I would be curious to see if Rodgers would come if we approached him. Leicester are a better club, but we are a bigger club. We are losing our reputation for being patient with managers. We are looking like Sunderland when it comes to managers. So, the one thing potential managers will ask themselves is 'Will I be given time? If I'm not winning like the old Arsenal right away will get the sack? Will I even get a season?'

Or is that being hyperbolic? My guess is Rodgers would love to prove himself again with a big club.

From the guardian
If you think Arteta's the problem, what about Edu? If it's Edu, does Vinai get off? What about the players? And does any of this matter while the Kroenkes are in situ? The problem with pointing fingers around Arsenal is that there are so many targets

Hi Rich,

Arteta picks the team, chooses the formation and tactics, makes the substitutions and has a big role in making sure that the players are motivated to produce the required performances.

I can't honestly say, bar the odd game here and there, that his management has delivered impressively in any of those areas.

Arteta talks the talk very eloquently but as far as I am concerned he has so far failed to walk the walk.

This is a good article, fed up with Arteta and scathing towards KSE

https://7amkickoff.com/index.php/2021/0 ... gotiables/

Agree with the opinions regards Arteta, especially the way he manages dissenting players. I thought Wenger (in his latter years) was bad for us, Arteta is worse.

I do understand all that and agree Arteta has made mistakes, but did we not expect him to as a rookie manager.
I put the guardian quote up for context, rather than putting it up because I agree with every word, but blame for our demise can’t be laid at a single person.

Now I’ve calmed down from the disappointment of Thursday, and having thought about what people have said, both here and elsewhere, including all the ramifications of managerial change, I think I’m in the give Arteta one more season camp. I think.

I think it makes sense, give him till Christmas. He’s made mistakes granted but we need to restructure and wont get anywhere till this is done.

Also I just don’t believe there’s an alternative. Allegri won’t want anything to do with us and if he did isn’t his preference to play a certain system with wingbacks and 3 defenders. It means tearing everything up again system, coaches, acquiring certain types of players.

All of that said I was half expecting Arteta to be fired by now in an act of deflection from Kroenke.

The idea that KSE would seek to distance themselves as the root cause of our problems by sacking our manager is one of the main points in my thinking.

A long time I said if we won anything it would be 'in spite of' Kroenke not 'because of'. That family may ultimately be able claim they won a lot of trophies (we're talking at least a couple decades of ownership at a minimum) and still be the worse owners in Arsenal history.

Complaining about KSE is like complaining about the weather in London. It is what it is, may as well accept it.

I think also the lack of footballing expertise on the board may also save Arteta thinking about it.

Last time Gazidis chose Wengers replacement and at least he had an understanding of European and global football and who was respected and not in the coaching profession. Then they just went to 2nd in the previous queue when we sacked Emery.

If josh Kroenke and edu select a replacement ? Surely largely selected on reputation and availability alone. I’d be shocked at an innovative or progressive appointment and would expect a mid tier manager recently dismissed by someone else to avoid paying compensation.

In the highly likely circumstance we got Allegri or conte that would feel a bit satisfying to me but anyone else ? Not really and I’d certainly be disappointed and underwhelmed if Sarri, Benitez or potter came in.

So, am I to understand that the rest of the season is a wash and the only thing to play for is Arteta's job?

Spurs losing 3-1 to Leeds almost certainly ends their top 4 hopes.
Leicester shock loss last night means they could slip out of the top 4 yet again, their last 3 games are all very tough.
Chelsea and Liverpool could get 3rd and 4th. West Ham have some favourable fixtures, would be great to see them get top 4 but without significant investment in their squad the champions league will absolutely kill them next season

Buendia has 15 goals and 15 assist this season. In my opinion he'd be a better buy for us than Ødegaard even if they were the same price. I can't see how we can get Buendia though, Norwich are coming up, have no reason to sell and his price tag is already meant to be £40m. He also mostly plays from the right side not in a No.10 position

Sorry to yell something non football here.

Lewis Hamilton just achieved his 100th Pole position in F1 qualifying !!!!!!!!

Back to football ...... Spurs lose, yay!!!!!!

Really hope to have Joe Willock back and playing regularly next season. He has it in him,to develop into a very good player. Arteta needs to find a role that allows him to play his best.

Hope Athletico Madrid beats Barca today.

Accept it?, that is the same as accepting the club is dead.

https://www.justarsenal.com/why-i-dont- ... eta/281513

I've said it before but I would take relegation if that is what it took to be rid of KSE.

Your anger is completely justified. Now, how do we go about getting Kroenke out? Reasonable ways please.

Actually, according to Atalanta's website, Gasperini is being considered by Spurs.
Allegri/Conte/Simeone would desire a hefty war chest. Kroenke doesn't or won't do that. Buys on the cheap as long as they have a good rep. Nothing against Arteta, but you know....

Spot on this article.

Villa have a rough schedule for the duration. They probably won't get anything out of their remaining games. That alone will spare us. I'm not so sure we'll finish ahead of Leeds. Other than their pride, and saving Arteta's job, the players don't have anything to play for.

"We"? Sorry AG, the only people who can move the Kroenke family out of Arsenal are billionaires who have enough money to pay them enough to go away. Then you will simply have another billionaire to contend with, who will be just as keen as Kroenke on making money from their investment. I am afraid to say the time has long passed since we fans had any meaningful say in the club's future. The occasional protest gathering, flying of planes, interruption of matches or social media campaigns barely touch the skin of these businessmen. That is elite football now.

European football on the horizon for us

https://www.football.london/arsenal-fc/ ... dVqywBg8PI

Exactly my point about 'accepting' it. The only possible way for fans to have any effect is an across the board boycott and that won't happen.

Kroenke is doesn't care about not being liked. Or rather doesn't care enough to sell for reasons that he's not liked. He wasn't liked in his own hometown before he moved the team. He wasn't motivated to sell it then. Not sure why anyone would think he'd be motivated to sell Arsenal now for non financial/business reasons.

Xhaka, Luiz and Mari all out of tomorrow’s game - as if the game matters much. Although I think a win officially relegated Fat Sam.

We need to just play those who we want to be here next season. Martinelli has to start, Balogun on the bench ahead of Nketiah of needs be. Azeez on the bench or get him in alongside Partey - why not?!

According to Wenger they were looking for 12 not 2 million for Schwartzer so the assertions in that piece are dubious. I would never except relegation.

My understanding was we tried to get Schwartz when he was at Fulham. They wanted at least 10 mil and we offered 2. Then a number of years later we chased him again at Chelsea and I think we baulked at 2 mil then.

I see Leicester are said to be close to signing Boubakary Soumare from Lille.

That is exactly the sort of talent we should be targetting........young with huge potential, a decent level of experience and well suited physically and technically to the demands of the PL.

You have to admire Leicester's approach to transfers. Signing youthful players with big upside who can fit seamlessly into their footballing philosophy and have the attributes to cope in the PL.

Allegri comments he’s keen to return to management but said this...

“After a year out and five years at Juventus, I don't want to go back into the game and do badly. That would do my head in."

He’s not coming to Arsenal guys and I thought Artetas comments were telling seemingly saying look don’t pin this all on me we haven’t competed for 5 years.

I bet top tier managers will go running for the hills when the board discuss transfer budgets with them.

Bayern secured their 9th title in a row yesterday

Exactly, he seems raw but as you say, all the physical attributes to suit the prem.
We spend £31m plus signing on fee for Willian and he’ll be worth nothing when his contract is up. Soumare would likely cost something similar in transfer fee and then maybe another £10m in wages for a similar 3 year deal. But in theory he should improve during that time not decline like Willian and would likely still be worth what we paid in 3 years time.

In some respects we’ve done some very good business and got some good young players signed up to long term deals but we’re also doing quick fix transfers that are actually quite high risk. Needs to be a clear change of strategy in the summer

Leicester also well in the race for Edouard from Celtic. 23, good goalscoring record, not an extortionate fee. No guarantee of success but it’s an entirely sensible transfer.

We could also look at Patson Daka, 22, scored over 30 goals for Salzburg this season, taking over from Haaland, could be £20-25m.Always a risk because you never now if someone can step up but strikers in the prem or other top leagues at that age and with a similar goal scoring record are £50m+

Willian is Brazilian, Edu is Brazilian ... connection?

https://arseblog.news/2021/05/arteta-th ... s-back-me/

Very strong words from Arteta. A veil warning to some disagreeable (with him) players within the squad?

Looks like Arteta is throwing the players under a bus with his 'the squad needs changing'proclamation.
Sincerely hope he knows what he is doing because some of those players will be inclined to think *%^@ him and down tools.
Is he actually not going to take some responsibility for this shitshow.
His boring possession side to side football.
His poor in game management. The fact the players look like they are playing with the shackles on.
His treatment of certain players.
These are all down to him.
Yes the players need to look at themselves too but I hate this tactic from Arteta.
Making it look like it's all on the players.
Hope he knows what he is doing.
Because if he gets his signings in the summer and we are still *%^@ he will have no where to hide..

Tonight will tell us who is playing for the shirt and who is playing for a paycheck. There is nothing to play for in terms of league position or cups. So, I think this is a good indicator of where the players who are starting are in terms of commitment.

Regarding sacking Arteta. Do we really want to sack Arteta and 'settle'? There should be a defined and exact list of managers we consider 1. an improvement in managerial and tactical ability and 2. will not use us as a way station till a bigger club comes along.

Keep Arteta until such a manager is on board.

Chelsea is on our schedule and while I'd like to beat them, they have more to play for than we do. They are fighting it out for 3rd with Leicester. (C'mon Foxes). However, they may also want to preserve players for the CL. We'll have to see. Can't see them taking it easy for a major London derby.

I think we'll finish 9th. Our international players may not want to get hurt as well. Again, the rest of the season may determine what bit of housecleaning may have to be done. I'd love to see Martinelli start as well as other younger players who haven't been given a chance but Arteta knows his job is on the line so he'll likely field his best XI or close to it.

“The squad needs changing,” Arteta told Sky Sports ahead of Sunday’s clash with West Brom.

“There were already a lot of changes in December, something that has not been done in years, but it tells us where we were. Things are going to have to change and the owners are going to back it up.”

It’s no secret that the Premier League has become more competitive since Arsenal last qualified for the Champions League under Arsene Wenger. On and off the pitch, the gap on ‘smaller’ clubs has closed and there’s a fear the decline under the Kroenke ownership is terminal.

“Time is catching up right now,” said Arteta. “It’s a trend, it’s years now that this has been happening. If the distance and the margins with the rest become too big, then it’s almost impossible to do it.


Absolutely nailed on.