the real enemy. They win titles. Jose? That’s the real enemy, even if he’s fallen off lately. What I wouldn’t give to see us rub his and their arrogant faces in a loss on their own patch.
I have it as 0.33 non-pen xG but irregardless, highly impressive.
2-8, anyone?
Arsenal, time to write a new history at Old Trafford with our 20th, TBD.
Man U will be missing Young through suspension, no Sanchez because of the mother of all hamstring injuries and several backliners are injured. It is a favorable time to play them so we will see if we can sustain our momentum. They always have a chance with Pogba and Lukaku.
So, new question; should Arsenal re-sign Aaron Ramsey? Imagine if he was available from another team on a free? Wouldn’t we snap him up in a minute?
Any supporter would want Ramsey at their club after a performance like that but can maintain that consistent excellence when called upon? It was Derby Day and he was clearly up for it.
Ans we can’t stump for Ramsey in isolation. What to do about Mesut Özil and his “bad back” and his monstrous wages? He has been and can be brilliant for us so I dislike being cynical but that whole thing ‘aint passing my sniff test. Something’s up.
I literally don’t care a jot about Arsenal’s finances. That’s their (the bigwigs) jobs to figure that stuff out. So, I don’t care about Ozil’s salary. However, I do care that he’s not playing and that we signed him and he’s 30 years old. That does seem like something’s up as you say. I think the club are going to need to figure something out with him. But what’s also clear is that we don’t need him. We do, however, seem to need Ramsey. So, I would buy Ozil out of his contract and get rid of him and sign friggin Ramsey!
Who are you? And what did you do with Tim? 🙂
Footballistically speaking, of course we should. He’s got immense footballing value to the squad, as he showed yesterday. I agree with Shard. The management’s approach to the player is mad.
I love the ‘band of brothers’ feel about this squad, Ramsey included. To a man they confronted Dier and his teammates over riling up the crowd. It seemed purely instinctive. . They look a tight group. Laca set the tone by welcoming Auba’s arrival even though he could take his place, and Auba has reciprocated the love by being one of the camaraderie cheerleaders. So add to that a mix of different but complementary skillsets, and we’re going to get tactical turnarounds like we did and needed yesterday.
The point I’m labouring to get to is that it’s the collective above playing every game, as Laca was astute enough to grasp in January. If Ramsey is happy to be part of the collective, where he won’t be in the First XI every game, we should keep him. But, in the event that the door is reopened, only he can decide if he’s satisfied with that. The coach is ruthless with changing things and players, and no one is untouchable. In a way, dealing with the prima donnas at PSG was good preparation for the Arsenal job. He acts like a free man. The players have to get with that.
Ramsey makes the Arsenal squad better, because no other first team player his particular combination of skills. Take him out and we’re not as good an all-round squad. The same with Mesut, who is today’s pinata. Im not saying that either is irreplacable… just that, right now, they are uniquely abled.
Ramsey is 28 on Boxing day, so ideally/financially time to sell was last summer. But that wasn’t done, AND we’re not keeping him. Brilliant, Arsenal FC. If the door could be reopened, AFC should do it because it makes financial sense as well. He’s premiership tested, and in his prime. Even if they think that he’s not a long term fit and want to sell in a year or 2, it re-creates some asset value by way of a contract. Yes, he’ll be worth less nudging 30, but Mhki si 30 in January and his valuation is 31m. Meantime AFCcreate some feelgood, by better treatment of a player the other players clearly like.
That ship looks as if it has sailed though. Emery said today that the door was closed a month or 2 ago, and his words sounded definitive to me. If Ramsey’s management are worth the money he pays them, they’ll already have his next move worked out.
Yes
That sense of being disconnected has been the running theme of the late Wenger era. Whether you wanted change or wanted to persevere with Le Prof, the Groundhog Day rhythms of the late-Wenger era took a serious toll on our fandom, and our relationship with the club (for some of us, with the sport itself). We all needed this win.
Emery’s coaching performance reminded me of the 3-0 home victory against Chelsea in Conte’s first season, where we pummelled them in the first half, Conte changed his formation at the half, and they out-played us for the rest of the game. I remember thinking, that ability to change a contest with bold tactical switches is exactly what we need from our next manager.
He got battered for the results of those two CL ties against Barca and Madrid. But for large stretches of those games Emery’s PSG were in control, and it took great performances from the Spanish giants to beat his team. I think his ceiling, and our ceiling with him, is very high, and this North London derby was thrilling proof of that.
So thank you Unai Emery. And thank you Eric Dier, for being the fat-headed lightning rod we needed. He was slide-tackling the air (lol) for the 4th goal because moments earlier when Aubameyang had the ball wide, Torreira had tried to run ahead of him and Dier had stepped out to give him a little shove. Torreira literally used that shove to curve his run around Dier to receive Auba’s pass, and Dier was left eating turf.
There were so many little details in this game. We really need zoomed in NSA satellite footage of the entire touchline fracas with enhanced audio because the damn broadcast missed most of it and subs from both sides in yellow bibs made it hard to tell who was who. Huge props to Kolasinac for giving no quarter. If we can unleash him again at Old Trafford I think he’s got another big game in him.
Final word on Ramsey:
I’ll be gutted when he goes. He is a Wenger product as is much of this team, something we need to remember in our excitement about Emery and what he’s doing with his inheritance.
Ramsey has the class and the professionalism that is a hallmark of Wenger’s sporting sensibility and ethics. Other players, regardless of form or quality had/have it too: Santi Cazorla, Thomas Vermalaen, Abou Diaby. Classy athletes regardless of their individual circumstances or situations, reflect the best of their teacher and mentor. Ramsey is a Wenger man. Much, much respect to him.
Welcome back on board this crazy emotional train wreck called Arsenal FC, also known as the best club the world has ever seen, dear Tim!
Been an avid follower of your blog since I stumbled upon your glorious (and amazingly good read) by the numbers articles from Arseblog. I’m not lying when I say that to me you’re the Thierry Henry of the literary “Arsenal-verse”. I thoroughly enjoy and look forward to reading your enticing posts and the robust comments generated daily.
So to say that I was a bit disheartened to read your less than positive “feelings” about our beloved North London club since the latter years of (the revered) Arsene’s reign, and even when our new Spanish Knight Unai took charge was kind of an understatement.
Glad that you’re acknowledging Unai’s work (in progress) and giving due credit to our team which while far from perfect, is starting to roar with immense passion that is flowing through every die hard Gunner; with the crowned lion’s mouth from Torreria’s left sleeve leading the war cry!
Glad that your heartfelt post has sparked the silence in me, and prompted me to post my first comment from the tiny sunny island of Singapore.
Now bring on the Devils from Manure !
#COYG !
True story. I have no doubt.
It’s hard to argue that we should let Ramsey go but it seems that decision has already been taken. It’s all about the opportunity cost of keeping him, and I guess someone at Arsenal has made a calculation that it’s too high. Whatever it is they plan to do with the money instead of paying Ramsey’s salary, it had better be pretty good.
I only wonder if his performance against Spuds would have changed Arsenal’s minds about whether he can in fact play at 10 – it looks like exactly the performance they were looking for from him from the start of the season, when they were still vocal about his importance.