Arsenal keep going

On days when I have my daughter I have to walk the dog at 0615. That’s the only way to make sure the dog has exercise enough and that we still get to school on time. That also means that as we approach the shortest day of the year I walk nearly every morning before the sun comes up.

Yesterday, I trudged on the gravel path toward my park and all I could see or hear were cars bustling along on their way to work. I headed toward my normal oasis from the road, a small lake near my house, but the moon had set and the sky was cloudy, so the stairs descending into the forest looked like a dark hole. There were scraps of paper and plastic waste strewn about. Some meth monster was living down there. Not inviting at all, thanks. I kept along the street.

It’s not great walking in the dark and cold but it’s what needs to be done. If I don’t walk the dog she gets high anxiety and destroys things in the house. If I don’t walk myself I get back pain and misery. So here we are just doing the things that need to be done.

Pork Chop (the dog) doesn’t mind any of this at all. She stared down the dark path yesterday and when I said “nope” excitedly head off in the new direction I was taking. I can’t think of too many places she wouldn’t come with me.

Yesterday at work I spent all day in a room, with the blinds closed, and worked on a spreadsheet. If it had been Arsenal related, I probably would have been fine, but it wasn’t! I was stuck there in that dark room, I couldn’t even stare out into the oyster colored sky for a few seconds.

I told my teammates I was taking a break. I walked upstairs and sat in the only chair I could find near a window and I read some passages from Aniara.

It’s funny that I’m reading two books about doomed travelers at the same time, Moby Dick and Aniara. Moby Dick is a warning about man’s attempted dominion over the natural world. Aniara is a warning about what happens when we didn’t heed Melville.

Aniara is a poem about a ship. One of many ships launched to Mars after the Earth’s biosphere collapsed. It gets knocked off course and drifts aimlessly through space. At first, the people on the ship have a distraction, the Mima. The Mima is an AI which can give the crew visions, realistic hallucinations of fantasy planets and realities which soothe the passengers. But one day the Mima quits. She can’t just go on existing. But the humans can. They exist, drifting through the darkness of space, consuming algae, recycling air and water – they rejoice at the idea that they have built their own “planet.”

But they are just a pith in the glass of the universe. A small bubble, traversing the obsidian of space infinitely slowly.

I thought Bukayo Saka was an inspired choice to play left back yesterday against Standard Liege. Freddie was always going to surprise us with that choice but Saka was perhaps the biggest call he’s made since he’s been put in charge.

Saka had more space, more time to run at his opponents. And he was at least initially facing defenders who are forwards, which is an easier prospect than playing winger and being marked by fullbacks.

Fullbacks aren’t what they used to be. Even 20 years ago, right back was usually where you put your worst player! But slowly they have evolved and now guys like Trent Alexander-Arnold are crucial to the way that a team builds and creates. It’s too early to say “could Saka be our TAA” but I do wonder.

Saka wasn’t just “on” for the two minutes that he turned the game on its head. He was the best player for the full 90 minutes. He had three shots in the first half – I think, I didn’t check the stats, don’t even bother looking, no one will care – and was Arsenal’s most threatening player going forward.

The problem in the midfield was Freddie’s 2-man DMs. I get why he did it – defensively, the team were more solid – but it made getting the ball out to Smith-Rowe and the other attackers more difficult. But I appreciated the idea because I like Willock in that role, I think it suits him, and Guendouzi playing more conservatively was also refreshing. It will take time for that partnership to grow but I’d love to see it given time.

You could also see Freddie’s drills already at work in possession. Yes, there was a lot of passing back, but largely the players knew where they were and where their teammate was going to be.

I mean, obviously, I’m not going to lie and pretend that we were Barcelona in possession! Sokratis, Mavropanos, and Martinez all struggled in but that’s just what it is. Maybe Freddie will have time to drill them to be better with the ball, maybe the next manager will come in and do that?

In addition to the Saka thing, there was another weird wrinkle Freddie threw at Standard Liege. Twice (that I counted) he sent Mavropanos up on a goal kick in order to win the header in midfield. I had to laugh, not in anger or frustration, but just that I mean, who tries that? Freddie. Awesome.

I thought that Willock had a good game despite a few turnovers and one bad pass in the box. I also like Smith-Rowe quite a bit – with nearly the same caveats. I hope he keeps developing, he’s the closest we have to a de Bruyne type.

I will admit that large sections of the game were boring. That I’m chalking up to new manager new system new instructions. There was even a moment when Lacazette needed to get some clarification on where Freddie wanted everyone to play.

And I’m not too bothered by their goals: both were deflected in, Standard Liege didn’t seem to create a ton, and the game would have been different had the referee given the blatant intentional handball in the 7th minute (I guess we aren’t using VAR until the next stage).

The important part is that we got through to the next stage.

Now, I have to go walk the dark in the dog.

Qq

49 comments

  1. I was glad to see Mavropanos get a game. I don’t know why – I’m sure the stats don’t bear it out but who cares – but I think he’ll be a good CB given time and opportunity. Last night was a mixed bag for him, but he is a strong presence and his positioning seems good. A bit like Sokratis maybe, only… faster. And if he’s still prone to the occasional error, well that fits perfectly with our defensive “system”…

    1. I don’t remember any errors from him, Opta gave him one though. Probably that attempted dribble out. He’s super raw but obviously a big unit and I think he’s good in the air. Needs a lot of time with the ball to get his passing chops up.

      1. Just checked the stats: Mavropanos won 44% of his aerials and all of them in the middle of the park.

        1. Bloody hell! That’s really poor for a guy of his size. Sorry to be negative during your ban on negativety.

      2. Dino moves well; he pivots fluidly.
        Not a description you’d apply to, say, a Stones or a MacGuire.
        Maybe not a VVD (yet!). But healthy, there is ‘sizable’ potential.

  2. I came to the conclusion watching that game yesterday that Guendouzi may very well get sold on by the next manager this coming summer – especially if it’s Arteta and we’re going to adopting a faster, possession-based, City style.

    He’s young, a very good player, lots of potential, a French international – but bogs the team down with too many touches, fails to hold his position and seems to be a diva in the making by his antics and remonstrations with fellow players (who are the same age). If we could get 30-40m for him, I think I’d take it and run with Willock and ESR as my midfielders of the future.

    Just sayin’.

    1. Not too sure about that. Cazorla & Rosicky both carried the ball to great effect. Guendouzi is a current international for the world champions which must count for something. Take your point about his diva like actions though and I know Tim’s a fan.

      1. Agreed – but watch the trajectory of his dribbles. I would argue half the time he’s dribbling horizontally or on a diagonal to the wings… and he’s not beating anyone off the dribble, he’s too slow and lacks the moves. Cazorla and Rosicky were much more vertical and would dust a defender or two, pulling the other team out of position by busting through the lines. I don’t find Guendouzi’s dribbling comparable.

      2. Was a big fan when Guendouzi first splashed-down. And he came at a low price. Think Emery liked him so much– as he’d had success with Steven Nzonzi at Sevilla. Hoping he kicks into another gear this next 6 months– and hasn’t plateaued. That he keeps adding tools. Defines his CM role.

        Otherwise? Right now might be the height of his transfer value.

        1. He’s a raw young player who needs to be playing behind someone more seasoned at this stage of his career, but he’s already good and judging by his attitude he has the desire to be great. No elite physical tools but a terrific competitor who is already so far ahead of initial expectations we forget he came as a callow second division player just last season. We’d be foolish to move on from a prospect like that, especially with multiple years left on his deal. More likely, he should be signed to a long term deal now before his value peaks.

          1. Appreciate the flip-side view.

            I then look at Martinelli in much the same way– and see few of his traits I’d consider negatives. Gabriel has forced his way into the XI. Matteo was thrown onto the pitch and given free-reign to develop with little structure (thanks to a dearth of MF ability). Unlearning less-than traits Emery forgave him– well, here’s hoping.

            Until ‘Denilson’ stops popping into my brain– I’m still on the fence.

          2. Of course I praise him, he starts, and looks totally lost against City. Definitely not ready for this level yet.

            Denilson was a very good prospect but never developed further. To me that’s a mental issue. I don’t think Matteo is made of the same stuff.

  3. Hi Tim,

    I don’t contribute much at the comment section (mostly because I read your blog at work whilst busy with other things) but I love your writing style and the simplicity of how the site looks. Kudos to you. I mostly agree with a lot of the things you say too. I too love ESR, especially the way he turns to face the opposition when he receives the ball and either tries to pass forward or drive at them. I hope he develops his craft more.

    P.S. did you mean to type that you walk the dark in the dog?

  4. I noted how, in typical fashion, much of the media were already writing Freddie off after just a couple of matched (most disappointingly, even Footbal365, a rare site of calm, jumped on that bandwagon). Then we won. We haven’t exactly been Man City or Liverpool in their pomp, but he’s doing interesting things, things which make me notice the players in a different way – even when we’re boring, it’s interesting to see the movements. I have not a clue whether Freddie is the answer and I doubt he’ll get a chance to show or prove it, but right now I’m more engaged than I’ve been for a while, and I like that.

    1. So, lots of talk about the coach and Freddie in particular. He cannot and will not work miracles. Cognitively we can all easily understand that but emotionally I think we are all hoping he might be the spark that aligns the puzzle just so and cuts short what is otherwise certain to be a grueling slog through relative mediocrity on the way to stable, competent management AND a well-balanced squad. It’s much more likely that, yes there will probably be a (likely temporary) uptick in form (that was probably coming anyhow) but his biggest and most important challenge is to change the culture of the clubhouse back to one of togetherness and positivity. Arsenal’s problems will only get significantly worse if we end up alienating one of our best players either because he’s sick of losing or because it’s just not fun to be on this team anymore and he ends up having us over a barrel for a cut-price transfer. You all know who I’m talking about. That is something Freddie can and will help, in my opinion, simply because he seems to have the sense of diplomacy and interpersonal skills that Unai was missing and that in and of itself might be enough to get him the job until Summer. The club needs to make that decision soon. If he can align the clubhouse again, I don’t really care where the team finishes in the table at this point and I’d almost rather NOT be in the Europa league places so we can stop having these crazy Thursday, Friday and Monday fixtures, far flung travel itineraries, and midweek honorary practice sessions against vastly inferior opposition. The novelty has worn off.

      Salvation is not coming the January transfer window either. We have lots of average to above average players right now and the transfer market is only likely to net us something in that same category. It’s clear the midfield requires an infusion of experience and talent, and I’d rather save the money we have for the summer so that we have the best chance to find the best possible fit. In terms of internal solutions, I think Dani Ceballos is the missing ingredient. A bit like Ramsey early in his career, he has been thrust into a larger role than he is ready for, not having quite mastered the use of his skills in a brusque and busy PL midfield. I think he has a big future though. Hopefully the Real Madrid brass would consider selling to us at a reasonable price if he has an underwhelming season on loan. I’d relish the chance to watch him develop into a world class midfield general. My main concern is whether he has the mentality to play in England like our erstwhile Spanish maestros.

  5. Weird statement from Arsenal regarding Ozil’s recent criticism of China.

    Like I get it from a business point of view but saying “As a football club, Arsenal always adheres to the principle of not being involved in politics.” is kind of at odds with our history of promoting human rights in the form of things like the rainbow laces campaign and fighting against racism. Like, as a club, we’re not neutral on all human rights issues.

    I know people will say that Arsenal should stay out of politics but saying nothing, when it comes to human rights violations, is support the status quo. I know it’s a business but it’s still disappointing to me all the same.

    I get it, like I do, but can you imagine Arsene coming out with a statement like that?

    1. I agree with you. This is a double standard from the club especially as there is evidence as recently as last week when the club didn’t distance itself from Bellerin when he tweeted in favor of the the Labour party saying no to Brexit. It’s not about the politics, it’s about the money.

    2. Hmmm. Özil happy to support causes that suit him. How about his close friendship with Erdogan who is an unsavoury character to say the least? How can he justify Turkey’s treatment of the Kurds?

      1. My comment was about the statement released by Arsenal FC about how, as a club, we don’t get involved in politics, when clearly we do. It’s especially true when it comes to things like equality and human rights when it comes to our support for the rainbow laces campaign and fighting against racism.

        For Arsenal FC to release a statement saying that ‘As a football club, Arsenal always adheres to the principle of not being involved in politics’ is not just completely at odds with MY understanding of the principles of the club, but suggests the people running the club either somehow don’t understand that as a club we DO throw our support behind certain political issues, or they’re willing to lie and pretend we don’t in case it upsets China and limits our potential for profit in that market.

        As i’ve said, I UNDERSTAND why the people in charge would do this but I don’t have to like it, agree with it, or even believe it as it’s a statement that’s clearly and demonstratably at odds with, not just our past, but our CURRENT actions as a club.

        1. I forgot that we’re trying to be more upbeat for a couple of weeks so I will say that I think our kits this year are some of the best we’ve had in ages and that the re release of what is clearly and factually one of the greatest kits of all time, the ‘bruised banana’ is something to be joyful about.

  6. This is a Kevin De Bruyne appreciation post. What a player. Arsenal were never winning this anyhow so might as well give respect where it’s due.

    1. Agreed. Precision and good run into the box for the first. Great strength, guile and vision for the assist for the second. And wow the third was just slick and impeccable. KDB’s first half performance was a masterclass that underscores the gulf that separates both teams. If only we had half a player of his quality…

  7. Halftime.

    Hey guys, I have different take on this than you might. I am enjoying an attacking midfielder masterclass by Kevin De Bruyne. Right foot rocket, left foot curler, right foot rocket that demanded a world class save from Leno.

    Guendouzi is never going to forget how KDB rolled him for goal No. 2. I cant decided if Guen got rolled too easily, or if it was just great play. Guen thought about bringing him down, but didnt. Rodri thought about bringing Kola down, and did. Walker even managed to gratuitously tread on Martinelli’s fingers. City are beauty, but turn beast when they need to.

    But hey, Im not letting us off. We cant defend. We’re a joke defensively. Pepe just let Fernandinho run past him.

    A few people bigging up Calum Chambers may have to reassess. Should never have left the ball get to Jesus for goal 1, and should have cut out the crosses for goals 1 and 2. Today he looks like what he was last season… a Fulham defender.

    Kolasinac totally lost Sterling at the back stick. Sokratis was nowhere near for the square across the box.

    Our best player in the melee is Torreira.

    We need to attack. Take off the ineffective Mesut or Pepe, bring on Laca. It’s too easy for them. We’re not going to make a CB sub, but we should. Chambers has been shocking.

  8. It was clearly time for Emery to leave but the biggest problem the has been holding us down was never managerial tactics

  9. As for Arsenal, it doesn’t look good. The start was bright and the players seemed up for it, but trying to press City with that back four and with Ozil in a key central position was asking for trouble. He tried to attack and be positive and I can appreciate that. The strength of the team is in attack and that’s what he tried to unleash. There was a bit of misfortune too in the way de Bruyne’s strike was so pure and the way the centering cross just evaded everyone on two occasions, the second of which also involved a deflection. But you could also immediately see how much trouble Arsenal were in as soon as City played around the half-arsed effort from Ozil and Auba, switched the play and had runners into the channels with the CB’s backpedaling.

    Amidst this exhibition of ineffective pressing, Ozil is playing so far forward that the Arsenal midfield, already overmatched, is playing 2 vs 3 . To make things even worse, Guendouzi is playing without discipline, flying around and trying to win challenges he has no business going for, then leaving massive gaps behind him.

    In possession, Maitland-Niles is overmatched and City know it, funneling possession towards him and then shutting down his options. They build a wall in front of Pepe who has nowhere to go because AMN is also not offering effective overlaps and Ozil is not doing enough to show for the ball. Auba has retreated into his shell and the game is passing him by, though in fairness when the team is getting outplayed to this extent the striker is often peripheral.

    I say let’s get Lacazette in for Ozil in the second half, go 4-4-2 and at least make City sweat a little bit.

  10. Claude

    I agree with you about Chambers.

    If you still think Mesut Ozil’s ability to influence the games and be a dynamic top class playmaker has not faded with age then you probably need to reevaluate

    1. I never claimed that. You must learn to do nuance, Bill. And learn to play another note! 😉 Tune’s old, but it’s clearly a favourite.

      I agree with Doc’s assessment above, particularly in applying culpability for the City counter (Ozil and Auba). City players dont mind taking one for the team if a player gets exposed. That was the difference then.

      And can I say….

      Martinelli is playing with no little heart. He knows that the game is not only about the glory bits, but the guts bit too. I love the kid.

  11. Yes, Matt, there’s plenty of positives to take from this game if you look hard enough.
    Example?
    Ozil shows some aggression ……………………………….after being subbed off.

    1. He deserved it at halftime. Auba too.

      The positive I take is the clutch of young talent we have. At least this season if nothing else will give them lots of opportunities.

  12. Guenduzi allows KDB to roll him easily for his brace , waves his arms as if to blame someone else,……………..but his hair looked very bouncy.

  13. kolasinac can defend himself against an attacker with a blade yet he ducks under a size 5 bag of wind.

  14. Not sure what the answer is at this point. Relegation is not likely, but on this form, not out of the question either, between injuries and poor play. Maybe try Luiz again as CDM?
    Basically, although the youth situation seems pretty good, we’re seeing the effects of 5 or so years of terrible transfer decisions. Almost none of the players we’ve gotten in the mid-field or defense have been able to make sustained contributions in the last year and a half. Pepe might eventually come good, but given how bad we are in mid-field and defense, that doesn’t look like money well spent at this point.
    It’s going to take a lot to turn this around 🙁

  15. Claude.

    There has been a lot of discussion about how poor a man manager Emery was for dropping Ozil. However since Mesut has been back in the line up I think it clears up what Emery was thinking. Why use a pure flair player whose ability to bring consistent positive influence to our attack has faded away.

    1. The sad thing about Ozil is that if he only tried to step outside of his comfort zone and show more hustle Arsenal fans would probably universally embrace him for it.
      He won’t do it though.
      It’s an extraordinary thing to see an athlete at this sort of stage unable or unwilling to do the simplest thing a professional footballer is required to do.

    2. Bill, youre misrepresenting, or at best, misremembering the argument. Which was that a total freeze from all squads was not justified. The argument was never that he was the same player he was in years past, or he should start every game. The sum total of no one argued that. When Emery tried belatedly to save his own a** he suddenly found utility in the player. From not even making C squads, to starting every game. Funny, wasn’t it?

      Stop being such a Johnny One-Note, man. You focus on one player all the time.

      Today…

      Ozil wasnt effective
      Auba wasnt
      Pepe wasn’t (until instructed by Freddie to show more urgency 2nd half)
      Guendouzi wasnt good
      Torreira was OK
      AMN was Ok
      Chambers was totally at sea
      Kola wasn’t good, except on the promising attack on which he was injured.
      Did Sokratis play?

      Is Fernandinho a ball-carrier? He sure looked like one for the first goal. Pepe might as well have waved him by with a red cape.

      All that said, everything said…. who DIDN’T expect a 0-3 scoreline, or a decisive City win?

      Everything we say, every criticism we make should be tempered by the fact we played the best team in England. Not the most consistent this season… the best.

  16. About what I expected, though I figured we would at least score one against their make shift defense. Martinelli was perhaps the only bright spot really. I wish we would sell just about everyone over 25 bar Leno and launch a full scale rebuild, but our current management doesn’t seem to have much of a direction in mind at all. Even Freddie wants a decision to be made one way or another regarding the future.

    Still, Martinelli looks like he’s going to be an absolute monster. Very much a classic South American striker, constantly battling and bothering and taking defenders on, direct with the ball, and an instinctive finisher. I’m not sure what his current contract details are, but I hope we lock him up long term.

  17. I don’t think anyone who looked at the schedule before the start of the season would have expected us to get a good result today.

    We play Chelsea and ManU soon so it’s going up be tough to start an unbeaten run right now. However, I still expect us to find a way to string together a run of good results sometime after the new year and get back into contention for one of the Europa league spots. It’s going to be tough but 5th or 6th is not out of reach.

  18. Maybe relax? If you expected a result today then check ur self. Those are the champions. Martinelli failed to stay with DeBruyne for the first goal, Kolasinac brain dead for the second. He f’n saw Sterling wide open. What I’m sayin is u go down two cheap goals to City, you quit. That’s what happened. Now the boys try again. That’s all.

Comments are closed.

Related articles