Read this morning that Özil believes he can secure a transfer to another top club but won't leave until the end of the season.
As often happens, his absence from a failing team will increase his stock, but there are a number of issues with this? Which team anywhere in europe pays him his current salary. Which top team (lets say top 25 in europe) would want Özil on a free transfer on even a third of his current wages?

The people at Hertha Berlin don’t seem to think so.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/metro.co.u ... 01779/amp/

Absolutely. Over the last 10 seasons of our steady decline there are plenty of factors to point to, but the over riding one, and most influential one for me is poor recruitment both in and out of the club.
Even when we have signed younger players with potential it is rare that any of them really kick on to a level better than when we signed them.
Yes we want to have more money to spend but we've wasted so much of it in the last 5 years in particular. Going back 5 summers to that fateful Xhaka/Mustafi/Perez summer Arsenal have spent £529m on new players, receive £225m. So our budget for 5 seasons has been £60m net spend to work with.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015%E2%8 ... .C._season
So that squad and £60m every season net to do something. and where do we find ourselves?
As well as quality of player we need to look at the mentality of player we have bought, or are cultivating. Who in the last 10 years have we bought who you would hang your hat on to die for the cause on the pitch, a determination to fight and lead? You could make a case for Sanchez.....

It’s interesting to consider how many of the Premier League managers would get more out of Arsenal’s players than Arteta is this season? I don’t just mean Klopp or Guardiola as they go without saying. For me Brendan Rodgers goes without saying too.

Controversial but I think Mourinho would too, even though I once suggested the game has left him behind. If Mourinho had Arsenal’s players I strongly suspect we’d have more points than we do. Sure, the football might not be enthralling but how good is Arteta’s Arsenal to watch? I’m not going through the whole list but I don’t think it’s impossible Potter at Brighton would get more out Arsenal’s players too.

If Mourinho was in charge at Arsenal he’d have chucked several players under a bus by now and would be arguing with the board.

Guardiola would need several hundred million to revamp the defence and midfield just like he did at city.

4 different managers and coaching teams have now managed these same players. It’s illogical to expect a different outcome if we appoint a 5th

I’m not so sure. I think Guardiola and Mourinho would both be getting more out of the players Arsenal currently employ even without Guardiola having several hundred million. I can’t prove it, just like you can’t disprove it, but I honestly think we’d currently have more points under Mourinho with the players on Arsenal’s books, so I’m not counting Kane or Son.

Let me clarify that I’m not calling for Arteta to be sacked, yet anyway. But as Bored implied, it’s for the manager to get the best out the players he has on his club’s books. Is Arteta doing that? I remain to be convinced.

13 points and 10 goals scored from 11 games. When Arteta took over we were 10th in the table and on a miserable run of form. He improved things considerably. Last season his league record was 9 wins, 7 draws, 5 defeats. Not stellar but quite good considering how the team was performing when he took over and of course winning the cup was great.

We added Gabriel, Willian and Partey. He chose to offload Torreira and Guendouzi and drop Özil. There is no key player who forced a transfer. At the start of this season, with those additions, the squad was better than what he inherited. But our performances have mainly been poor. Better squad but much poorer results.

He undoubtedly needs to be given more time but he also needs to improve things....and quickly.

https://www.statsperform.com/resource/t ... -crossing/

Lots of stats on crossing. The conclusion is you score 1 goal for every 45 crosses hit. That is based on all prem teams over a long period. So also bring in whether you have players who deliver good crosses or are good at getting on the end of them - we seem to fail at both - and the ratio must surely go up for that team.

If you want to approach a game with the idea of making things as uncomfortable for the defence as possible crossing balls on the CB heads with only 1 guy half heartedly challenging him is not the way to go. Burnley next and their CB will lap that sort of challenge up all day long

There lies the problem. We had 44 crosses yesterday....just one more and we would scored.....

Point taken. But I'm not sure I agree.

The jury is still out definitely. I just look at it and there’s such a lack of talent in the first team and squad I just don’t believe any manager can turn those players into world beaters.

Maybe Mourinho could park the bus in certain games and turn defeats into a draw but that’s not Artetas style and certainly isn’t Guardiola or klopps either.

It’s a debate that doesn’t have a logical answer at this stage your completely right but I can’t believe my eyes are deceiving me and our talent pool is at the lowest ebb we’ve had for some time.

True. But that is only two games. I presume that he is on best behaviour right now.

So if this season Arteta has 13 points from 11 games, it’s arguably worth comparing that to Emery’s record last season, which got him the sack. Emery had got 18 points from 13 games. Now Arteta won’t exactly equal Emery’s record after 13 games last season because it’s impossible to get 5 points from 2 games.

The only possible points from two matches are 0 (two defeats), or 1 (one defeat and one draw), or 2 (two draws), or 3 (one defeat and one win), or 4 (one draw and one win), or 6 (two wins).

So to better Emery’s 13 game record last season, which had got him the sack, Arteta must win our next two league matches (Burnley home and Southampton home). Anything else and his record over the first 13 games this season is worse than last season under Emery.

My view is that we just have to be patient and persist with Arteta at least until the middle of next season. He is aware of what the problems are and is attempting to address them. I don't think he's the problem.

Damn! And another 91 and we would have won!

Perhaps I’m wrong but I’ve always assumed it may be easier to appoint managers at the end of seasons. Otherwise, unless you promote from within, it means taking on somebody already out of work (presumably with a smaller selection of good candidates) or poaching someone from another club mid-season. At the end of a season I would have thought managers will have a better idea of whether they want to stay where they are or move on from the club they’re at.

From that, I wonder if it might be best to look at Arteta at the end of this season rather than the middle of next season? Hopefully we’ll improve dramatically and keeping him will end an easy decision. Whether that turns out to be the case is another question.

Afternoon Bernard.
I see your point, but the problem is that only gives him the January transfer window. Is that a fair enough shake? I am fairly confident that Arteta will find a way to make us a bit more dynamic with the resources we have, so hopefully as you say that point will be moot.

We're 15th. Would anyone say they would do a straight swap for the preferred XI and bench for any of the clubs above us? Even outside the top 4, 5 or 6 (Liverpool and City are a given. Man Utd, Chelsea, Sperz probably...maybe Leicester)?

I’ll answer !! no chance

He would only have had 1 summer transfer window at that point and only the ability to sign 1 mostly injured midfielder due to the budget. He needs another 3. He’s on a hiding to nothing, we wouldn’t have even allowed him time to change personal at that point.

Unless we drop in the bottom 3 it would be an act of madness to let him go.

There are differenches between the two scenarios. With Emery it felt as though the whole thing was unravelling. Right now, it is pretty bad but I still think there is some hope there that Arteta can turn it around. I think the fixtures are important too. We have played Liverpool, Man City, Man Utd and Tottenham away from home. Chelsea away is the only one missing.

One of my main concerns is the change in tactics. We really have gone all David Moyes in the last two games.

It’s not tactics though. Arteta isn’t telling his midfielders not to play through balls or take shots.

Take the other week for example Partey had a great first half, he was making runs and even chased down a goalkeeper dealing with a pass back. He was all over the pitch .... then at half time gets injured and goes off and Ceballos comes on and doesn’t make any effort whatsoever to pass expressively or even get in the final third, he has no interest and seems to be operating as a 2nd right back, Now he isn’t being told by Arteta to do that as the previous player wasn’t doing that at all. It’s personnel, he’s just limited that’s all.

It is the same players as last season with a better centre back thrown in. The barrage of crosses is definitely new and I can't think the players just decided to do that.

I get the comment about players but remember we sacked the manager last year as well! people were also accusing Emery of being too defensive too. There is a pattern. Emery said after Aaron Ramsey got injured it all went to pot and I agree. The problems with creativity seemed to start there.

Btw I don’t even call those crosses they are mostly punted balls into the box when everyone is already marked.

I think it’s fiction that we’ve simply got useless players. With the midfield and attack, Top Gun pointed out the goals and assists by Willian for Chelsea last season and he’d done well there for some time. Willian is a good player, full stop. Saka was poor yesterday but might be being overplayed. He’s a tremendous prospect. Aubameyang has been useless since renewing his contract but was great before that at Arsenal (with largely the same midfielders passing to him as now) and Dortmund. A great player, hopefully in a temporary run of bad form. Lacazette has disappointed me a bit but is certainly more than decent. Pépé I think has the ingredients to be an outstanding player. Whether he becomes one or not is another question, but he has the ability required.

Ceballos has ability, and I thought improved us in the second half. He’s not great but is good, and at the end of last season was very good. Xhaka must have something despite all the negativity about him. The captain of his national team as well as Arsenal for a spell. His managers all seem to love him. Are they really all be worse judges after seeing him day in day out than some fans who only see him in matches? A more than adequate passer of the ball too. Partey has only just arrived but looks good, though playing him yesterday was obviously a poor decision. Elneny is the modern day Flamini for me. Tigerish but limited talent. Way off being rubbish, as was Flamini.

Then there’s a number of youngsters below the automatic choice level (like Saka). Maitland-Niles has already played for England so has something. Nelson, Willock, Nketiah and Smith Rowe all look around the same level to me. Useful squad players at this point and may never be more than that. But not at all bad.

I still suspect plenty of other managers could get more out of that mob than Arteta has this season. I genuinely think our squad isn’t quite as bad as is accepted by some.

If with say 10 league games to play we are still around the drop zone then he has to go. The scheduled last 10 games include five against likely relegation candidates - Sheffield, Fulham, WBA, Palace and Brighton - they will be tough - and also Liverpool and Chelsea. If Arteta hasn't found an answer before we start that that run-in we could be in big trouble. Unlike the others we are not used to relegation fights. Hopefully by May we are still in the Premiership, but cupless and out of European placings, then Arteta will need to be asked some tough questions.

Apart from the issues raised by your last point ...

It's quite subjective, so comparing results doesn't give the full picture.

A few years back South Africa had a coach called Joel Natalino Santana. He spoke no English and it was apparent that nobody, even the translators, really had a clue. Emery wasn't that bad but the vibe was similar: a sort of truculent incomprehensibility all round.

What Arteta, it just feels like he at least know what he is trying to do even if it isn't working just yet.

Liverpool, City, Man U, Chelsea and Spurs are all a given. Player for player miles better.
Leicester, Wolves and Everton all have better best 11's than us currently mainly because of such a weakness we have in central midfield

I could also cherry pick half the first 11 from each team above us that would immediately be an improvement on what we field currently
West Ham - Cresswell, Rice, Soucek, Bowen, Antonio
Southampton - vestegaard, walker-peters, Romeu, Ward-Prowse, Ings,
Everton - Digne, Keane, Coleman, Allan, Dacoure, Rodriguez, Richarlison, Calvert-Lewin
Wolves - Patricio, Coady, Boly, Semedo, Neves, Moutinho, Dendonker, Neto, Traore, Jimenez
Palace - Zaha, - ok I'm struggling here
Villa - Mings, Cash, MgGinn, Barkley, Grealish, Watkins
Newcastle - Wilson - and I'm struggling here too
Leeds - Ayling, Phillips, Klich, Raphina, Bamford

Xhaka is playing in the same 3 square metres as the 2 CBs who are as good at passing & faster than him. It’s Literally like playing with ten men in every game he plays. Even Redknapp was saying in his commentary yesterday “I don’t get this guy at all” . It’s a disaster

Ceballos is a Real Madrid reject who would be plying his trade at a low level Spanish club if we hadn’t signed him. Better than Xhaka but nowhere near the level needed.

El Nenny couldn’t convince Beskitas he was good enough for them

Worst midfield since 94. How anyone can say this lot are good enough midfielders is beyond comprehension

But ‘good enough’ is not what I said at all.

Arteta's "clear the air" talks, 4 Dec., prior to the NLD really didn't help.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.fourfo ... ash-report

So if we take all the managers out of the equation and we judge each player in the prem on their ability, and we take in to account most recent form but also proven ability over the last season or two to avoid being too harsh on a player in a sudden downturn ie: Aubameyang.....where does this Arsenal squad sit in the league? And therefore how much influence is the manager having?
The big 5 are all clearly ahead of us player for player. I’d also put Leicester, Everton and wolves ahead.....but that is based on us being SO weak in a couple of key positions, literally 3/10 quality. If we addressed those areas we’d move up to 6th best squad.

So in my view Arteta should be getting this squad to at least 9th but maybe a bit higher. The only reason I’d say higher is based on our second 11 being much closer to the ability of our first 11 than some of those other clubs - so factoring in injuries we should be able to have less of a drop off in performance than others.

Player for player with the above caveats we have a better squad than Leeds and Southampton but as a team they are totally 100% in sync with their managers methods, neither manager having comprised their tactical approach to games since day 1.

Hey Rich, Liverpool, City, Chelsea and Man Utd man for man is an easy call. We starting turning the corner against sperz since 2018 or thereabouts. We beat them a couple times and drew more against them. I'd contend that sperz, Wolves, Everton and even Leicester are better managed. We have a mixed record against them as well.

If you made a combined best 11 from Arsenal, Spurs, Wolves, Everton and Leicester what would it be? This would be mine
GK - Lloris
RB - Perriera
CB - Alderweireld
CB - Coady/Boly/Gabriel - can't separate these 3
LB - Digne
DM - Ndidi
CM - Tielemans
CM - Partey
RW - Richarlison
LW - Son
FW - Kane
It may be that all those 4 other teams are better managed but they also have better players. Only Everton of the 4 finished below us last season and they bought Allan, Dacoure and Rodriguez this summer to fix their entire midfield

Good news in our relegation scrap. Brighton have just conceded a penalty and gone 1-2 down after having been ahead.

Meanwhile Southampton disappear of into the distance as they go joint 3rd. Odd times.

So we have 2 players at most. However let’s sack our manager.

If you had to pick a 2nd 11 I wonder how many players would get in?

Lloris has made many errors and more than Leno in my view. I would rather have Leno any day of the week, as I would Tierney instead of Digne. I’m surprised you put Richarlison in your team. Hopelessly inconsistent in my view. I’m not sure about Alderweireld getting in your side without question. I’m not convinced he’s any better than the three candidates for the place next to him. I think Gabriel would get in the team, with one of the others alongside him.

To be fair all the positions you queried were the hardest ones for me to pick. I think Alderweireld has been consistent over a number of years for spurs now and they have the best defence so far in the league this season. I hope Gabriel goes on to be better than all CB at those 4 clubs, signs are good but it’s only been 10 games.
Digne/Tierney would probably split a lot of neutral fans, spurs fans would undoubtedly have Reguillon as their pick.
Leno, Lloris, Patricio - I don’t think there is much between them all but Lloris still pips it for me.
I struggled a bit for a right winger, I do like Richarlison as he always looks dangerous even if his finishing let’s him down, maybe some people could make a case for Pépé or Saka but Richarlison has hit 13 league goals for the past 2 seasons, if any of our wide forwards posted numbers like that we’d be delighted

Where we stand in the table is evidence enough to tell how we are. Be it because of manager, team, certain players etc, we are in dire straits. And that is where Arteta needs to be the man to steer us back into the right direction.

Hi Rich, interesting list but different from what I was writing about. Our best XI and bench vs another club's best XI and bench, everyone healthy. Liverpool, City, Man Utd as you say, no argument there. Chelsea as well but not as strong. Head to head we were decent against Sperz, Leicester the last 2 or 3 years or so, almost as many wins as they got on us and a number of draws, which would mean they underperformed if their choice XI was visibly better.

I don't agree Wolves and Everton have a better first XI than us but that they are better managed and better run club. But appreciate your views on the matter. Interesting to think about.

So next EPL game the six pointer with another relegation candidate - Burnley