Arsenal

[WiganSpur]

As nice as it would be they won't go down. The quality of their players would dictate that. If the situation got desperate they'd sack Arteta and bring in an experienced head who'd get them in the top half just about. I think 8th or 9th is about par for the course for this Arsenal side at the moment. For us last season it was about 5th.

The only slim thing i'm holding onto would be if they were idiotic enough to appoint another Arteta or perhaps a young untested manager from abroad with no PL experience. Those potentially rough 10 games under a new manager could be enough to seal their fate!

 

[nailsy]

Can I come? I'll bring dips.

I've asked you not to call me that

 

[DCSPUR]

surprising that management hasn't pushed him on Ozil

 

[Tucker]

surprising that management hasn't pushed him on Ozil

I imagine it’s the management that are pushing him not to play Ozil. Rumours are that it’s to do with his comments about Chinese atrocities.

 

[slartibartfast]

I would probably be too. But I know a lot of Arsenal fans and the style of play matters to them.

Don't forget they are an entitled bunch and as soon as Benitez gets them away from danger they'll be demanding good football.

Their fans are entitled because a large portion, the generation mostly featured on AFTV, climbed on board when they were succesful. Then Chelsea happened. Then Man City happened. Then we got our act together. Then Liverpool got their act together. And now, even if they got their act together, its going to be incredibly hard to be successful because the landscape has changed. Its no longer a 2 horse race. Just look how tight it is up at the top this season. And now Everton are looking to get their act together with Ancelotti. Winning anything is harder than ever as is top 4.
Apart from the fa cup. Fully expect them to win that even if they get relegated.

 

[Serpico]

I know how you feel... I was in N16 during all Wengers sucessful time .. Very hard .. Thats why i moved to France .... Since we have done brilliantly and they shit ... i dare not move back in case things change

I knew there had to be a reason why we are doing so well-stay please.
I was in a popular spot N1 and experienced individuals suddenly deciding to support Arsenal, having no interest in football (it was the new rock n roll) and others changing allegiance-It was awful.

 

[rez9000]

I've asked you not to call me that

Sorry, dip- I mean, nailsy.

 

[Matthew]

seen this on twitter earlier, thinks he's hard as fuck ranting and raving about him, and then acts like his number 1 fanboy! bell end!

 

[absolute bobbins]

Do not understand any spurs fan who doesn’t want them to go down. Let’s be honest, it’s a pretty sanitised derby these days. Chelsea and West Ham are much better.

It won’t happen but if they went down then I would go out and buy some top notch champagne and celebrate like mad. Genuinely think my dad would organise a party /get together at the local.

This with fucking bells on! Those dildos have been owed a relegation for almost a fucking century and when that day does finally come it will be funnier and more glorious than I can possibly imagine.

If ithe improbable happens this year the resulting mass seppuku from gooners will mean there’s more COVID vaccine to go round, bonus!

 

[Marty]

This with fucking bells on! Those dildos have been owed a relegation for almost a fucking century and when that day does finally come it will be funnier and more glorious than I can possibly imagine.

If ithe improbable happens this year the resulting mass seppuku from gooners will mean there’s more COVID vaccine to go round, bonus!

1919 is over a century ago now!

They've managed to stay in the top flight for 100 years after the corruption that led to them getting elected. I wish they'd get 100 years of wilderness in return.

 

[KILLA_SIN]

But what does competing even mean, like for what? They desperately need a season where they get the Champions League money into the coffers imo. I find it hard to believe they're too attractive a proposition for top tier players atm. Would a player the calibre of what Ozil and Aubameyang were when they signed join next summer?

Competing the same as us for a title.
And I did say would anyone go there now

 

[Col_M]

So I've posted this a 3rd time, bite me

 

[Dov67]

Annoying they get to play both legs at home

View attachment 79082

Anyone else think the emirates is the most boring, plain vanilla stadium in the PL??

Perhaps I’m biased, but it already looks dated in a way that other modern era stadia don’t.

Again, maybe my loathing of that club and everything about is colouring my judgement

 

[mr ashley]

Yep, manager and recruitment is what will do it. The latter which will depend on the outgoings now their income is limited. Getting the former right could mean one or two players like Pepe, Maitland Niles, Lacazette, Willian could be improved enough to just about make the grade again.

I think they’ll be looking to build around a core of Leno, Gabriel, Saliba, Tierney, Partey, Saka, possibly Nketiah and Aubameyang who I’m sure will return to form at some point. Everyone else I think should be deemed expendable.

I’m sorry but on what basis is anyone building anything around Saliba?
he’s nowhere near their first XI.

 

[WiganSpur]

I’m sorry but on what basis is anyone building anything around Saliba?
he’s nowhere near their first XI.

He's nowhere near because Arteta has seemingly banished him along with a growing list of other players for other reasons. The Arsenal fans don't seem happy with his handling of it. He was rated very highly at St Etienne.

 

[Marty]

He's nowhere near because Arteta has seemingly banished him along with a growing list of other players for other reasons. The Arsenal fans don't seem happy with his handling of it. He was rated very highly at St Etienne.

He was supposed to be loaned back to St. Etienne but the paperwork wasn't done in time, but this meant he also failed to be registered for the EL squad so he's stuck in complete limbo until January.

 

[SlotBadger]

seen this on twitter earlier, thinks he's hard as fuck ranting and raving about him, and then acts like his number 1 fanboy! bell end!

Can’t keep his hands to himself.

I mean, for all Xhaka’s faults, he’s in control of his emotions on the pitch a handsome fucker.

If anyone here is ever short of a few quid, just wear a wig, buy red & white scarves and bunting, have a mental breakdown in front of your camera, and watch the $$$ roll in.

 

[Matecheck]

 

[absolute bobbins]

Anyone else think the emirates is the most boring, plain vanilla stadium in the PL??

Perhaps I’m biased, but it already looks dated in a way that other modern era stadia don’t.

Again, maybe my loathing of that club and everything about is colouring my judgement

its shit but still better than Wembley

 

[C0YS]

It's more serious than that looking at their next two fixtures. By this point, we'd sacked Pochettino and Jose Mourinho was already through the door, during an international break too. Arteta is obviously going to get the next game and he still might not go even if he loses that one. Then there's also no guarantee a new coach will come in and turn results around like Mourinho was doing until the injuries hit.

There's also the fact that of late we just have a lot more quality in the squad than they do. When Jose was appointed everyone knew it was mostly a confidence crisis rather than one of quality. Everyone knew a new manager would improve us up until a point where we were at least a top 6 side even if we were nowhere near the top 2/3 personnel wise.

We had Kane, Son, Alli, Ndombele, GLC, Lloris etc.

I think theirs is both a lack of confidence and a lack of quality. Any turnaround will be at best medium term. The only way they turn this around in one year is if they make the perfect managerial appointment, turn over 5 or 6 and sign 2-3 brilliant players. The chances of all that happening are slim.

We also were on much better form, though far from good form (10 points from 8 vs 1 point from 8). Similarly, we were 3 points from 5th they are 9 points from 5th. Arsenal are only 14th because they started the season very well. The situation isn't that comparable because we were at no point in religation form that season, or at least not compared to the bottom three that season. We were, however, at a point that if results didn't improve there would be no chance of finishing in the top 4. Mourinho was bought in to try and compete for that place, though I don't think there was an expectation he would bridge that gap, relegation wasn't really a concern yet. We made the change because we wanted to be in Europe, that's a pipe dream for Arsenal right now. Who right now, are on the same run in the last 8 as Sheffield utd. Position wise it's comparable, but that's about it.

The thing is, the way this season has gone for them so far, is not where the bigger problems lie. The current issue is temporary for Arsenal, they should be doing better. But long term issues are there, and no short term signings will fix that. Again, the problem lies on the structure, the weird contract situations are not unusual when you understand that what is happening is that Arsenal's new recruitment strategy is based on agents. When agents get control they will push these contracts and Arsenal's strategy relies on maintaining good terms with those agents.

Even if they have a phenomenal January window, and get in the right short term fixes it wont be sustainable. It's not sustainable without a strategy, without understanding who is coming through, without identifying realistic targets that may not be the next messi, but will be a good character for the club and will be there the next 5 years.

The secret of what makes a club successful isn't having a team full of Messi's it's having a squad with characters like Sissoko and Lamela. James Milner and Henderson etc. Players that can come in and out, not on bumper contracts that hold the squad together. Most players in a team will be in and out of the squad, if those players are able to contribute and stay happy and foster a positive culture all the better. These are things that agent and data driven approach to recruitment simply don't see. You always hope that a player you sign will become that player that takes you to the next level, most signings don't match those, unfair, expectations. You need to make sure everything else is right so that even when they don't it's still a positive to the squad.

When assembling a squad you are looking for a balanced group of human beings that can work together for something greater. You are looking for a variety of different skill sets and strengths that complement each other and push the team forward. You are looking for players who can step in and players who can develop into first-team regulars if other players leave. Arsenal have a lack of such players as is, and Arsenal's new recruitment system is unlikely to be able to identify the needed characteristicscs. It will be whatever players the agents suggest on a whatsapp message and decontextualised data analysis which then will be put to a manager, who is unlikely to have seen them play too much, to confirm.

The fact that it's gone so wrong so quickly is almost coincidental. The way that the club is being run top to bottom is an issue, that will not be solved by a good transfer window or two. It will be something you see slowly play out many years from now. This is why it'll take them a while.