What I don't get about Arteta is for all his pragmatism, that's he's so dogmatic about the type of striker he wants
I don't even think we necessarily need an equivalent to Havertz, just a proper bruiser who we can stick up top while 1 down to West Ham with 5 minutes to go
Fergie had Larsson on loan!
Up to a point. In any of the last 5 seasons, I would argue that this Liverpool side would be nowhere near the title. The massive drop off by any viable competitors has been decisive.
Andrew - I sense you have doubts over whether Arteta can deliver us the title.....or perhaps any silver ware. Just from the tone of your last few blog posts.
It's this right? He's a good coach and done good things. But does he lack the final piece of the puzzle to win trophies?
question is whether he is ready to move forward from his over emphasis on defensive solidity and will the owners pay for decent players if he is.
Worry is we are sliding back into the late Wenger years of a team good enough for regular CL but not to actually win anything?
Its no surprise that the summer were we’ve been the least active has led to a hangover season. Nothing against someone like Ayto but January also proved why you need someone with a nose for certain deals. Even loan ones.
I don’t think we have one player in our team that has that sort of relationship with any referee. Playing long spells with 10 men has added to player exhaustion. I didn’t disagree with the MLS red card.
Would it be fair to say that we have to find a way to get the match officials to like us? In too many games this season we’ve been treated harshly and seen others go unpunished for the same actions. I saw Reece James having a long chat behind their hands with their ref on Saturday.
Arteta has been giving his chance and been backed by the board to the tune of £800m but if he was at one of Europe's superpower teams he would have been out by now.I think 2023 was his chance and he blew it.
There have been some disastrous decisions by Arteta this season.To go into the season with just 2 strikers(Liverpool have 4) one Havertz is not a goalscorer and Jesus is injury prone was criminal.Then to buy injury prone Calafiori did no one check his injury record in Italy.And then Sterling 💩
Follow the facts a little. We scored the most goals Arsenal ever have (well, since 1932) in 2024. That’s with the same attack. Was that criminal too? Also, say what you will about Kai and Jesus, give me other teams who have a better 3rd choice striker than Trossard. Just saying: calma.
Thanks - I think we still have two summers to get a title winning squad but this team still good enough for domestic trophies and that’s what Klopp won in between the Premier league and Champions league - the lack of silverware for the talent we have begs a lot of incisive questions - maybe later
Liverpool have been relentless and congratulations to them. Arsenal need a rethink. A key ingredient is missing, maybe a Salah, maybe something else as they are becoming decent also rans and need to find that extra to win a title.
People love to bang on about “all the left-backs”, however, we didn’t know Timber’s fitness going into this season and the Takehiro situation is worrying obviously. Zinny will leave in the summer, probably. With that said I reckon that if we have had either MLS to his current capacity or
Timber fit for half the games last season we win the league. The manager clearly prioritized the defense, and we have one of the best in the world, but now it’s time to buy for front line. Hopefully the rumors about Zubimendi are secure too because eventually we have to move on from Thomas Partey.
I believe Arteta needs to loosen his grip a little, and let the players express themselves a bit more, in the way AW did. Some players seem to overthink, or check themselves, when their natural instincts might bring about better outcomes. Trossard, Ode, Martinelli, Rice - to name a few.
Time to knuckle down and see what the remainder of the season brings. It’s important not to totally slip away.
The champions league will be tough but got to get past PSV and see what happens 🙏
@gunnerblog.bsky.social #arsecastextra hi folks - is a different option/replacement for Martin Odegaard this summer as important as any striker signing?
@gunnerblog.bsky.social @arseblog.com #arsecastextra Mornin James and Andrew. With murmurings of Edu leaving months before his departure in November, was it not incumbent on the board to force a transition of the role? Feels like our squad building was influenced by Edu having one foot out the door.
I think you hit all the right notes with this. Does feel like a hangover season after the last two. Liverpool for all their quality were never able to go full tilt three years in a row. Just hoping we can keep the levels high enough to not get sucked into top 4 shenanigans.
Comments
I don't even think we necessarily need an equivalent to Havertz, just a proper bruiser who we can stick up top while 1 down to West Ham with 5 minutes to go
Fergie had Larsson on loan!
It's this right? He's a good coach and done good things. But does he lack the final piece of the puzzle to win trophies?
Worry is we are sliding back into the late Wenger years of a team good enough for regular CL but not to actually win anything?
No way Merino, Calafiori have been more useful to us than ESR, Nelson, Vieira or Eddie would have been.
The champions league will be tough but got to get past PSV and see what happens 🙏