Bergkampesque

If you have not already watched the training video on Arsenal.com, go and do it! To see and hear MA at work is a joy. Let there be no doubt about it, the sleeves are up; the mission has started.

Here are my first impressions of MA at Arsenal:

1. Mikel presents himself very well: his English is clear and his answers are anything but dull or scripted. He demands your attention without being overly affalable. His action-man look and powerful eyes draw you in; he is the centre of the PR room and, just like in Wenger’s days, our manager is in charge. Very, very impressive.
2. What also struck me is his intelligence: there is nuance to his answers and he  makes you think, which indicates that he knows what he is talking about and all is under control (reminiscent of Arsene).
3. Arteta talks a lot about his vision for football, the basics that everyone has to adhere to and what he expects of players in terms of behaviour and conduct. You would expect every new manager to say such things, but Arteta is straightaway adding gravitas to it. This shows that he learned the job from big masters Wenger and Guardiola: they also work with strong vision and values and boy did the players know it.
4. There is a strong focus on energy and pride by Arteta, and with that he has hit the nail on the (obvious) head. To witness a near-dead Ashburton Groove will have been a shocking experience for him. We need new, warm and pulsing blood in our club and you get the feeling from his interviews and the training session that he will focus hard on this. This will not be easy and he cannot do this on his own: we as supporters have to stand up and be counted too!
5. MA has indicated that all players start with a clean slate: the past – bad or good – does not count. This is a simple but very important announcement: it indicates a fresh start and the weights or privileges of the past have simply evaporated. Arteta wants to play in a certain way, with a system of football to which players will have to be moulded to some extent. So the qualities of the players and their ability to adjust and follow tactical instructions is what he will focus on. Therefore, he is genuine in his statement that everyone will start anew with him.
6. Mikel first success was convincing Freddie to stay and work with him: opting for inclusiveness was a smart move. Freddie has done a fabulous job for us in quite difficult circumstances and has proven to be a real club man. We need those of people at our club and Arteta clearly understood this too. Rather than seeing him as a competitor or somebody who would potentially undermine his dominance at the club, Arteta has made himself and his coaching team stronger by asking Freddie to stay.
7. MA has recognised straightaway that the club has some very promising youth players and that the future should be bright. There are three ways of making a club successful: spending tons of money (more than opponents), building a club bottom up from a strong core of youth players (who then become regular powerhouses in the team), or a mixture of both. Option one is not for us and for option two or three we need a strong focus on youth. I think we are going to get this with Mikel in charge.
8. The final, big and most important impression Mikel has given me is that he is ready, really ready  to be a nr.1 at Arsenal. You just sense it when you hear him speak and see him at work. Welcome to the Home of Football, Mikel.

Predicted Line-up

To predict Arteta’s first line-up is not easy but I reckon it will be similar to the Everton starting-11 with a few tweaks. Chambers is suspended, so Big Sok should return but other than that I expect the same defence and midfield, with the exception of ESR starting again. The four attackers could well be Ozil for Martinelli (injured) and Willock for ESR (in front of Xha/Tor), with Pepe and Laca starting ahead of Auba and Nelson, but I am guessing quite a bit here. I am hoping for a compact midfield, good protection of our defence once more, better first touches and passes and therefore better opportunities of which at least two we will take. COYGs!

By TotalArsenal.

Wishing all my friends at Bergkampesque a Merry Mikel Christmas

And a Happy and Healthy 2020!

Love,

Total.

Dear Mikel,

Welcome back to a place where you are so loved. When you arrived here on a pay cut from Everton we were without a holding mid and you were an attacking mid. Wenger asked you to man the holding position. You accepted whole heartedly because you see football from a team perspective. That your new role would enhance the team’s performance was your encouragement. It was never about your self. Now that you are back to manage the team, you will be a living sermon to all. Any of the players, whoever that player might be, who is not quickened by a philosophy on two legs and that breathes is a living dead and should not be part of the family. Excellence is uncompromising. In your presser you called it ruthlessness.

What you lacked in athleticism was more than compensated for by your mastery of space and that meant impeccable timing. To know space is to know time. You settled in your role like you were born with it, which I guess you were. Wenger, at the first opportunity made you his captain seeing that on the field and out of it the players held you in great esteem. The younger players, almost to the last of them, testified on how you were so attentive to their development and how you had helped them grow their game. Injuries did not allow us to enjoy you fully and as your playing days drew to a close many had seen your deep desire to share your ideas in football for the betterment of individual and team play.

Amongst the numerous eyes that saw that special quality in you were Wenger’s, Gaurdiola’s and Pochetino’s. In my little world, I strongly was feeling you were Wenger’s favourite prince, the Crown Prince. Timing was the only issue at stake but not anymore.

I know you have been consumed with your work with Pep at City yet with a space always there for Arsenal. You had schooled yourself in your ideas all your playing years, felt ready to begin your formal coaching career when you retired but to leave no stone unturned, you decided to learn at the foot of another master for a further three years. Newcastle came calling. Lyon came calling. Your responses were in the negative. For some reasons well beyond analysis Arsenal has been your love, your dream and your focus. You knew exactly where we are, knew that the time was at hand. Obviously, you have not lost your sense of timing.

We believe we are in the wild but are hanging our hopes on your vision to lead us back home. That means we must be ready to trudge faithfully behind you over the unforgiving terrain, give you time and support. My prayer is that the Arsenal faithfuls make a song of support for you and your team as we journey home. We need to water, prune and weed around the seed of you being planted until the club has become once again the oak that gives its shade to us all.

I don’t want to talk about the team to you. You know it better. Having loved it long and hard you have all its secrets. However, this being an open letter, I would touch on a few points which maybe would help some of us appreciate better the structure of the challenge you face.

We have good players many of whom have lost their centre of gravity. Your job is to lift them up and put them back on their two feet. You have to get them to once again believe in themselves and as importantly to believe in one another, in the team and in the project. Sadly you might discover a few have been broken beyond repair and a few who have become incapable of learning a new language. You will take them all in your stride sieving and sifting. There will be deaths and pains as well as births and joy.

In your first press conference you talked about engineering a right culture. It gladdened my heart because it was clear your vision went beyond the bounds of the team on the field. Your heart encompasses the whole of the club. It indicates that it is the club that you love and that your job apart from being your life is but a vehicle for expressing that love. Of course you won’t be at all the desks but you can make yourself the point of inspiration, the point of a new growth. You are determined to conquer not with bullets but with dedication and excellence. We need our Arsenal back but we need to remind ourselves that you haven’t come with a magic wand. It’s going to be hard work, long work which would only succeed if backed with patience from all quarters.

For a few who are asking “Mikel who?”:  it is Mikel Arteta Amatriain.

Yours faithfully,

PE.

Arsenal v Everton – December 21^st, 2019

Everton was founded in 1878 by the St Domingo Methodist New Connexion Chapel in Breckfield Road North; it was named St Domingo FC and was created so that members of the congregation could play football as well as cricket. The club was renamed Everton in November 1879 to allow people outside of the congregation to participate.

On April 17, 1888 Everton became a founding member of the Football League.

Representatives of the Blues along with Aston Villa, Blackburn Rovers, Bolton Wanderers, Burnley, Derby County, Notts County, Preston North End, Stoke, West Bromwich Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderers met at the Royal Hotel in Manchester.

The move followed concerns that too many friendly games were being cancelled thereby depriving the clubs of gate money, and playing a set number of matches home and away should offset any losses derived from losing friendly matches.

Membership was set at £2, 2s a year.

Everton’s nickname “The Toffees” or “The Toffeemen”, came about after Everton moved to Goodison. One of the possible reasons for the nickname was that there was a business in Everton village, named Mother Noblett’s, it was a toffee shop that sold sweets including the Everton Mint. It was also located opposite the lock up which Everton’s club crest is based on. The Toffee Lady tradition in which a girl walks around the perimeter of the pitch before the start of a game tossing free Everton Mints into the crowd symbolises the connection. Another possible reason is that there was a house named Ye Anciente Everton Toffee House in nearby Village Street, Everton, run by Ma Bushell. The toffee house was located near the Queen’s Head hotel in which early club meetings took place.

(Joe Mercer was born in Ellesmere Port in 1914. He joined Everton as a youngster and forced himself into the first team on a regular basis in 1935. Developing quickly, he became England’s left-half. The Second World War came and went and Sergeant Major Mercer, captain of his country, returned to Goodison Park having won 26 wartime caps. When he returned Everton had both a captain and a manager and Mercer, no longer a figure of responsibility became disconsolate. Arsenal heard about his disenchantment and signed him in late 1946 for £7,000. )

In 1925 they signed Dixie Dean from Tranmere Rovers.

Prior to the final game of the 1927-28 season Dean had been injured but was declared fit to play just before the kick off; the game was at home to Herbert Chapman’s legendary Arsenal side, he needed to get a hat-trick for the league scoring record. The Gunners had the famous Charles Buchan playing his final match before retirement in their defence and he was eager to ensure Everton’s young upstart didn’t steal his show. It was, however, undeniably Dean’s day. He scored the third goal of his hat trick and the record 60th of the season in the 85th minute. His record stands to this day.

A reporter wrote – “You talk about explosions, and loud applause; we have heard many explosions, and much applause in our long pilgrimage, but, believe us, we have never heard such a prolonged roar of thundering, congratulatory applause before as to that which ascended to heaven when Dixie broke the record.”

He scored 37 hat tricks for Everton – First: 17/10/1925, Last: 7/11/1936.

Dixie Dean – Scoring Record at Everton
		League		FA Cup		Club Total
Season		Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	GPG
1937	1938	5	1	0	0	5	1	0.20
1936	1937	36	24	4	3	40	27	0.68
1935	1936	29	17	0	0	29	17	0.59
1934	1935	38	26	5	1	43	27	0.63
1933	1934	12	9	0	0	12	9	0.75
1932	1933	39	24	6	5	45	29	0.64
1931	1932	38	45	1	1	39	46	1.18
1930	1931	37	39	5	9	42	48	1.14
1929	1930	25	23	2	2	27	25	0.93
1928	1929	29	26	1	0	30	26	0.87
1927	1928	39	60	2	3	41	63	1.54
1926	1927	27	21	4	3	31	24	0.77
1925	1926	38	32	2	1	40	33	0.83
1924	1925	7	2	0	0	7	2	0.29
Total		399	349	32	28	431	377	0.87

 (Tommy Lawton one of the greatest goal scorers of his or any age began his career with Burnley and moved to Everton for £6,500, as an eventual replacement for Dixie Dean, in March 1937. He helped the club win the League title in 1939. In November 1953, Lawton was traded to First Division champions Arsenal for £7,500.)

Everton Domestic Honours: 

* 1st Division Champions (9): 1890–91, 1914–15, 1927–28, 1931–32, 1938–39, 1962–63, 1969–70, 1984–85, 1986–87

* 2nd Division: Winners (1): 1930–31

* FA Cup: Winners (5): 1905–06, 1932–33, 1965–66, 1983–84, 1994–95

* FA Charity Shield: Winners (9): 1928, 1932, 1963, 1970, 1984, 1985, 1986 (shared), 1987, 1995

European Honours:

* European Cup Winners Cup: Winners: (1): 1984–85

Now we get to our away games against the Toffee’s, we never played them in the old 2^nd Division so our first game against them was on April 5^th 1905 in the old 1^st Division and it ended in a 1-0 victory for Everton.

The Premier League results have been in our favour with a record of –

W12, D8, L7, GF43, GA27, GD16.

Arsenal v Everton – EPL Away Results
#	Date	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
1	01-May-93		1		0	0	0
2	19-Feb-94		1		1	1	0
3	29-Oct-94		1		1	1	0
4	23-Aug-95	1			2	0	2
5	01-Mar-97	1			2	0	2
6	27-Sep-97		1		2	2	0
7	13-Mar-99	1			2	0	2
8	29-Apr-00	1			1	0	1
9	18-Nov-00			1	0	2	-2
10	10-Feb-02	1			1	0	1
11	19-Oct-02			1	1	2	-1
12	07-Jan-04		1		1	1	0
13	15-Aug-04	1			4	1	3
14	21-Jan-06			1	0	1	-1
15	18-Mar-07			1	0	1	-1
16	29-Dec-07	1			4	1	3
17	28-Jan-09		1		1	1	0
18	15-Aug-09	1			6	1	5
19	14-Nov-10	1			2	1	1
20	21-Mar-12	1			1	0	1
21	28-Nov-12		1		1	1	0
22	06-Apr-14			1	0	3	-3
23	23-Aug-14		1		2	2	0
24	19-Mar-16	1			2	0	2
25	13-Dec-16			1	1	2	-1
26	22-Oct-17	1			5	2	3
27	07-Apr-19			1	0	1	-1
Totals:		12	8	7	43	27	16

Overall Everton have the better record with Arsenal only winning 20 out of 71 games at Goodison Park, but our fortunes have reversed and we have a winning record in the Premier League era.

Arsenal v Everton – All Away Results
	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
Division 1	20	18	33	112	88	-24
Premier	12	8	7	43	27	16
Total	32	26	40	155	115	-8

At the time of writing this Arsenal had still not made a decision on a permanent replacement for Unai Emery, although it appears that Mikel Arteta is one of the names being discussed. My earnest hope is that a decision is made in time for the new manager to have a positive input into possible new signings in the January transfer window.

GunnerN5

Preferred Line-up v the Toffees:

The back remains weak so we will need to put up a strong midfield to protect them. Time for TLX. I prefer the work rate and linking up ability of Laca, especially with this midfield, and the running ability, with and without the ball, of Martinelli and Pepe (the two players who benefited most from Freddie’s first management spell) should also add bite to our attack.

COYGs.

 

Or Does he Need to Buy?!

Arsenal are compartmentalised and the middle and back are not working. I think that succinctly sums up the problem we have at Arsenal and the main challenge Mikel Arteta – if it is him to take over from Freddie – has to face.

We can argue about the wisdom of appointing an inexperienced manager in the middle of winter and with the team in real trouble, but if it is indeed MA we have to get behind him and support him through all the growing pains he certainly will encounter. Let there be no doubt that the team is in a psychological mess and there  will be no time for soul searching as the games will come thick and fast. In my view, MA will have to do three things between now and the end of the season with our more than decent squad: turn the compartments into a team, get 18 points at least to avoid relegation, and work on a system of football that suits Arsenal and will become the red-print for years to come.

The good news is that Arteta was a very good midfielder, in fact he was part of the best midfield-duo ever since Cesc left us for the charms and seductions of the Catalonian Giants: Song-Arteta. We have an Arteta: Granit Xhaka, but we do not have a Song. Or do we? In January, the club will have to find a Song, unless of course Arteta can turn either Torreira, AMN or Willock into a Song.

Xhaka is only 27 and he already played 350 games for club and country (with already 82 caps for his national team alone). Every manager he worked with rates him and plays him all the time. Many fans don’t get it but that’s why managers first have to do a course or two before they can call themselves one.

Like Mikel he is not the fastest, and he is prone to a mistake or two, but he has so many qualities that are rare and vital to a midfield. Xhaka haters will have to get used to the Swiss maestro being used constantly again, but I reckon you will get to love him once more (together with Auba and Laca he was given the most MOTM awards last season after all).

I have no doubt that Granit will love working under Arteta and that he will become pivotal again. But he will need to be paired up with a Song type of midfielder and I reckon that is the one player he will need to buy….

Or could it be that David Luiz could be our Song this season?

A Xhaka-Luiz midfield with Ozil or Torreira in front of them could just give us back the balance in midfield we so desperately need. Come to think about it, Luiz has the physical and passing qualities of Alex Song with the same ability to defend and move forward with the ball. We may even see Song-like balls over the top and into the box from midfield and the likes of Laca or Auba finishing them in a Van Pudsie way…

Whatever Mikel will do, I reckon we will benefit from his central midfield experience and ability to make the whole team play as a team in just a few games time, and this will do miracles. Much more we cannot ask for this season, and that is fine with me.

By TotalArsenal.

Imagine being Freddie right now. An amicable guy with a glass half full attitude. He saw how OGS turned a disengaged Red Mancs team into a winning machine during his first months of interim management, so why could he not put some smiles back on our Gunners’ faces and win some games too in due course?

Well, the difference is that Mourinho is strong on system but not/no longer strong on getting the best out of his players, especially during the third year of his stay at any club. So the Norwegian could indeed just mainly focus on remotivating his players and the results came instantly. OGS and FL are quite similar characters: easy going, likeable Scandinavians with huge pedigrees with, and respect for, their respective clubs. Good lads and good nr.2’s, and who knows, possibly good nr.1’s too. But interim management is quite a different challenge from being the permanent big cheese: OGS is experiencing that this season and there is no doubt that it would be a big challenge for FL too if he was so lucky.

Unfortunately, Emery left an Arsenal side behind BOTH low on confidence and motivation and weak in terms of structure and tactical knowledge.

You have got to feel for the Fredster: he has been given an almost impossible assignment with no clarity from the BoD re his future, hardly any coaching support, injuries in  the most vulnerable on-pitch department, and a team that has not only lost its mojo but has utterly unlearned how to play as a unit with a strong tactical/football-philosophical structure. Freddie may not be too dissimilar to OGS personality wise but his interim assignment is much harder than the Norwegian’s was last season.

Against the Blue Northern Oilers he basically had two options: sit back and absorb pressure or attack and hope to score more than them. He went for the latter and we had no luck: KdB produced a Bergkampesque performance – he really looked like Dennis yesterday – fully benefiting from loads of available space in and around a make-shift, low on confidence and frankly poor Arsenal defence. It was never a game and we were outclassed for 90 minutes. Oh how the tables have turned.

A midfield pairing of Guendouzi and Torreira – for many the best Arsenal midfield combo – was no match for MC, and despite doubling up on the wings with full backs and attacking midfielders/wingers we were also second best on the flanks all game long.

Ozil struggled to impose himself in such a set-up and how much he will have wanted to be in De Bruine’s shoes yesterday. Auba floated all over the pitch and kept looking for his one or two opportunities but they never came. Both disappointed on an afternoon were we badly needed their leadership.

Martinelli fought like Ljungberg used to do and Pepe kept trying to make something happen but they were fighting a machine, and guerrilla warfare in open field is always doomed to fail. Leno was phenomenal and saved us from further pain, Saka did well filling in for the Bosnian Bear, Torreira did his best to fill the immense gaps on the pitch, but it was in the end boys against men and it hurts.

We all knew this game came much too soon for Freddie, and I am not blaming him at all. It was a painful game to watch and one to forget very quickly for the supporters. The richly awarded members of the BoD cannot afford the latter, though. You oversee a club with huge history and pride, with a massive reputation all over the world of beautiful winning football, with a fabulous newly build stadium in one of the richest cities of the world, and we are in limbo-land. 

It’s time for decisions and decisive actions, for clear and open communication with the supporters and for leading our proud club out of the wilderness again.

By TotalArsenal.

At this juncture, City is not my wish but on second thought they have lost four matches this season exactly the same number as us. We would have been identical with them except that we have drawn seven games to their two (pretty smart using the Ds instead of the Ws for comparison). This clash looks set to favour whoever is managing better its crises of confidence. That is saying they must be in the same boat with us.

Pep’s philosophy is possession with winning the ball back quickly. It was a strategy with which he ruled the world. I dare say not anymore. His team still dominates possession but not as much as before because they are now unable to win the ball back as quickly. Since the Pep’s Barcelona days, teams have developed more and more ability to beat the press and once his press is beaten Pep’s soft underbelly is exposed; defending, particularly defending against fast attackers aka Auba, Pepe and Martinelli. But first of all his tiki-taka has to be contained.

City’s dribbling numbers are relatively low for the amount of possession they enjoy. That is how Pep wants it. Dribbling has a high turnover rate and Pep is morbid about turnovers as is made clear in the most informative ‘Pep Confidential’. Only his wide men (Sterling, Bernado Silva or Mahrez) are encouraged to dribble (it’s safer to lose the ball wide). In their encounter last weekend Wan-Bissaka of United (top Premier League tackler after Ndidi of Leicester) completely shut out dangerous Sterling in their duels. Should Freddie give Mustafi that assignment at the right back position seeing that Bellerin is not yet up to speed defensively since his return from injury? Musti gets tastier the further away from his box and borrowing one or two ideas from United might prove a smart thing to do.

At the more central areas of the field, we need, not so much of tackling as having players who know how to protect spaces and unfortunately for us there aren’t many that we have. Protecting space (passive defending) should rule out Guendouzi who is too drawn to the ball. The quick ball passing of City would bemuse him (remember Wenger yanked off Coquelin ‘the tackler’ at half time against Pep’s Bayern). Freddie has to be inventive to find enough of such space specialists for our central areas.

United who beat City last weekend were brave to leave numbers up field. It threw the spanner into Pep’s works as it left him unable to flood men into the opponents half as his team is wont to do. For our team to do same we must come up with a hardworking and competent midfield which is yet another grave task for Freddie. The truth is, against City there are too many blind alleys.

Predicted line up:

I like Smith-Rowe’s rounded play which includes his mentality. This is a game for Torreira. He understands space and has that short tackling bust that are useful when City compresses the field. Luiz in the midfield gives stature and experience. Ozil is for manipulating space and time for our transition from a defensive to an attacking shape. Walker of City would be wary of venturing too far forward with Martinelli lurking. The 18 yr old has worked himself into reckoning. Auba would cherish the City defensive high line manned by Fernandinho and Otamendi, a pair of slow coaches.

Subs: Martinez, Bellerin, AMN, Guendouzi, Willock, Pepe, Lacazette.

A win, even a good performance, would fully kickstart our season. The boys need us more than ever.

COYRRG!!!

By PE.

Arsenal v Manchester City – December 15^th, 2019

Founded in 1880 as St. Mark’s (West Gorton), it became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894. The club’s home ground is the City of Manchester Stadium in east Manchester, to which it moved in 2003, having played at Maine Road since 1923.

Manchester City entered the Football League in 1899, and won their first major honour with the FA Cup in 1904. It had its first major period of success in the late 1960s, winning the League, FA Cup and League Cup under the management of Joe Mercer and Malcolm Allison. After losing the 1981 FA Cup Final, the club went through a period of decline, which eventually saw them relegated as far down as third tier of English football by the end of the 1997–98 season. They since regained promotion to the top tier in 2001–02 and have remained a fixture in the Premier League since 2002–03. In 2008, Manchester City was purchased by Abu Dhabi United Group for £210 million and received considerable financial investment. 

Our overall home record against City has been very positive – until the oil money began to flow. As it stands we have only beaten them at home on one occasion (December 21^st, 2015) since April 12^th, 2012. 

Arsenal v Man C EPL Home Results
		W	D	L	GF	GA
1	28-Sep-92	1			1	0
2	16-Oct-93		1		0	0
3	20-Aug-94	1			3	0
4	05-Mar-96	1			3	1
5	28-Oct-00	1			5	0
6	10-Sep-02	1			2	1
7	01-Feb-04	1			2	1
8	04-Jan-05		1		1	1
9	22-Oct-05	1			1	0
10	17-Apr-07	1			3	1
11	25-Aug-07	1			1	0
12	04-Apr-09	1			2	0
13	24-Apr-10		1		0	0
14	05-Jan-11		1		0	0
15	08-Apr-12	1			1	0
16	13-Jan-13			1	0	2
17	29-Mar-14		1		1	1
18	13-Sep-14		1		2	2
19	21-Dec-15	1			2	1
20	02-Apr-17		1		2	2
21	01-Mar-18			1	0	3
22	12-Aug-18			1	0	2
Total		12	7	3	32	18

 

Arsenal v Man C – All Home Results
	W	D	L	GF	GA
Division Two	3	1	3	9	8
Division One	38	14	10	123	60
Premier	12	7	3	32	18
Total	53	22	16	164	86

Manchester City League history 

1892–1899 Division 2

1899–1902 Division 1

1902–1903 Division 2

1903–1909 Division 1

1909–1910 Division 2

1910–1926 Division 1

1926–1928 Division 2

1928–1938 Division 1

1938–1947 Division 2

1947–1950 Division 1

1950–1951 Division 2

1951–1963 Division 1

1963–1966 Division 2

1966–1983 Division 1

1983–1985 Division 2

1985–1987 Division 1

1987–1989 Division 2

1989–1992 Division 1

1992–1996 Premier League

1996–1998 Division 1

1998–1999 Division 2

1999–2000 Division 1

2000–2001 Premier League

2001–2002 Division 1

2002– Premier League 

As you can see Manchester City has bounced around the leagues, in fact they have been up and down on twenty five different occasions until they slid on the oil money into the Premier League.

Freddie Ljungberg certainly has his work cut out for him, our defence is ravaged by injuries and he may not know who is fit to play until game day. Unusually City is in 3^rd place 14 points behind Liverpool with only 16 games played, they are beatable – but can the current Arsenal beat them?

GunnerN5

TA’s team to beat the Blue Mancs:

THE ODDS FAVOUR US TO QUALIFY FOR THE KNOCKOUT STAGES OF EUROPA LEAGUE: STANDARD LIEGE/ARSENAL PREVIEW.

Contrary to popular thinking, we have not yet qualified for the knockout stages of the Europa League. However, it is unlikely that we would not. For us not to qualify, Standard Liege would have to beat us by at least a 5-goal margin as well as Frankfurt win its match.

How is Freddie going to approach the game? He’d want to win not only to top the table but also for the confidence of the team. At the same time he’d be thinking of fresh legs for the Sunday match against City. Not only is the chance of our finishing in the top four not entirely extinguished (we are 7pts from top 4), meaning we have to keep straining for maximum points in the EPL, but a poor result on Sunday would be a big set back to our recovering confidence. All things considered, Freddie is likely to rotate heavily in this match against Liege.

Unfortunately we have a number of players out or doubtful. Tierney is out for an expected three months with a shoulder injury. Mustafi is out, suspended. Bellerin, Holding, Ceballos and Xhaka have been ruled out for this match. Kolasinac who is our only available left back is not likely to be risked, particularly as he was carrying a slight strain but had to be played in the West Ham match when the team lost Bellerin and Tierney. All these, particularly the left back issue, mean that Freddie has some balancing work to do. By my calculations he might be constrained to go for a back three.

This looks a good team that is composed mostly of players who, instead of being short in confidence, are craving the opportunity to prove themselves. We might be set for a successive away win.

I have a feeling that Martinelli’s goal against the Hammers has put us back on the highway.

COYRRG!!!

By PE.

I have now watched the second half again and have a better picture of how Arsenal turned things round.

First and for all, we needed a break and we got it on our own merit: two forward passes, first by Granit and then by his fellow midfielder Torreira, and a good run and coolly executed low to ground cross by Kola found Martinelli, who took the opportunity like a 28 year old striker in his prime. Boom 1-0. To be fair it came out of nowhere, but it cannot be called a lucky break. The Hammers were getting tired and we used the available space really well.. and Martinelli is a fearless and ambitious Gem alright!

Freddie after the game (BBC):

“In the first half we were slow and lethargic, we didn’t move or run, and that comes from low confidence but in the second half it was how we wanted to play.
“I hope this changes the mood and the players looked happy in the dressing room. It’s been tough for them, they have been living under enormous pressure and you see it in their performances.”

After that, we just did not look back. Our confidence was back, hallelujah! We kept it tight at the back and all of a sudden our players started the pass the ball around with speed, precision and attacking intent. Our attackers came much closer to the midfield and now Xhaka and Torreira had much better passing opportunities. And guess what, they both started to pass much, much better. Mesut was constantly available and keen to drive forward; Martinelli, Pepe and Auba moved all over the pitch and often close to the midfield to make themselves available. That made all the difference.

As a team, and this is something Emery has created and is not easy to shift,  we don’t play tight enough; we are a team of three units with our attackers too disconnected from midfield, which leaves the latter which so much to do. No wonder we struggled in recent months, but once we had our goal this changed. We need to play as a dense, compact unit, a snickers bar, and not as a stretched out curly-wurly positioned all over the pitch. That is the only way to create better passing opportunities and be less vulnerable to breaks. Defend as a unit, boss the midfield as a unit, create chances a unit.

Regarding the defence, as per previous post, we did much better than in recent games. Both Sok and Chambers bossed the box in the air and Xhaka and Torreira did not allow much space in front of our ‘D’. Our full backs were tight and did not allow many crosses into the box; and our wingers supported our defence throughout the game. That was good to see.

My final point, and invite you to give us your views, is regarding the hardest part for all of us to witness: us playing out of the back. This can only work if we have enough passing opportunities (and for this we need to play much more compact). Both Sok and Chambers are limited passers, Xhaka and Torreira are not great in dribbling themselves free with the ball, which is sometimes required, and we need to dare to pass in between the lines rather than sideways or back most of the time. We need to play our Wengeresque triangles again – where are they?!

It clearly is not working and especially against the blue Mancs on Sunday we need to avoid it at all cost. I wished we kept Giroud so we have a decent GK to Forward option, but kicking it into a dense midfield may be our best way of avoiding the blood-pressure-raising, suicidal building the game up from the back, going forward.

This was a much needed and good win but lessons will have to be taken from this and applied rigorously going forward. Stick with these players and tweak the tactics, Freddie. You can do it.

By TotalArsenal.

West Ham 1 – 3 Arsenal: Three Priceless Points for Fab Freddie

As a passionate fan it is hard to analyse the game straight after it has finished, so further analysis will follow by me or a fellow BKer in the next few days. We need to understand in full why and how things turned round for us in the second half and whether this can be contributed to Freddie’s team-talk/tactical changes at the break. There really never was a better example of a game of two halves: the first one was pretty dire and the second one was pretty impressive. 

Here are some initial observations of a well-deserved and much needed win:

1. Freddie was of course a winger/midfielder during his player days and his biggest contribution until now is getting some confidence back into our wingers. Martinelli and Pepe both had sublime second halves with a goal each (and involvement in all goals). Now I am calling Martinelli a winger because that is what he was asked to do today, but he really is an all-round attacker with great runs and presence in the box. Both players announced themselves today and are my Men of the Match!
2. Ozil was much less isolated in the second half and so he could start his passing game and make things happen. He had pre-assists in our second and third goal, with quick and well-placed passes from the ‘hole’ area. Mesut is not back to his old self yet, and he may not get back to that level again, but today he was very good again at controlling our game and using the available space.
3. Torreira and Xhaka are becoming a partnership again. Both players had their confidence undermined by the previous manager – in different ways – and it is taking them time to get it back and to click as a partnership. Both had a couple of poor, rusty moments, but it would be silly to focus on those too long. Xhaka and Torreira were key to our revival in the second half: they moved the ball quicker forward and dared to take on opportunistic passes, something the whole team struggled with during the first half. They both gave much more protection to our defence in this game than we are used to and they helped a lot in bringing Ozil into the game. It is now important to keep the midfield of Xhaka-Torreira-Ozil playing regularly.
4. We allowed the Hammers – who, it must be said, were poor today – ‘only’ 11 shots of which four were on target. Arsenal had 10 shots with three on target (and against the inside of the net), and that is a massive improvement. As our opponents weren’t that great on the day it is hard to say whether this is something to celebrate or not, but it is definitely something to build on.
5. Our full backs – both the nr.2 in their positions for today’s match, as Bellerin did not start and Tierney had to come off quite early in the game – had mature and well-balanced games. Kola had a great assist for the all important first goal with a well-spotted, measured and low to the ground pass and he also gave good defensive cover. AMN worked well with Pepe and had a pretty good game. Does the BFG have something to do with this?
6. I thought we defended much better today and credit should go to both Chamber and Sok. Both are limited on the ball, especially when we try to play from the back forwards, but they are purist defenders and were strong aerially and on the ground in the box. Again, does the BFG have something to do with this?
7. Auba looked happier as the lone CF, especially in the second half when Ozil started to purr properly. His biggest strength is of course his incredible chance-conversion, but I also rated him for the way he allowed both Pepe and Martinelli to be at their very best in such an unassuming way. Top guy.
8. Freddie, well done my man. You changed it round in the second half and your post-game interview was very professional with typical Swedish enthusiasm and humility. You have got something to build on – a shame the Citeh game is next in the PL, but we just need to see another strong team performance (and this time for 90 minutes) and the result is less important.

By TotalArsenal.