Arsenal 2019-2020 - Because Thursday Games are the Best Way to Start the Weekend

[shaggydog2000]

It was a great weekend in terms of results for Arsenal, but after a solid first half they stopped pressing in the second and just looked passive. Without Geundouzi and Chambers, they would have been dead in the water. Martinelli did look decent in his short stint, and maybe that is a sign that he'll be getting more time in the near future. They have two weeks before they play United (the Sheffield one), hopefully they can practice with Bellerin, Tierney, and Holding out there, and run out the lineup we've been waiting for. With Chambers looking good recently, we may even see him getting into the rotation at center back once the others are starting.

 

[mikeford]

Taking off Pepe that early was utterly baffling. Emery seems to have no idea what's going on.

 

[mikeford]

Emery has to go.

 

[Dummy Hoy]

C’mon guys.

 

[mikeford]

Virtually everyone on the roster except Smith-Rowe was available last night.

That he played that lineup anyway is an indictment on his abilities to put the team in a position to win. Hector Bellerin should be the first name on your team sheet. He didn't even make the bench.

The team plays with no plan and has no identity. There's no fixing this with Emery.

 

[Tuff Ghost]

I can understand not rushing back Bellerin after a serious injury, especially on the road against a physical team. The last thing we need is for him to get hurt coming back too quickly. I also wonder how fit Lacazette really is, he did not look great in his limited minutes.

By contrast, I was very disappointed that Tierney did not start. I am getting tired of the offense consisting of Kolasinac bombing in crosses (although he did have a nice one yesterday).

At this point, I have no expectations for the team on the road against any opponent. Since the start of 2018/19 through yesterday, below are Arsenal's road stats in the Premier League:

Record: 8-6-10
Points: 30 (out of 72 possible)
Points %: 42%
Goals For: 36
Goals Against: 42
Goal Differential: -6

To add one positive note to this dour post, here are their totals at home since 2018/19:

Record: 17-4-2
Points: 55 (out of possible 69)
Points %: 80%
Goals For: 50
Goals Against: 21
Goal Differential: 29

If Arsenal seems like it can look like two different teams, it is because they are two different teams. I know winning on the road in the Premier League is not easy, but that paints a pretty dismal picture.

 

[lars10]

Virtually everyone on the roster except Smith-Rowe was available last night.

That he played that lineup anyway is an indictment on his abilities to put the team in a position to win. Hector Bellerin should be the first name on your team sheet. He didn't even make the bench.

The team plays with no plan and has no identity. There's no fixing this with Emery.

To me it looks like Emery places equal importance on the Premier league and the Europa league.. not playing his best side for either and rarely consistently playing his best side regularly. It made some sense last year when they were out of the top four last season and heading into the semifinals/finals last year. This year the team is close to top four in a year with several solid teams having a down year. So put your foot on the gas for one or the other..stop playing down the middle of the road.

Also either get a mid that can pass or play Ozil while he's here or play Ceballos the whole game regularly. Emery has gotten lucky with Lacazette and Aubameyang creating their own goals almost out of nothing, but that shouldn't be the team strategy as it seems to have been.

 

[BostonJack42]

I was very disappointed that Tierney did not start. I am getting tired of the offense consisting of Kolasinac bombing in crosses (although he did have a nice one yesterday).

At least crossing the ball from the wing is part of Kolasinac's game - but the offense running through Chambers on the right? WTF was that? I'm done on Emery - he leaves too many of his best players on the bench.

 

[lars10]

C’mon guys.

Are you seeing something many of us are not seeing or is this towards the team?

 

[teddykgb]

Emery has certainly been a head scratcher. The thing I’d worry about if I were an Arsenal fan is that he’s had an ability to attract talent. Aubameyang, Lacazette, Pepe are all top talents who could play for most clubs in the world. If you move on from Emery do all those players start looking for the exit? Granted that group hasn’t gelled and it seems Emery’s inability to get them all on the pitch together plays a big part but another manager might see you going backwards from a talent perspective.

 

[lars10]

Emery has certainly been a head scratcher. The thing I’d worry about if I were an Arsenal fan is that he’s had an ability to attract talent. Aubameyang, Lacazette, Pepe are all top talents who could play for most clubs in the world. If you move on from Emery do all those players start looking for the exit? Granted that group hasn’t gelled and it seems Emery’s inability to get them all on the pitch together plays a big part but another manager might see you going backwards from a talent perspective.

Counter argument... Does Aubameyang and Lacazette stay when they continue not to get any kind of service whatsoever and it seems to be the manager's choice of how he wants the team to play?

edit: and have Arsenal really had much trouble attracting talent? They're still close to top four every year and I'd assume any manager chosen would be of Emery's quality or better, no?
edit2: I'd be more worried about other players seeing what Emery is doing with the talent he has... regularly bringing Ceballos and/or Torreira off the bench instead of starting them if they play at all, not playing Ozil at all in any competitions..often leaving him off the bench, starting his young kids a ton (some of them have deserved it), not regularly playing Lacazette and Auba together (even when healthy), whatever is happening to Pepe etc.

 

[Dummy Hoy]

Are you seeing something many of us are not seeing or is this towards the team?

All I ask of my SoSH friends who root for teams better than mine is that you beat the Pigs. Don’t think that’s too much to ask.

 

[lars10]

All I ask of my SoSH friends who root for teams better than mine is that you beat the Pigs. Don’t think that’s too much to ask.

This Arsenal team is such that they can be set up to play down to anyone's level.

 

[mikeford]

Emery has certainly been a head scratcher. The thing I’d worry about if I were an Arsenal fan is that he’s had an ability to attract talent. Aubameyang, Lacazette, Pepe are all top talents who could play for most clubs in the world. If you move on from Emery do all those players start looking for the exit?

Guarantee that has more to do with Raul and Edu than it does Spanish Moyes.

 

[lars10]

Man.. Arsenal are like the Sox this year.. I fool myself into getting excited to watch a game only to be disappointed to watch the not show up game after game. These lineups keep getting worst though.

 

[mikeford]

Pepe rescues a team that absolutely did not deserve to win with 2 blinding free kicks.

Emery is holding on by a thread thanks to individual efforts on a game by game basis. The team is NOT playing well and keeps getting bailed out by 1 dude. Usually its Auba. Tonight it was Pepe.

 

[lars10]

Pepe rescues a team that absolutely did not deserve to win with 2 blinding free kicks.

Emery is holding on by a thread thanks to individual efforts on a game by game basis. The team is NOT playing well and keeps getting bailed out by 1 dude. Usually its Auba. Tonight it was Pepe.

Credit to Emery for getting Pepe on I guess. His subs sort of worked out for the first time in a while.

But other than that.. what is he doing? I don't get how this team is set up at all...how are they supposed to score goals other than heroics from Auba, Pepe and Lacazette? Because they're not really getting anything out of the mids and their passing has been non-existent/dreadful.
Some of the youngsters showed promise yesterday, but the defense once again looked like the benny hill show...I suppose at least we couldn't blame Xhaka and Luiz this time..

 

[Morgan's Magic Snowplow]

I have no idea how any Arsenal supporter is still pro-Emery at this point. We have literally never played well under his management for a meaningful stretch of games. We've strung together results, riding our luck. But we've never actually played well. Its not like we are struggling for results while building the foundation of a strong team - he isn't building anything, its plain as daylight.

This isn't Wenger, a club legend who was difficult to move on from. We owe Emery nothing and he is taking us nowhere. Sack him.

Hand the reins to Freddie, see if we can still coax Arteta to take the job, whatever.

 

[Conigliaro's Potential]

Emery isn't going anywhere this season, according to the Orn-acle:
https://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/arsenal-unai-emery-board-backing-david-ornstein-crystal-palace-sokratis-var-granit-xhakaOrnstein himself is on The Athletic, as is Amy Lawrence, who had a good article today about the Xhaka situation. Actually, here's a very interesting passage from Ornstein's own article today:

Emery was the unanimous choice to succeed Wenger after a thorough recruitment process that saw a long list of candidates whittled down to a final eight, all of whom were interviewed.

The identities of the other seven have never previously been made public, but The Athletic can exclusively reveal they were, in alphabetical order: Massimiliano Allegri, Mikel Arteta, Thierry Henry, Julen Lopetegui, Ralf Rangnick, Jorge Sampaoli and Patrick Vieira.

Arsenal additionally discussed Antonio Conte, Eddie Howe, Maurizio Sarri and Brendan Rodgers — but for differing reasons they were not pursued, while Luis Enrique was never an option.

The only contender who came close to Emery was Arteta, but ultimately his lack of managerial experience and a readily available backroom team worked against the former Gunners captain.

It is unclear what contingency plans are in place if Arsenal decide to part with Emery — although there is a sense that assistant first-team coach Freddie Ljungberg would be capable of at least assuming a caretaker role — but currently that is not an active consideration.

 

[mikeford]

Well we finish in 7th then

 

[Zososoxfan]

Emery isn't going anywhere this season, according to the Orn-acle:
https://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/arsenal-unai-emery-board-backing-david-ornstein-crystal-palace-sokratis-var-granit-xhakaOrnstein himself is on The Athletic, as is Amy Lawrence, who had a good article today about the Xhaka situation. Actually, here's a very interesting passage from Ornstein's own article today:

Rodgers is likely headed back to a top 6 EPL club/other megaclub sooner than later. Conte has shown his tactical acumen but likely has a good situation with resources at Inter (same for Sarri at Juve). Perhaps @SocrManiac can enlighten us as to how Juve have looked under Sarri thus far.

 

[The Gray Eagle]

Cartoonist David Squires with basically the Sistine Chapel of current Arsenal:

https://www.theguardian.com/football/ng-interactive/2019/oct/29/david-squires-on-wheres-mesut-ozil-arsenal
I don't even get half the references, but it's amazing and hilarious.

 

[mikeford]

Mesut got the highest rating yesterday and of course, dumbo takes him off after 60 and we blow it.

Shoot Emery out of a cannon into the sun. This guy is a total disaster.

 

[Tuff Ghost]

I missed the game and just caught the highlights. I'll add a small dose of positivity to help counter the sea of negativity overrunning Arsenal fandom right now:

1. Willock's goal was beautiful. I really enjoy watching him play.
2. Martinelli is showing a knack for finding the back of the net one way or another. If they have to move on from one of Lacazette or Aubameyang (scary thought), having talented young guys like Martinelli and Nketiah around will at least keep things interesting.
3. I am honestly glad they are out of this cup- they do not need anything extra to focus on this year.

 

[lars10]

Mesut got the highest rating yesterday and of course, dumbo takes him off after 60 and we blow it.

Shoot Emery out of a cannon into the sun. This guy is a total disaster.

It's so frustrating to see Ozil play so well only to have him taken off 2/3 of the way in. Especially after his assist on that goal. His passing in general opened up space all over... Emery has figured out how to grab defeats and draws whenever Arsenal are ahead. His substitutions are moronic. He quite often takes whomever is playing the best off to try and do some sort of pseudo bunker-that-isn't because his guys aren't anywhere close to disciplined enough to stay back no matter what the lead. The one thing you can count on is anytime the opposition scores there's a defender next to him pointing at everyone else.

I agree that it's good that they're out of this competition, but I need to see some sort of improvement with this squad.. some sort of direction. They have the talent to win games.

 

[mikeford]

I missed the game and just caught the highlights. I'll add a small dose of positivity to help counter the sea of negativity overrunning Arsenal fandom right now:

1. Willock's goal was beautiful. I really enjoy watching him play.
2. Martinelli is showing a knack for finding the back of the net one way or another. If they have to move on from one of Lacazette or Aubameyang (scary thought), having talented young guys like Martinelli and Nketiah around will at least keep things interesting.
3. I am honestly glad they are out of this cup- they do not need anything extra to focus on this year.

I would've liked to stay in this cup until the lower league opposition is mostly flushed out.

It's good to have a "big" stage to blood younger talent into the squad. Obviously when you draw fucking Liverpool in the 2nd round or whatever, that chance goes down the drain.

 

[lars10]

I would've liked to stay in this cup until the lower league opposition is mostly flushed out.

It's good to have a "big" stage to blood younger talent into the squad. Obviously when you draw fucking Liverpool in the 2nd round or whatever, that chance goes down the drain.

That and Emery is playing the youth every week anyway

 

[Tuff Ghost]

Honest question, who would you rather see play than "the youth" in Premier League matches? Is this just about Ozil? The only players missing time or not playing regularly in the Premier League matches besides him have been because of injuries (Lacazette, Bellerin, Tierney, and Holding) or poor performance (Mustafi). They have a pretty young team, but the veteran-type players, besides Ozil, are all playing regularly if healthy. They just happen to have a lot of young players on the squad.

Arseblog had an interesting post about Ozil yesterday. It talks about his talent and how he could help generate some more offense, but also has interesting points about why he has struggled to have an impact.

Regarding number 10 role with Emery:

On the face of it, the reintroduction of Özil seems to be a no-brainer. Arsenal have rarely operated any sort of high press during this season, making Mesut’s exclusion even more tactically analogous. However, Özil produced only 2 assists in 20 starts last season. Everyone that has tried to play the number 10 role under Unai Emery has struggled to some degree. Joe Willock has been hooked at half-time in consecutive matches recently.

At the beginning of Emery’s reign, he played Aaron Ramsey at number 10 in a 4231, but it didn’t work and Ramsey soon spent some time out of the team. Dani Ceballos’ performances have been fitful because he is not really a 10, he prefers to drift towards the left flank, while Özil has not looked himself in his appearances under Emery because the coach prefers to attack through wide spaces. In Emery’s systems, number 10s are virtually low-touch decoys so that the ball can be shuffled wide.

This, at least partially explains, why Özil has struggled to influence games under Emery. He likes to hide himself from the opposition by taking up wide positions, but as a means to eventually progressing the ball vertically. There has been a fundamental clash between how Unai Emery wants to structure his attacks and what Mesut Özil offers.

The other thing is what Ozil is actually doing in practices.

Politically, Emery’s decision to isolate the player is difficult to calculate because we just don’t know what has been happening at London Colney. A coach should be within his rights to punish intransigence from players, but we just don’t know the extent of Mesut’s supposed lethargy.

Players’ training data is posted in the London Colney gym for all to see and if Özil’s is notably behind his teammates, then it makes sense for punitive measures to be taken.

https://arseblog.com/2019/10/license-to-ozil/

 

[candylandriots]

Would you guys take Wenger back at this point?

 

[Conigliaro's Potential]

Would you guys take Wenger back at this point?

No.

Honest question, who would you rather see play than "the youth" in Premier League matches?

I'd rather see the Europa League/Carabao Cup squad play in the League and vice versa, yes.

 

[lars10]

Honest question, who would you rather see play than "the youth" in Premier League matches? Is this just about Ozil? The only players missing time or not playing regularly in the Premier League matches besides him have been because of injuries (Lacazette, Bellerin, Tierney, and Holding) or poor performance (Mustafi). They have a pretty young team, but the veteran-type players, besides Ozil, are all playing regularly if healthy. They just happen to have a lot of young players on the squad.

Arseblog had an interesting post about Ozil yesterday. It talks about his talent and how he could help generate some more offense, but also has interesting points about why he has struggled to have an impact.

Regarding number 10 role with Emery:


The other thing is what Ozil is actually doing in practices.


https://arseblog.com/2019/10/license-to-ozil/

1. He’s messing with Ceballos and Torreira as well. I know the team is young, but It’s hard for me to see why the team is playing 5 or so almost teenagers.. although some of them are playing great. Yes there have been injuries, but why are they playing in non premiere league matches then.. their recovery times seem only specific to the premiere league. I guess we’ll see who he puts out there when everyone is healthy.
2. The idea that Özil is underperforming in practice and that’s why he’s potentially not playing is so ridiculously laughable I’m not sure why someone wrote it. Emery seems to prefer guys that run around as much as possible and don’t question him at all I guess.. because there’s zero clear strategy. In the few chances he’s had to see the field arsenal have looked more dangerous... even Wednesday he’s the top performer on the team..Emery fuckin subs him off in the 60th minute.. wtf
Emery’s subs have been awful, his starting lineups and bench choices have been highly questionable and if the question is poor play or discipline.. why are Xhaka and Luiz playing constantly.. xhaka starting every game despite his performance falling off a cliff is just plain odd.. and made captain no less.

 

[Tuff Ghost]

Ceballos (23 yo) and Torreira (23 yo) are not really losing much time to "youth," though. Willock (20 yo) has gotten some time that has taken away from Ceballos, but Torreira is mostly missing out due to Xhaka (27 yo). I don't think anyone is clamoring for Guendouzi (20 yo) to get less time, but he is also blocking Torreira. I'd like Torreira and Guendouzi playing together at the expense of Xhaka.

Ceballos has 574 Premier League Minutes, which is pretty good for a newly acquired player on a one-year loan. (Willock has 356 minutes, FWIW, if he is the "youth" you are complaining about, and about 2/3 of those minutes came in the first three games.)

Personally, I think Tim Stillman writes well thought-out articles on Arseblog, so I disagree with your assessment of his thoughts as "laughable." I'd read the whole column (largely positive on Ozil) before coming to that conclusion.

 

[Tuff Ghost]

Also, we can probably all be happy that Emery has said that Xhaka is not playing tomorrow.

on whether Xhaka is still captain...
We were waiting for his statement on Monday ahead of the last press conference here on Tuesday. The next step is tomorrow's match. The focus is tomorrow's match. It's not in my mind that he will play tomorrow. It's not in my mind that he will play tomorrow.

https://www.arsenal.com/news/emery-xhaka-ozil-wolves-full-transcript

 

[JimBoSox9]

I don't mind pulling Ozil after 60 in his first action in forever, IF it means he's going back out there for at least another hour at Wolves. Emery did say it was a pre-planned substitution based on fitness, not a tactical change, and I'd focus on the positive that Ozil looked active and crisp while he was on.

(This is not to excuse Emery for sidelining Ozil in the first place or generally refusing to play their best lineup all together, but that one move in isolation is understandable).

 

[lars10]

Ceballos (23 yo) and Torreira (23 yo) are not really losing much time to "youth," though. Willock (20 yo) has gotten some time that has taken away from Ceballos, but Torreira is mostly missing out due to Xhaka (27 yo). I don't think anyone is clamoring for Guendouzi (20 yo) to get less time, but he is also blocking Torreira. I'd like Torreira and Guendouzi playing together at the expense of Xhaka.

Ceballos has 574 Premier League Minutes, which is pretty good for a newly acquired player on a one-year loan. (Willock has 356 minutes, FWIW, if he is the "youth" you are complaining about, and about 2/3 of those minutes came in the first three games.)

Personally, I think Tim Stillman writes well thought-out articles on Arseblog, so I disagree with your assessment of his thoughts as "laughable." I'd read the whole column (largely positive on Ozil) before coming to that conclusion.

I’m mainly frustrated with Emery I think.. or obviously. I’ll read the full article later and try to give a more thought out response to your post..
My observations are mainly based on just watching the games so they may be incorrect when I actually look at the numbers.
Re Özil.. yes I am a fan of his game and I think he brings a lot of creativity to the team. If he’s not hustling in practice.. ok.. but when he’s gotten on the field he’s made a lot of passes that aren’t being made when he’s off. I don’t see the point of playing Laca and Auba if you’re not going to play mids that can make the passes they need. Perhaps this is mainly due to Xhaka getting constant play and injuries.. but I feel like Emery plays his system and also tries to adapt to every opponent which means the same lineup rarely plays together. But that is anecdotal.. I’ll have to look at the lineups/minutes and see if that’s really true.

 

[lars10]

I don't mind pulling Ozil after 60 in his first action in forever, IF it means he's going back out there for at least another hour at Wolves. Emery did say it was a pre-planned substitution based on fitness, not a tactical change, and I'd focus on the positive that Ozil looked active and crisp while he was on.

(This is not to excuse Emery for sidelining Ozil in the first place or generally refusing to play their best lineup all together, but that one move in isolation is understandable).

It does make sense in that context.
One issue I have with Emery is he seems to hedge his bets and try to win everything.. which sounds great in theory, but in practice it means that he’s spreading his players out over several comps and never really consistently playing his best lineup. The end of last season in particular.. which may be more result oriented, but was also frustrating to watch in real time.

 

[wonderland]

Agreed about trying to win everything.

He keeps setting up teams differently but they often don’t make sense. I get not wanting to play Ozil against certain teams but he should be starting against sides that want to sit back some. Play a 4-2-3-1. Then against teams where Arsenal can play on the counter, go to a 4-4-2 and actually trying play quick when given the chance.

 

[lars10]

Also, what is the deal with the short goal kicks.. they’ve been trying to play out of the back all season but it only seems to invite pressure and the defenders aren’t good enough passers or dribblers to do that.

 

[mikeford]

I hope Ozil hits Emery with his car.

 

[lars10]

I hope Ozil hits Emery with his car.

What happened? Or is this just in response to him not playing all year and looking pretty ok today?

 

[mikeford]

What happened? Or is this just in response to him not playing all year and looking pretty ok today?

In attempting to protect a 1 goal lead, Emery decided to sub off our only DM and sub on an 18 year old attacker for Lacazette.

Ozil just seems like the guy to do it since they hate each other. But anyone would do. Run him over and throw it in reverse and back over him again. Get the fucking guy out of the club.

 

[lars10]

In attempting to protect a 1 goal lead, Emery decided to sub off our only DM and sub on an 18 year old attacker for Lacazette.

Ozil just seems like the guy to do it since they hate each other. But anyone would do. Run him over and throw it in reverse and back over him again. Get the fucking guy out of the club.

He is supremely talented at grasping draws or defeats from possible victories

 

[candylandriots]

He is supremely talented at grasping draws or defeats from possible victories

Maybe even a specialist of some kind

(sorry...flat breaking ball there)

 

[mikeford]

The worst possible thing would be hiring Jose Mourinho to replace him and guess what all the media scuttlebutt is talking about today?


I'd rather die. Mourinho is antithetical to the supposed values of Arsenal Football Club. Moreover, HE IS NOT GOOD ANYMORE. If this was prime Jose, I could convince myself the devil could rescue us but now? FORGET IT. He's past it. He dynamited Manchester United.

 

[fletcherpost]

Paddy Power currently have Jose at 5/2; Arteta at 5/1; Viera at 6/1; Rodgers at 7/; Allegri 10/1

https://www.thesackrace.com/teams/arsenal
I don't think the fans would stand for Jose as the next manager. Freddie Ljungberg as caretaker to the end of the season might be palatable.

Does Emery even make it to Christmas?

I think Arsenal have a top 4 squad, but a Europa League manager. Letting the players choose the captain is a bit of a no no IMO. If we think back to where Klopp was in his first year in terms of the squad he had, i think Arsenal are further on than that, but are clearly so much less than the sum of their parts at the moment.

 

[shaggydog2000]

Paddy Power currently have Jose at 5/2; Arteta at 5/1; Viera at 6/1; Rodgers at 7/; Allegri 10/1

https://www.thesackrace.com/teams/arsenal
I don't think the fans would stand for Jose as the next manager. Freddie Ljungberg as caretaker to the end of the season might be palatable.

Does Emery even make it to Christmas?

I think Arsenal have a top 4 squad, but a Europa League manager. Letting the players choose the captain is a bit of a no no IMO. If we think back to where Klopp was in his first year in terms of the squad he had, i think Arsenal are further on than that, but are clearly so much less than the sum of their parts at the moment.

I don't see him making it to December.

 

[JimBoSox9]

I don't see him making it to December.

I'd been thinking the right time would probably be after they crash out of the Europa, but Leicester is reallllly on form and I think there's a pretty decent chance they give us a real thumping next weekend. Hypothetically, is there a scoreline that gets Emery sacked right there?

 

[fletcherpost]

I don't see him making it to December.

Yeah some fans have earmarked the next international break for Emery to get the heave ho.

 

[Conigliaro's Potential]

Is there any evidence at all that Arsenal is actually considering sacking Emery?

 

[shaggydog2000]

Is there any evidence at all that Arsenal is actually considering sacking Emery?

Do teams make statements that they're thinking about firing a coach, or do they just do it?