I cannot believe that clown Luiz has be given another year. Presumably Arteta must have had some input on that decision. If so you've got to wonder about him.

Maybe not but in Emery’s first season we finished fifth with 70 points. In the season before that we finished sixth on 63 points. It is possible to suggest we improved a bit in Emery’s first season. But regardless of that, my point was that Emery was sacked because of his record in his thirteen games this season and so far under Arteta there’s little sign of much change. If we draw at Southampton it will be exactly the same; if we win a bit better; if we lose a bit worse.

As I said before, I think Arteta needs more time and I don’t want to see him sacked. But I was hoping for a few more signs of improvement than we’ve seen so far. Apart from Manchester United at home, have there been many (or even any) really impressive performances, especially against good sides? Sure we had a good win against Newcastle at home, but how good a side were they at the time? Also, some people talk about wanting us to have a clear style of play. Perhaps I’m missing something but I haven’t noticed one.

So, same as the current contract then.

Even Pépé set the world alight, it wouldn't have been enough. You MUST have a defense to go with it. A good back line and/or a great team defense. We don't have the firepower to do it Kevin Keegan style.

It's criminal how much the defense has been neglected.

Hi Bernard - Do you think the lack of a really noticeable 'new manager bounce' (save for a decent performance against Man U) is more down to the players or Arteta?
I've seen a lot of pretty average managers get that bounce out of their players. A lot of those managers tend to be old fashioned throw the tea cups british managers so maybe players respond to that initially. I do find myself often quite exasperated with the players lack of motivation, desire, professionalism, energy. Is Arteta not instilling that in them, or does it take longer for players to unlearn their norm and get out of a funk that has hung over the club for far to long?

It could be either, or more likely a bit of both. Has Arteta failed to inspire them? My guess would be yes. To be fair the two players who have possibly improved the most, who has represented an Arteta bounce, is firstly Mustafi who our friend from across the Atlantic refuses to acknowledge, possibly because he’s his girlfriend’s bit on the side considering how he continues to go on and on about him. The other is Xhaka. Leno has been great all season (apart from the Chelsea at home howler), so has he improved? Probably not. I’d say the of Aubameyang as he was arguably as good under Emery as Arteta.

So is the lack of bounce down to the players generally, mostly Arteta or a bit of both of both? My guess would be a bit of both, but doesn’t that reflect as badly on Arteta as the players?

Agree that Mustafi and Xhaka are the two he certainly has improved the most - albeit the bar might have been set quite low.
There were lots of stories from his time at City about how he coached certain players almost 1 on 1, the best example being Sterling who went from a 10 goal a season winger in to a 20-25 goal a season winger under his tutelage.
Arteta firstly needs to get Arsenal performing greater than the sum of the parts with the parts he currently has, far too long we've been less than - but perhaps we need to re-evaluate how good the parts are? I would guess peoples estimations are getting lower by the day. Is that an Arsenal thing or is it a player thing. Probably a bit of both, Pépé and Özil being the examples that come in to my head at each end of the club v player scale.

Brilliant stuff - as usual.

Angry men ranting but generally, nail on head.

Don't really care whether we drop into the bottom half anymore. If the players aren't up to it in training or fitness then leave them out. Not sure how this season could be terminally damaged. It is already a terrible season but one that had Emery in charge for half of it. If Artera wants to try a few things in the remainder of the season and we lose then I don't really care. 10th or 14th makes little difference.

And it is the club making decisions like that which makes me care even less. Gutless management.

Luiz was described on Fox Sports over here as a "walking blooper reel". Hard to argue

I cannot believe that we have signed, on four year contracts no less, someone who has been injured for six months and not played for us, someone who has played a handful of games and is out injured for three months plus. And we have resigned on a 12 month deal an incredibly expensive accident waiting to happen. I hope he was resigned on reduced terms. He is an ageing clown who is not even Europa League standard anymore.
Jesus Christ we must be *%^@*** desperate.
In two years time no one will take Mari or Cédric off our hands as their wages will be too high. They will sit out their over paid contracts on the bench.
Mark my words neither will have any resale value as we will be paying them more than they will ever get at any other club

This is wonderfully depressing. If this is even half true we’re a *%^@*** shambles

https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/arsenal-news-mikel-arteta-sanllehi-mislintat-joorabchian-luiz-a9580756.html

We are absolutely desperate. We have the wrong profile of personnel in the wrong roles, who are incapable of doing what we need, both on and off the pitch.

Thanks for that. So well put and necessary.

Absolutely appalling.

Try this for a more positive view on the tactics.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPdPraP6fbk

The 3 things I found myself nodding my head too were.

1) yes it’s crazy we aren’t playing Aubameyang as a 9 with Özil as a 10. I’m aware Özil is going through the motions a bit but they are all we have at the moment. By all means sell them in the summer but in the meantime.,

2) I agreed with Davies on the defence in that you can have any defender you want but if they have Guendouzi and Ceballos in front of them ANY defender would be screwed.

3) not signing Cahill on a free but paying a fortune for Luiz. Just absolute madness, then his prophetic prediction that we will pay Luiz another 100k a week for a new contract but won’t be able to get Saka to Renew.

Petit nails it. Shame we haven't got him in the dressing room

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footb ... -joke.html

Quite like this Wolves side, and would like them to pip the likes of Man U to top 4. But my word thy manage to turn out pretty much the same 11-13 players week after week for 2 seasons now.
When they got promoted I couldn't name any of their side, now I feel I could name their 1 to 11 in a heartbeat. Such stability in the side and so few injuries helps so much

So does not buying rubbish like Luiz

I thought not having away fans would help us away but it hasn't. We are piss poor away and I thought we may do a wee bit better but alas it was not to be.

Give yerselves a break from all this nonsense.

Watch Netflix The Last Dance. Michael Jordan may be an a****** but he is mesmeric at the focus of these programmes and even to the untrained eye, he is a truly amazing athlete and player.

Arteta said He expects Saka’s new deal to be done shortly. Great news. He’s been one of the few positives this season, excelling in a number of positions down the left side

Yeah one of the best things I’ve watched recently.
Jordan’s desire to be the best and will to win is unrivalled, so rare to have that level of determination in any sport.
Interesting that he was quite nasty to his team mates, but to push them on to be the best team. And pretty much every one of his team mates now says, yes he was an a** but he was right, he made us all better players and winners.
The Arsenal could do with a few with this attitude

A retired basketball player here, Charles Barkley, now a pundit, who played against Jordan and also shot golf with Tiger Woods, said they were the most competitive people he has ever met bar none.

I also read that the best of the best, the G.O.A.T.s (Greatest of all time) as they are called in America is like a club. They can spot another 'apex predator' so to speak. Jordan was friends with Tiger Woods as well as almost investing in a ice hockey franchise with Mario Lemieux, another 'best of the best' type player. Jordan was also friends with Joe Montana who is arguably the greatest quarterback ever along with Tom Brady today and he is friendly with Wayne Gretzky. The article, which I wish I could remember where, spoke of something they see in each other similar to them. A driving force. I would imagine Messi and Cristiano have that in them. Henry did as well I think. Lauren I think spoke of how competitive he was at everything, non football even.

Kobe Bryant had that drive as well and didn't care about how you took it. He was more than willing to risk friendships over it.

Looking at the Cédric 4 year deal, is it not to be expected that he got a good deal for himself as he was on a free transfer. The bigger contract may cost us an extra couple of million a season that it should but we didn’t pay a fee for him.
Of course I’d love to sign someone like Kimmich or even a highly rated RB like Hakimi but the cost would take away from other areas of the team that require strengthening.
If, a big if, Arsenal have decided they only have enough money to strengthen 1 or 2 positions with a top class signing then I don’t want right back to be one of them.
Given the current situation we find ourselves in I don’t think it’s a terrible signing

This will test Newcastle's ethics to some extent. MBS is trying to buy legitimacy in the same manner Roman tried as well as Usmanov. Its hard to turn down those deep pockets.

Do you sell your soul to the devil?

Do we need fullbacks? I'm fine with the choices we have. I'd rather spend on central defense. If we get someone of a high quality who can play both central and full back, all well and good. But for me, I think we should focus almost entirely on central defense and defensive midfielder.

I hope so rich, but the thing that’s glaringly obvious is no one’s got a clue what kind of signing he’ll be because no bugger has seen a minute of him playing!! Not just partial but a complete gamble. I smell another Aumery Bishchoff. I might upgrade that to a Kim Kallstrom if he ever makes an appearance

Huh? He's been at Southampton for 5 years and played over 100 games for them. He also has 30+ caps for Portugal.

Mari, on the other hand, we have seen very little of.

Quite a while since he played a competitive minute. Remains to be seen if he’s the same player for me. I can see why we’ve done a cheap deal. Just not one I think is likely to pay off even for the smaller outlay.

At least we haven’t quite returned to signing players from the German fifth division

https://arsenal-mania.com/whatever-happ ... to-mendez/

https://arsespeak.com/2011/01/17/the-cu ... ers-story/

Ah, heady romantic days...

Kick off is 6:00 pm this evening - just in case anyone hadn't spotted it.

I hadn't.

So 4 away games on the trot in 11 days - and not quick hops either. London to Manchester - Brighton - Southampton - Sheffield - 900+ miles and many many hours. That's a gruelling schedule by any standards.

Actually hate the away game at Southampton.
Usually doesn't end well.
F****king Charlie Austin.
Step up Danny ings......not!
Not confident I have to say.
I still have faith in arteta as its still very early days but a 3rd defeat in a row would be unbearable.
Let's show some bloody pride and nous about us today. Let's actually react and show what we are about today.
I dread if we go a goal down..... our heads will go down for sure.
Come on Arsenal!!!

Cédric has made 16 appearances for Southampton so far this season, the last coming in January. Probably a combination of injuries and running down his contract as to why he hasn't featured for them or us since

Martinez, Bellerin, Mustafi, Holding, Tierney, Pépé, Ceballos, Xhaka, Saka, Nketiah, Aubameyang.

Sokratis back on the bench along with Matt Smith from the U23's with a first senior call up