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Arsenal’s Brazilian defender Gabriel celebrates scoring against Fulham (Photo by Clive Rose / POOL / AFP)

I’ve been waking up on the opening day of the season as an active Gooner for 62 years and that feeling of butterflies mingling with anticipation has visited me every single year.

It was no different today and those butterflies intensified with a look at the team. Elneny and Gabriel were surprise inclusions and Willian made it a brace of Brazilian debutants. My late trip to the garden centre for Mrs TTG’s latest garden project only added to the anxiety. Would I get stuck in traffic or be delayed by road works? I saw a Gooner travelling companion at the centre, even more stressed because he lives further away, and his wife had a bigger shopping list! I made it back in time! 

Denied the enjoyment of the delightful walk through Bishop’s Park I was delighted that the season kicked off in bright sunshine; almost perfect conditions for football. We then almost replicated what we did the last time we played Fulham on the opening day by presenting Fulham with a stupid early goal, an AMN pass putting Gabriel under pressure and Leno calmly rectifying the problem at Kamara’s feet.

Fulham started well and Arsenal scarcely featured until the 9th minute when Aubameyang set up Willian whose blocked shot was turned in by Lacazette.

Fulham 0 Arsenal 1

As goals tend to it changed the shape of the game. Arteta’s innovative switching between a defensive five into a fluid shape with AMN getting forward and Tierney sliding out wide was a source of attacking joy. If our holding midfield lacks dynamism the energy and neatness of Willian gave us interesting options going forward.

Willian and Lacazette combined to set up Elneny and after his shot was blocked Xhaka blasted wildly over. After 26 minutes Lacazette was fouled on the edge of the box and from the free-kick Willian whipped in a vicious low curler which beat the keeper and ricocheted off the right -hand post.

Just as the commentator mentioned how secure the Arsenal defence was Odoi escaped down the right and whipped in a low cross, but the referee blew for a push.

Tierney then produced a delightful ball for Aubameyang, but he was dispossessed perhaps reflecting on a yellow card he had received for pushing Odoi on the touchline.

The half ended with a dangerous looking free-kick followed by a corner but we dealt with the danger well.

Half-time Fulham 0 Arsenal 1

The second half was barely under way when we saw a mesmerising bit of control by Rob Holding of all people who set up Lacazette whose effort was blocked. From the ensuing corner Willian whipped over an inviting cross which fellow Brazilian debutant Gabriel headed firmly in. A dream start for Gabriel who was excellent throughout.

Fulham 0 Arsenal 2

A few minutes later we saw a goal similar in quality to Ramsey’s in the equivalent fixture two years ago. A flowing move involved Bellerin, AMN and Lacazette and a very intelligent advantage by referee Kavanagh allowed Willian to pick out Aubameyang with a wonderful crossfield ball and our superstar striker reminded everyone what a superstar he is with a great strike curled into the far corner.

Fulham 0 Arsenal 3

A great team goal embellished by a beautiful individual strike.

It was clear even to a pessimistic watcher like me that we were starting to overrun and outclass Fulham who looked every inch a rookie Premier League side.

We saw a series of exciting passing moves with both wing-backs bombing on and neat interplay between our forward players. A superb pass by Tierney set up Aubameyang who crossed for Lacazette but the blocked shot- a good save by the keeper – was offside. Bellerin, increasingly prominent found Auba whose effort was headed off the line by Hector, although a discerning observer might feel Mr. Hector was lucky still to be on the pitch after constant heavy challenges from a man on a yellow card.

Pepe had replaced Willian who had a very effective game with two assists and a big hand in the first goal , Xhaka who had a knock earlier ( after a heavy challenge from Hector) was replaced by Ceballos who then produced what my grandson refers to as ‘ ultimate tekkers ‘ with a nutmeg, drawback and backheel to set up another great moment.

Lacazette was subbed for Eddie Nketiah meaning that the two subs (he and Ceballos) who had appeared to have a difference of opinion in the warm-up were on together. Laca was very warmly greeted by his manager suggesting that he is very much a part of Mikel’s plans.

The game ended with us totally dominant and able to move to the top of the table. A wonderful start and everything we could have hoped for from our first match.

In interview Arteta was as impressive as ever. He could scarcely impress me more in terms of the clarity of his vision and the effectiveness of his communication and his signings Gabriel and Willian had assured debuts. His tactics are fluid, intelligent and it is clear for the first time in ages that the players know exactly what is expected of them. Gabriel was hugely dominant, calm with the ball at his feet and looked a very solid addition. Willian worked his socks off and had a huge effect on the match. He is incisive, creative and full of flair. I also liked Elneny who played his role to perfection and Holding who was a rock. Had I been asked to nominate a man of the match though it would have been Kieran Tierney who I thought was excellent defensively and played some sublime passes forward. He oozes commitment, quality and level- headedness.

So, a super start and the feelgood factor at our club is building inexorably. Let us without being greedy, hope we can find the midfield additions that might make this a really special season.

272 Drinks to “Tabletoppers Do Everything Asked Of Them As New Boys Shine”

  1. 1
    bathgooner says:

    Get in! Early goals are good.

  2. 2
    scruzgooner says:

    multiple early goals. now to read!

  3. 3
    scruzgooner says:

    lovely, TTG, you old goober 😉

    i so enjoyed capitola rob adding the stalybridge pele to his moniker collection. playing with brazilians, eh? smooth!

  4. 4
    bathgooner says:

    An excellent match report TTG. Very much the match I saw (though you didn’t mention Xhaka’s superb pass to PEA 😉). We are on the way back.

  5. 5
    Countryman100 says:

    A great report TTG. I thought the tactical use of AMN was masterful and you describe it well. It freed KT3 to do his thing on the left and gave us an overload in midfield that created space for others. How lovely to have two 6ft 2+ centre backs dominating in the air. And we scored from a corner! I love it when we score from corners. Everybody played well and we’re off to a great start.

    Arteta’s only problem is that our expectations of him are getting dangerously high. His achievements to date are stellar.

  6. 6
    Esso says:

    Cheers TTG!

  7. 7
    TTG says:

    Bath
    You raise an excellent and very fair point. In my notes I put ‘ superb pass from Xhaka to PEA’ only for the commentator to suggest it was Tierney ( hence my reference in the first half ). I’ve now satisfied myself that it was Xhaka and it was indeed the pass of the match I raise my hand metaphorically in apology to him . He was decent today , although I thought Elneny had a better game but Xhaka was effective as a ball-winner and recycler of possession. It will be fascinating to see if we sign any midfielders and what type we go for. I would have thought Partey would threaten his place but Aouar would not .

  8. 8
    Pangloss says:

    An excellent result followed by an excellent report. What’s not to like?

    COYG

  9. 9
    ATG says:

    Great report TTG, have just finished watching the game as I recorded it earlier, top notch stuff indeed!

  10. 10
    BtM says:

    An early away game against a probable bottom four candidate – just the thing that might have been a hurdle too high for no one other than Arsenal in days gone down. But it wasn’t today, we didn’t drop points, we did nothing stupid, we didn’t pick up a single red card, no one broke a leg and here we are in the bar definitely not deflated.

    Indeed we’re top of the league. There’s no better place to be. Let’s stay there please.

    Will my right honourable friends Prof Bath, His Honour TTG, C100, ATG et al join me in congratulating Emi Martinez (while simultaneously quietly expressing disappointment on the development) on his reported move to A Villa in Birmingham and will they agree with me that ALL of the £20M dosh generated must be put in no other place than the Partey Pot?

    Nice job on the report TTG.

  11. 11
    TTG says:

    In each of the last two seasons, Ozil has finished with two Premier League assists. Willian’s cross for Gabriel and raking pass for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang enabled him to match that tally in the first hour of his Arsenal debut.
    ( courtesy of the Athletic)

  12. 12
    TTG says:

    Btm
    Absolutely agree. Willian might be our creator but Partey will be the engine

  13. 13
    bathgooner says:

    BTM, I agree we need to add to the midfield roster but with Mike Macy on the way out we need to spend £10m on a decent back-up keeper so only ca. £10m will go into that pot. Read 7am KO’s analyses of Partey’s numbers. He’s very expensive for what he offers. There’s surely better value elsewhere. I’m saddened we didn’t go for the Watford fella who has gone to Everton.

    However if Partey is the man MA8 chooses for that midfield gap then I’m 100% behind him. Yet the noises about OoooArrr seem to be louder and he seems the more likely new addition this window.

  14. 14
    Goonersince54 says:

    Superb report TTG
    Efficient performance,but then it was only Fulham,and there are much bigger challenges ahead.
    But the day was capped off nicely with the Arse Ladies thrashing the Hammers ladies away 9 – 1.
    The WSL is going to be a cracker this season with some world class talent joining the big Clubs this season.

  15. 15
    Countryman100 says:

    BtM I completely agree. If it’s possible for a player to become an Arsenal legend in just eight games, that man is Emi Martinez. I understand his wish to be a number one and I respect Arteta’s decision that his number one is Leno. I wish EMI every success and think he will go on to bigger and better clubs than Villa. I agree 100% that Partey should be the target. Let’s go pay his release clause.

  16. 16
    TTG says:

    Don’t be surprised if we buy three players .
    A midfielder , a new reserve goalkeeper …and Édouard at Celtic.
    I was told on Friday that Celtic have a particularly big hole in their finances and are very disappointed to be out of the Champions League already . Édouard is their big asset and Arsenal have attempted to buy him.
    How would we finance this ? We would need to raise just over £75m .
    Martinez – £20 m
    Kolasinac -£8m
    Torreira – £27 m
    Guendouzi – £ 25 m
    Balogun – £8m
    Greenwood- £3m
    That’s around £90m
    Fulham are keen to buy Chambers but he isn’t fit yet
    This assumes we keep AMN and Bellerin . We may lose Bellerin but I’d doubt it unless Barca want him . If we did buy Edouard then I would assume we’d sell Lacazette but I sensed a nice affinity between him and Arteta today

  17. 17
    Goonersince54 says:

    TTG
    re Laca
    Contrast his glum demeanor and his rigidity when Arteta gave him a hug when subbed in Cup final,and his smiles and body language when subbed at the Cottage today.
    He seems in a much happier place,maybe due to assurances from Mikel that he is wanted and appreciated at the Club.
    Then again there are still 3 weeks of the transfer window to go.
    As for Edouard,he seems to me to be more of an out and out front man,whereas Laca is more of a fetcher and carrier,and hold up man,so a complete contrast.
    Would certainly change the dynamic at the pointy end of the pitch.

  18. 18
    Doctor Faustus says:

    Fabulous report TTG.

    I confess I wasn’t overly enthusiastic about Willian even though he had a good season last year. It’s good that I have nothing to do with how Arsenal makes decision about players. 😂

    I hope he keeps this intensity up which will also drive Pepe to work harder for his place. No passengers in the team, everyone hungry and eager to prove a point. As it should be.

    Whatever happens or doesn’t happen in the rest of the transfer windows, I know I will be watching us play football with solid fundamentals. Sometimes it will be spectacular and sometimes workman like, but the basics will be done right.

  19. 19
    Goonersince54 says:

    And yes i know it was only Fulham,but according to the stats,we gave the opposition the least amount of chances in an away game since Newcastle 5 years ago.
    Liverpool/City and Utd next 3 away league games,couldn’t ask for a better test than that.

  20. 20
    bt8 says:

    Trust the Mrs. got everything she needed at the garden centre, and didn’t notice any impatience in your impassive demeanor. Great job, TTG. 🤣🤣

  21. 21
    Cynic says:

    Of course, as has been pointed out relentlessly on Twitter, that guy we swapped Sanchez for, whose name I can never remember how to spell and can’t be arsed to spend time looking up on Google (but I’ll spend the time to type all this shite instead folks, because that’s how I roll) had three assists on his debut.

    And we all know how that worked out.

    (answer – United took a huge financial bath on Sanchez and it was almost worth the swap just for that)

  22. 22
    Osakamatt says:

    Sunday morning and time for a
    more realistic assessment of
    yesterday’s performance.
    The league is ours.

  23. 23
    Osakamatt says:

    Excellent stuff TTG in double
    quick time.

    One little nitpick, Auba cut back
    to Xhaka for the first goal.
    Granit’s cunning pass, when everyone
    expected him to shoot, set up Willian

  24. 24
    Osakamatt says:

    MA bigged up Mo, Rob, Gabriel
    and Laca after the game. Fair
    play as all did well though I’d
    have given Auba MotM.

    Seems Rob has convinced MA
    to keep him. We won’t sell
    Mari, Luiz, Gabriel or Saliba
    and probably only need 5 CBs.
    Not looking good for Mus, Calum
    or Papa.

  25. 25
    Osakamatt says:

    In other news, Raya wasn’t in the
    Brentford squad yesterday. Once
    Emi’s officially gone I’ll wish him the
    best of luck – he’ll need it behind that
    Villa defence.

    Ned – if the monks have finished
    Matins do they know who our new
    longest serving player is now?
    Hector, Calum or Ozil were the
    three possibles I came up with.

  26. 26
    North Bank Ned says:

    It is Ozil, OM. Followed by Bellerin, then Chambers, then Macey, then Elneny.

  27. 27
    North Bank Ned says:

    Spot on report, TTG. We saw much the same game.

    As I said in the previous drinks, we looked organised at the back and had a plan going forward, which is a solid base for the sterner tests ahead than Fulham.

    We end the first day of the new season top of the table on goal difference. I would be most happy to be in the same position at the end of the last day of the season, and even happier if we were to be so by several points.

  28. 28
    Osakamatt says:

    Thanks Ned.

    I think we’re trying to sell all of them!

  29. 29
    Osakamatt says:

    Though we might be having a
    rethink on Elneny I suppose as
    Besiktas are skint. And I don’t
    know how much truth there is in the
    Hector’s stories. And Ozil won’t
    leave. And Calum’s long injury
    will make him difficult to sell
    – though I read Fulham are
    interested. Macey will find a
    club though and best of luck
    to him.

  30. 30
    Osakamatt says:

    Arsenal Women showing the way
    too deal with West Ham.
    Not sure who’ll be doing the
    match preview but the Holic
    Pound on a 9-1 win should be
    a good price 😉

  31. 31
    Steve-o says:

    Lovely write up TTG.

    I must say your pre-match chore adventure got the pulses racing as much as the Gabriel goal. Ever since moving to Jersey and having a home with the missus, the Saturday drive to the garden centre is a “thing” to do over Spring and Summer. I feel your pain, as they say.

    It was a lot easier to ignore the need to be back home on time for the start of matches last season, no thanks to senor Unai.

    This time around, the mood is contrastingly different, both the missus and I are fully excited for this campaign and a solid start it was.

    Breakfast wine, anyone?

  32. 32
    Countryman100 says:

    This is a wonderful read. As someone whose interest in going to football was rekindled when I started taking my five year old son it really speaks to me.
    https://theathletic.com/2044292/2020/09/13/football-fans-miss-you-supporters-championship/?source=user_shared_article

  33. 33
    Countryman100 says:

    More Sunday morning reading with my coffee. Playing Leeds is going to be interesting.

    https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2020/sep/12/marcelo-bielsa-anfield-leeds-liverpool

  34. 34
    Cynic says:

    Am I the only one who can’t see the point in selling Martinez to sign Raya? Fair do’s if Martinez would only stay if he was assured that, as the man in possession, the job was his until form or injury dictated otherwise, but if that’s not the case it is pointless.

    It’s even more pointless if you’re Raya. Play every week or sit on the bench all season? Hard choice that.

  35. 35
    BtM says:

    Interesting to see Luke Ayling (Leeds) and Isaac Hayden (Newcastle) playing EPL football yesterday. There was a time when their CB partnership looked like they might form the future of The Arsenal’s defence round about right now. Nearly men who didn’t have quite enough to make the incredibly difficult transition from the academy to our first team. (How fortunate we are with our current crop, right?)

    There were times when our sadly departed Guvna could get a bee in his bonnet which would result in a sting behind the ear rather than honey in his hair and older stagers may recall a time of great frustration on Holic’s part regarding the performance of our back division.

    His solution? “Play both Ayling and Hayden for goodness sake” instead of the then incumbent centre backs (I can’t recall who they were but Vermaelen might well have been one of them).

    Fortunately (I think) Arsene Wenger didn’t read Goonerholic that week and so we never had the opportunity to see two emerging teenage talents don the famous red 5 and 6 shirts. Oh, what might have been. 🙂

    If you’re reading this, Dave. Enjoy a chuckle.

  36. 36
    BtM says:

    Steve-o,

    Very nice to see you here. I see you’re in Jersey now, is that UK Jersey or NJ, USA?

    If you’re there, who’s guiding the Singapore Gooners to glory? Still Jin?

  37. 37
    Steve-o says:

    Hello BtM, I said hi in a few drinks prior to this post, must have been lost in the lovely activity that is much missed over the last 2 seasons!

    Good to see you too. I am in Jersey Channel Islands, yes UK.

    Haha, i didn’t guide them at all, just a lot of cursing and loud singing. Jin has stepped down recently, not sure if you remember Shai but he’s the current president.

  38. 38
    bathgooner says:

    A very good morning to all Holics. I trust we’re all bright eyed and bushy tailed this fine morning.

    I’ve never been a fan of wine at breakfast Steve-o, but thanks for the offer.

    Yep, spotted those fellas BtM. Good pros but not Arsenal first team quality. Much like several defenders of recent years but probably even further off the cut.

    It was good to see our new signings play so well yesterday but without question, the most important signing of the past year (including the one rumoured to be announced this week) is MA8. What a man!

    It was good

  39. 39
    bathgooner says:

    So good, I said it twice!

  40. 40
    Osakamatt says:

    agree Bath, it’s got to be beer
    or brandy for breakfast

  41. 41
    Countryman100 says:

    Breakfast of champions Matt!

  42. 42
    Gunnersaurus Stunt Double says:

    It is beer for me. Hair of the dog rejuvenating the body. The spirit already soaring.

    Top of the league!

  43. 43
    Gunnersaurus Stunt Double says:

    Brilliant report TTG. A very fine read indeed. Ta very much.

  44. 44
    North Bank Ned says:

    TTG @C100: An astute observation on AMN’s positioning. Though we lined up with a back three and defended with a back five, in the transition to attack we switched to a back four with one of the outer CBs moving to full-back and the wing-back tucking into midfield to provide the triangles for the overloads. It happened most frequently on the left as we favour attacking through Tierney and Auba. I suspect that once Arteta is happy with the solidity of the defence, he would prefer to start with that formation as the default. I don’t know if Gabriel would have played if David Luiz had been fit, but he seems to fit the role the better of the two.

  45. 45
    North Bank Ned says:

    Cynic@34: Neither Leno nor Emi would likely have stayed beyond this season, perhaps even the January window, if they were not the one keeping regularly. Martinez’s value has risen eightfold as a result of his excellent performances at the end of last season. You can see why a club scraping together a transfer kitty would sell Emi while he was still a hot product, so to speak, especially as they still have a top keeper in Leno. I am sure Arteta would have liked to keep both, but he would probably prefer more to have the funds to buy the midfielder he needs.

    If you are Raya, would you prefer to be playing at a club stuck in the Championship whose team is being picked apart, or go to a Premiership team on the up, with the prospect of playing at least European and cup games? At 24, I’d take the later at least for a couple of seasons as the better platform for my career. Then there is also the small matter of wages. Raya is on £4,000 a week at Brentford. Matt Macey gets £10,000 a week and Emi £20,000 a week.

  46. 46
    bt8 says:

    Not watching the Leicester game but I see Chilwell’s replacement at fullback has scored to put them in front, putting a smidgeon of pressure on Chilwell who plays later for Chelsea

  47. 47
    TTG says:

    We have missed you Cynic! 😨
    Firstly I’m disappointed in your Armenian . The man’s name is Mkhitaryan!
    He started very well but he came to us on the back of a Raiola driven deal to try and get some value out of Wenger’s dithering over Suarez . He was a flop at United and didn’t ever convince me at Arsenal . Willian has had seven good seasons at Chelsea and knows the League well. I thought he was outstanding after the restart last season .
    Now Raya . The idea for us is to liberate about £10 m and get a promising young keeper who is prepared to wait for his chance ( and who will play in Europe and the Cups). He prefers to be at Arsenal on this basis than at Brentford . He could spend three years with us and get a first team spot at 27 if he doesn’t displace Leno. He won’t play in Europe for Brentford in the next three years
    Our goalkeeping coach who improved Martinez so much is ex- Brentford. That may be relevant to why we are picking Raya.

  48. 48
    TTG says:

    Apologies- I always confuse the names Suarez and Sanchez.My Spanish is poor.
    When we turned down the bid for Sanchez on transfer deadline day we effectively pissed away £70 m and then compounded it with what we had to pay to sign Mkhitaryan who was Mislintat’s recommendation. Wenger was keen to sign Martial but United wouldn’t let him go although I think he was quite keen.
    Imagine what we could have done with £70 m plus in this window?

  49. 49
    North Bank Ned says:

    There was also talk, as I remember, about the Mkhitaryan/Sanchez swap reuniting in N5 the Dortmund dynamic duo of Mkhitaryan and Auba.

  50. 50
    North Bank Ned says:

    A half ton? I don’t mind if I do.

  51. 51
    TTG says:

    Well in Ned we needed a few 50s against Australia.
    We are apparently now looking at an Icelandic goalkeeper as Raya is not for sale- or is too expensive given what we are prepared to spend

  52. 52
    Countryman100 says:

    Well at least an Icelandic keeper shouldn’t be worried by a cold night in Burnley, though finding Puffins for him in the Holloway Road Waitrose could prove a challenge.

  53. 53
    bt8 says:

    Well in, Ned, for the media tonelada as Spanish Gooners might say.

    Does 0-3 strike any campanas?

  54. 54
    bt8 says:

    Timbres?

  55. 55
    BtM says:

    Bottomham should be dead and buried by now. Richardson has missed three great chances. James Rodriguez having a very good game foe Everton.

  56. 56
    scruzgooner says:

    and it was at their toilet bowl as well. empty, they still stunk it up.

  57. 57
    ksn says:

    A fine report of just the match I watched, TTG.

    Spurs lose to a Everton at home. Mourinho is furious which is really funny. I hope we beat Spurs both home and away this season. Still top of the league though jointly with Leicester.

  58. 58
    Countryman100 says:

    According to Maureen it’s all the refs fault. Doesn’t look as though his heart’s in it though.

  59. 59
    bt8 says:

    Didn’t see Spurs game but they not done too good judging by the BBC rating of Dele Ali’s performance (3/10), combined with the post-match summary by Mourinho: “The struggle started in the way we pressed or, I will say, in the way we didn’t press because our pressure up was very poor,” Mourinho told Sky Sports. “I would say it was lazy pressure and when you have lazy pressure, you don’t press and you let opponents build from the back.”

    Maybe they have no motivation?

  60. 60
    Countryman100 says:

    No he’s just throwing his players under the bus. As usual. Wait until the end of the window and he’ll be blaming Levy for not supporting him.

  61. 61
    ecg says:

    Spurs in a relegation battle. 2020 is finally getting something right!

  62. 62
    bt8 says:

    Mourinho does his utmost to blame the loss on COVID-19

    https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/54141793

  63. 63
    Trev says:

    Lovely job, TTG.

    Isn’t it great to once again see a side that knows exactly what to do when they lose possession and gets behind the ball and back into shape so quickly.

    An absolutely brilliant 3rd goal – I said immediately “goal of the season” – but for too long we have been clueless about how to defend the lead these great goals give us.

  64. 64
    Goonersince54 says:

    A lot of very happy campers in the bar over the weekend,let’s hope it continues over the next few weeks of a pretty hectic and tough schedule.
    If the Monks haven’t retired to bed yet Ned,i would be interested to know what our goals conceded in the League are for the past 10 seasons.
    I would hazard a guess the average would be at least 40,or probably nearer to 50.
    I think we need to be in the 30’s to be seriously competitive this season.
    With Pool/City our next 2 away fixtures,i would like to see a marked improvement from the shedload we have conceded on those 2 grounds in the past few seasons.

  65. 65
    Cynic says:

    Apologies- I always confuse the names Suarez and Sanchez.My Spanish is poor.
    Almost as bad as my Armenian

  66. 66
    Doctor Faustus says:

    Clive @ 64: reverse chronologically speaking our goals conceded in last 10 seasons are: 48 51 51 44 36 36 41 37 49 43 which averages out to be 43.9 . We need significant improvement in the goals conceded department while improving goals scored considerably to fight for the top of the table. But if we can keep the goals conceded in the mid thirties while increasing goals scored by 10 or so more the top four will become highly achievable.

  67. 67
    Doctor Faustus says:

    The Arsenal app has not been working on the iPhone or iPad since Saturday morning. I guess the new hosting service has no weekend tech support. 😉

  68. 68
    bt8 says:

    Now now Dr. F.

    No complaints about anything Arsenal as we top the table. But it could be we didn’t pay so as to pad the transfer kitty. 🤔

  69. 69
    Cynic says:

    Emi was the technical support. They’ve not thought this move through have they 😉

  70. 70
    Goonersince54 says:

    Thnks Dr F
    Those 3 seasons in the 30’s have to be our goal this season.
    Now we have Willian and Pepe to provide the creativity in the final 3rd,hopefully we can get the increase in the goals scored column.

  71. 71
    North Bank Ned says:

    Clive@64: The early Dr F catches the worm…

  72. 72
    North Bank Ned says:

    ..although the Monks point out the average should be 43.6. 🙂

    The other telling point is the recent deterioration in goal difference. Over the past decade we have averaged 1.64 goals scored for each on conceded. Over the past three seasons the numbers are 1.17, 1.43 and 1.45.

  73. 73
    bt8 says:

    Jermaine Jenas on Spurs performance against Everton:

    “If they keep playing like that, I don’t know what kind of season it is going to be, but it is not going to be an enjoyable one.
    Tottenham just looked like a lot of very frustrated players that did not have any direction”

    Complete version: https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/54141198

  74. 74
    scruzgooner says:

    🤣🤣🤣 tottenham.

  75. 75
    Osakamatt says:

    Maureen’s been a gift that keeps
    on giving the last few years.
    I much prefer this serial loser
    version

  76. 76
    Osakamatt says:

    The Arsenal top, West Brom
    bottom. Time to give my
    brother in law a ring to
    congratulate him on starting
    the relegation battle early

  77. 77
    Goonersince54 says:

    Thnks Ned
    I thought the Monks were probably fast asleep when i posed the question, given how early they rise for morning prayers.

  78. 78
    Countryman100 says:

    I think it’s well known in these parts that I like a good terrace chant. Henry Winter in the Times today, whilst bemoaning the lack of fans, tells us of last season’s efforts from Leeds, when they sang this beauty about their striker Mateusz Kilich.

    To the Beautiful South’s This could be Rotterdam

    It could be 20 yards or 30 yards
    Everywhere we go
    40 yards or 50 yards
    Klich is scoring goals
    Klich is scoring goals

    Brilliant

    Anyone heard of any chants about Willian or Gabriel (the latter must provide celestial opportunities)?

  79. 79
    Pangloss says:

    Ned @72 – The cantor asks me to point out that the figures you quote are for goal average rather tha goal difference.

    Back to your usual programming…

  80. 80
    TTG says:

    If you like good in-depth writing on Arsenal with great analytics read this
    I picked it up from Peter Wood
    https://medium.com/@shanoudiandrew/arsenal-football-club-the-long-road-back-to-the-top-b16a36dc8728

  81. 81
    North Bank Ned says:

    The supporting evidence is indeed GA, Pangloss, although the point is true, and GD and GA sign from the same hymn sheet if taking slightly different parts. Our GD was 8, 22 and 23 in the past three seasons, against an average of 26.8.

    Without getting too statistically liturgical, the real outlier in the past decade’s scoring and conceding was the lack of goals scored last season (56). Two and a half standard deviations from the mean (70.2). Nothing else in either column remotely close to being as out of kilter.

  82. 82
    North Bank Ned says:

    TTG@80: Interesting if sadly not surprising read. A rigorous critique might take issue will using Transfermakt data, which tends to overvalue transfer values and underestimate the capital value of wages, as a proxy for quality, but it is publicly available and comparable across teams, and will be directionally correct. I doubt there will be little disagreement in this bar that our transfer dealings of recent years have been a sorry affair.

    The one word I was surprised to see missing from the analysis was Gazidis. Many of the late-Wenger-era transfers that were identified as the root of current problems were signed on his watch, and their unticked boxed would mostly have been his responsibility to see ticked.

    Separately, here is an interesting piece on Bellerin, from the Barca perspective:

    Héctor Bellerín, a need or a double?

  83. 83
    Countryman100 says:

    I may be offending many here, but I have found a rare thing. A Sp*rs blog that is balanced and well written. On this blog we appreciate good writing so I thought I’d share. His view of Maureen is rather similar to ours.

    No Fans At Spurs So Is It Real? Unfortunately, Yes

  84. 84
    bt8 says:

    Re: Tottenham blog linked by c100. Excellent writing about the universal feelings of the football supporter in the time of covid. Also surprisingly self aware for a marsh dweller in parts like “If we ever get back to the Lane, and there is the real possibility that we will never again see a Mourinho side in person”

  85. 85
    Osakamatt says:

    Lot of reading there thanks
    TTG, Ned and C100.

  86. 86
    Pangloss says:

    Ploughing through the articles referenced above, I’ve just completed the first, posted by TTG. I’m sure that what’s been written is substantially true, but I’d really appreciate a little more clarity surrounding the impressive analytics.
    Take the first plot, “Performance Relative to Market Value”. Now, the conclusion we are supposed to draw, in fact, one that is spelled out for us in the text, is that Arsenal underperformed, and indeed the Arsenal appear below the line. By eye, the line looks like a reasonable fit to the points, but it’s kind of marginal, and the article doesn’t say what the line represents. Even more mysterious is the curve on the third chart “Arsenal Squad Breakdown”. What the hell is it supposed to represent? Finally, I spent a LOT of time trying and failing to understand the chart entitled “Arsenal Squad Portfolio” – there are three figures depicted on the chart but only two described in the legend, granted “Debut Value” is probably the end of the dotted line without the coloured blob, but some part of the text didn’t quite seem to fit with this interpretation. I was so busy trying to work out what was going on with this chart that I forgot, or misread the meaning of “debut value” and didn’t go back to check.
    As I say, the article is well-written and appears to have been well-researched. The conclusions are reasonable, and it may even be possible to draw those conclusions from the data presented. To my taste, however, the article lacked clarity and the charts served to obscure rather than clarify the points made in the text.

  87. 87
    Pangloss says:

    Surprisingly, I found Ned’s article an easier read. Surprising because it definitely read as though it had been translated from another language.
    Even more surprising was to read a piece that portrays Bellerin as an exciting young player. Exciting? Yes for sure, but young? He’s been around for ever hasn’t he? A quick check reveals he is 25 – younger than I thought, but, to my mind, not “young”.
    The obviously grating thing about the article is that it takes as a given that Bellerin should want a move away from Arsenal and, that being the case, will regard a move to Barca as the best possible option. In view of his recent investment in Forest Green Rovers I’d actually be surprised if he were champing at the bit to try his luck in a league other than the Premier League.
    After enduring so many summers reading how big Spanish clubs were on the point of taking players at their peak – Vieira, Pires, Henry – away from North London, I’m not quite sure what to make of stores that players who are entering their peak years are now the targets.
    By contrast with the article that TTG linked to, I wouldn’t describe this one as well-written (due, no doubt, to reading it in translation). Being opinion-based it didn’t invite – or require – the amount of research either. A good read, but one I found hard to agree with – what was all that about Hector having suffered a long injury lay-off? Has the author never heard of Abou Diaby or (spit) Robin van Persie? Surely he knows of Santi Cazorla? Those are what I call long injury lay-offs.

  88. 88
    Countryman100 says:

    I’m waiting with bated breath now ……

  89. 89
    TTG says:

    Thanks for the articles C100 and Ned. Both very well-written and intriguing
    Love the quote from the S***s author ‘ , but as someone once said, of all the things in this world that aren’t important, football is the most important! ‘ How extraordinarily apt even if it is a borrowed quote.
    Now Pangloss
    I think you are in IT and very used to analysing data . Your points are well made but at the same time slightly miss the point. Ned comments very accurately on Transfermarkt. I envy people who develop algorithms that make them serious dosh , especially when they are a bit flawed . Transfermarkt is one such as Ned explains
    I also looked at data regularly in my working life which is now winding down . Having been to Harvard Business School ( really) I always look at data and say ‘ what is really going on here ? ‘ which was the main thing I took from that establishment . Is there a narrative backed up by statistical data and my contention- and the reason I attached it for perusal – was that the narrative explains perfectly why an outstanding young manager is scratching around trying to raise enough to buy us a decent midfielder.
    The Income v Expenditure Chart and the Value Gained or Lost Chart ( particularly that one with those red lines for Sanchez and Ramsey and so many others explain perfectly to me what has caused so many of our problems .
    Has the appalling ROI made Stan more likely to change his position on the club ? That is a big question and there are some very clear suggestions in the article.

    So while the data may not satisfy your statistically sophisticated mind it does explain to the common man quite a lot about what has happened at our club and why that has happened might be the really interesting thing to the average Holic.

  90. 90
    TTG says:

    Ned
    re Bellerin I thought the most interesting aspect was how important full-backs have become in modern football hence the amounts Guardiola spends on them . We have a manager who clearly sees them as key elements in our attacking play but defence is something modern full-backs find more difficult .
    And yes..I agree that Gazidis gets an easy ride. His ‘ stewardship ‘ in latter years was a disaster

  91. 91
    Countryman100 says:

    TTG. You wear your learning lightly my friend but I know the heights you reached in your chosen industry. Your points are persuasive as always. Pangloss I am less persuaded by your nit picking. I think you need to focus on the wood rather than the trees. Perhaps you should publish your own analytical piece?

  92. 92
    BtM says:

    Brighton’s Lamptey is the best man on the field against Chel$ki. Looks like a real find (Tierney standard FB).

    Where did they find him? In the Chel$ki reject bin!

    If he keeps playing like that he won’t stay on the south coast for long.

  93. 93
    Pangloss says:

    C100 – Just rounded off my evening by reading the piece you posted. I thought it was excellent and I dread to think of the amount of dross you may have had to wade through in search of such a piece. I’m seriously tempted to become a regular reader but don’t really want to devote the effort required to remember the name of the site. I’m certainly not going to bookmark it – anyone might read my bookmarks and come away with a dreadful impression!

    COYG

  94. 94
    Goonersince54 says:

    Excellent piece on Arseblog today,re the tactics used by Mikel against Fulham.
    fascinating reading.
    They also mentioned that the 56 goals we scored last season,was our worst return since 1996.
    I must admit to being a tad disappointed that the Monks didn’t pick this up,and i had to read about it somewhere else.
    I am hearing rumors that this unusual lapse is likely down to the Monks being distracted by a newcomer to their ranks who seems to be stirring the troops up by encouraging them to agitate for better working and living conditions.
    I am awaiting further info from my ‘ man on the inside “.

  95. 95
    Pangloss says:

    TTG@89 and C100@91

    I fear I have, yet again, expressed myself poorly. It _was_ a criticism when I described the analysis as unconvincing, but I fully appreciate that much of the blame lies with me. Please read my remarks as an appeal for someone to explain the arguments to me; by focussing on what I found unconvincing, I hoped to nudge you in other directions.

    TTG – Does the Expenditure v Income chart show any more than that we’ve spent more on transfers than we’ve earned? As far as I can tell from the Value Gained or Lost Chart we’ve lost a small amount on a large number of players, lost a bundle on a couple of players and made a somewhat smaller amount on rather fewer players. Obviously that’s not financially viable in anything other than the short term.

    However…

    I suspect that a team that’s doing well on the field will generally lose on transfers. I think the large number of relatively small losses on players is acceptable and probably typical. The small number of big losses compared with the smaller number of smaller gains is a bad thing, but without seeing a similar plot for other clubs in a similar position to Arsenal I have no idea of how much more it is than bad luck – it’s bad enough that someone should be asked to carry the can for it (cf: Napoleon on generals), but I’m not sure how much worse than that it is. Are we perhaps comparing all buying and selling with the Anelka deals or 1997 and 1999?

    It’s not a question of data that should “satisfy my statistically sophisticated mind” it’s more date whose meaning and source is fully explained. Without such explanation I am left with the suspicion that data has been selectively drawn from the near-infinite pool to support the author’s arguments. It may well be that the explanations are there and I overlooked them, if so, please point them out. If not, then I would be really grateful if you would explain them to me.

  96. 96
    North Bank Ned says:

    TTG@90: Agreed on the full-backs point in the Bellerin article. As it happens I was going to mention that aspect, but opted for one-bullet-point brevity as I am sure they would have taught me had I gone to business school. 🙂

  97. 97
  98. 98
    TTG says:

    Btm often reminds us that Stan allows us to spend every penny the club generates and today’s Swiss Ramble confirms that KSE have not invested a penny in the club over the last five years . But didn’t we know this already?
    To reiterate the point I was making by posting that blog today
    ‘ To put matters into perspective, for every million pound Arsenal net spent on their squad, they lost 99% of what that million should’ve added in squad value’ .
    Awful purchasing and so much money wasted in dithering about moving players on. It explains exactly why Arteta competes with financial powerhouses with at least one hand tied behind his back . And still wins !

  99. 99
    Pangloss says:

    Knocks it forward hopefully

  100. 100
    bt8 says:

    Additionally interesting Arsenal analysis and bullishness by way of Tennessee

    Here’s hoping the rest don’t notice Arteta’s Arsenal aren’t average anymore.

  101. 101
    North Bank Ned says:

    Clive@94: do note the second paragraph of @81. Not exactly the same data point about last season’s goals scored, but a more telling one.

    The Monks remain devoted to the humble life of service, and beyond distraction, whatever you might hear. 😉

  102. 102
    North Bank Ned says:

    Well in for the ton, bt8.

  103. 103
    bt8 says:

    Thanks, Ned.

    Nice to see an appearance by the cantor up above.

  104. 104
    bt8 says:

    @100 should’ve added Boom

    and thanks Pangloss for the hopeful assist🍺

  105. 105
    bt8 says:

    Also interesting the divergent opinions about Laca in those two articles. I suspect they are both right in their own way, but if Laca or Eddie could come up with a bagful of goals it could solve a few uncertainties.

  106. 106
    Goonersince54 says:

    Dear Ned
    Without being picky,your paragraph 2 does mention the last decade,which is a slightly spurious claim to have addressed the fact that it has actually been 24 years. !!
    As for your assertion in 2nd para @101,i think the Monastery hierarchy are in for a bit of a shock.
    Watch this space.

  107. 107
    Goonersince54 says:

    bt8@105
    Unfortunately i do not think Eddie will be getting much game time this season.
    I am not convinced he is up to the required technical level to earn a place in the first 11.
    I think he will be a fair way back in line up front,once Martinelli is fit again.
    With Auba/Willian/Pepe/Laca ahead of him,i think the bench will be his regular spot,with 90 minute opportunities coming in Cup games,or when injuries necessitate change.

  108. 108
    bt8 says:

    Clive, Based on Arteta’s rotational pattern of the second half of last season, I would’ve be surprised to see Eddie get a reasonable number of minutes this season, although mostly as a substitute for Laca near the end of games. He can fill in as a “like for like” replacement for Laca in case of injury, although Arteta might prefer to put Auba in the middle, and Saka (Willian?) in Auba’s spot. Pepe and Willian seem better suited for other positions than filling in for Laca. Martinelli would also be above Nketiah in my pecking order, but is still not expected to return for some time I believe so Eddie might have more chances near the beginning of the season, but if Laca keeps banging in the goals, Eddie’s opportunities would of course diminish. Interesting that Arteta played him more than Bielsa did during Eddie’s loan at Leeds in the first half of last season, something I never would have predicted.

  109. 109
    bt8 says:

    would’ve should have been wouldn’t in 108

  110. 110
    Osakamatt says:

    Pangloss,
    Though I share some of your
    uncertainty on the transfer
    dealings data – I am the layman’s
    layman in interpreting financial
    data – I don’t agree that successful
    clubs on the field will generally lose on
    transfers as you suspect @95.
    If a club is successful on the field then
    the value of their players will go up as
    has been the case with Liverpoo and
    Leicester.
    Having said that I don’t accept the central
    argument of that piece as basically I don’t
    accept TransferMkt data as being accurate
    enough to utilise as a sound basis for any
    conclusion.
    Whilst I’m being disagreeable I’d also say
    that I don’t agree our transfer dealings of
    the last few years have been “a sorry affair”
    either. Some bad decisions certainly but
    some good ones too. Mixed would be
    fairer to me.
    I agree Gazidis was useless though.
    I didn’t mind him waffling pointless
    bollocks while AW was there to ignore
    him but I disliked him being involved
    in football decisions once AW had
    gone.

  111. 111
    Osakamatt says:

    Thanks for the Bellerin piece
    Ned. An interesting read though
    not as interesting as the Barca
    player ratings from the Bayern
    game which made me laugh out
    loud.
    It’s a big season for Hector and
    I hope he stays injury free and
    gets right back (I’ll stop to laugh
    at my own pun) to his best.
    For the 20-25m euros the author
    mentions as Hector’s price Barca
    can fuck right off.

  112. 112
    Osakamatt says:

    Thanks C100 for the spud piece, I enjoyed his
    pessimism and agreed with his conclusion though
    of course for the opposite reason of optimism 😄

    Now to read Clive’s suggested article and bt8’s
    links.

  113. 113
    North Bank Ned says:

    Clive@106: Just picking up on your original ask about the the past 10 years. but the Monks remain at your service. Meanwhile, Vespers call.

  114. 114
    bathgooner says:

    I’m late to the linked articles.

    I never intrude on private grief so I eschewed those on Sp*rs and Barcelona though I did enjoy the analysis of our squad and transfer dealings linked by TTG. I have no great faith in complex statistical measures (probability tests are fine) and therefore share some of Pangloss and Matt’s suspicion of the validity of the Transfermarkt data. However as with much of the rest of the piece, it adds flesh to the skeleton we already know:

    We bought poorly from ca. 2004 onwards, trying to replace top level players with mid-range or bargain basement punts most of whom proved no better than they should be.

    Sadly project youth (a very rational approach to our self-imposed financial penury) failed as the youth jumped ship.

    When the cash began to flow again we were like a drunk in an auction. While some good players were purchased we splashed the cash on some real duds and failed to manage the good players optimally.

    We know our contract management and selling record has been abysmal and that is an area where Vinay and Edu have considerable opportunities to make a mark.

    I had read both articles on Gunners Town linked by bt8. They are both worth reading in themselves though as bt8 observes take polar views on Lacazette. I thought the second was unnecessarily negative about him. I suspect MA8 would agree.

  115. 115
    Osakamatt says:

    Morning Bath.
    I’ve just finished bt8’s two
    articles too but as I think the
    same as you I’ll just thank
    bt8 for sharing.

    The tactical analysis on Arseblog
    as mentioned by Clive was very
    positive too as you’d expect after
    a 3-0 away win. I hope we’re all
    still happy at the beginning of
    November as we’ve a run of tricky
    games coming up after West Ham
    and those games will give us all a
    much clearer picture of where we
    are now. First up though let’s hammer
    the hammers.

  116. 116
    bathgooner says:

    Having nailed my Statsceptic colours to the mast, I offer another good read (with lots of stats), a link from the article TTG linked above:

    Arsenal: Season Preview 2020-21

  117. 117
    bathgooner says:

    It includes a postscript that should be a cold shower for everyone who thinks we MUST buy Partey. This analysis concurs with that of 7am KO’s.

  118. 118
    Goonersince54 says:

    I must confess i did try and read the article TTG provided a link for,but i have to admit after a couple of paragraphs i felt a headache coming on and gave up.
    I really didn’t need anyone to tell me what most discerning Gooners already knew.

  119. 119
    Osakamatt says:

    I didn’t think it was overly statty apart
    from the Partey piece at the end.
    Reasonably argued if a bit downbeat.
    After careful and objective consideration I
    decided my season preview was better.

  120. 120
    bathgooner says:

    Apologies Clive, I overlooked your recommendation of that excellent article on Arseblog yesterday. A very good analysis indeed:

    Tactics Column: Strength in numbers for flexible Gunners

  121. 121
    bathgooner says:

    It is indeed, Matt.

    However I thought the Partey analysis was informative. Based on the longstanding need for an effective disruptor in midfield, logic would dictate that we prioritise a Partey over an Ooooo-arrr. Yet we seem to be going ‘all-in’ for the latter. Perhaps MA8 and Edu have drawn the same conclusion on value and linking to the Arseblog article on MA8’s structural flexibility, might be prioritising the versatile creator over the unimpressively underproductive disruptor.

  122. 122
    Goonersince54 says:

    Morning Bath
    You are far more technology savvy than me with regard to transferring links to other sites articles etc.
    I note the Club have never acknowledged any interest in Partey or Aouar,so i take it with a pinch of salt.

  123. 123
    Osakamatt says:

    Bath @121

    A reasonable conclusion on both Partey and the
    possible thinking of MA/Edu on Partey/Aouar.
    I honestly haven’t seen enough of either player
    to be confident one way or t’other.

    I have seen enough of Xhaka, Elneny and
    Dani to know they can’t get us through a
    season so I just have to trust they will find
    the right man for the job they want.

  124. 124
    Countryman100 says:

    Good piece on managers and what languages they speak. Keown’s not the sharpest knife in the box is he?

    Bielsa and Arteta expose the laziest language tropes

  125. 125
    bathgooner says:

    Clive @122. Tech savvy, moi? Pas du tout, mon ami.

    I just copy the address of the site/article from the address window and paste it into my post. Artur’s magic set up does the rest.

    C100 @123, aye but you cannot fault his passion for the club either on the field or in the studio! We all have different strengths. I am sure that foreign language opportunities were not high on the syllabus in the Arsenal academy in the 70’s & 80’s.

  126. 126
    bathgooner says:

    That should have been C100 @124, apologies.

    OM @123, I have seen too little of Partey and Aouar to make a judgement though I did notice both in the latter stages of the CL if only because we were already being linked with them. I distrust Youtube compilations so must rely on the judgement of others, especially MA8.

  127. 127
    Cynic says:

    I may be offending many here, but I have found a rare thing. A Sp*rs blog that is balanced and well written.

    https://66.media.tumblr.com/fbc379d15828dba269357034fd49ef91/tumblr_nk3p1pNlDZ1rdfgw4o1_500.gif

  128. 128
    bt8 says:

    The StatsBomb article linked by Bath is well written and astute, but I paid little attention to the graphs. The part that rang truest for me was “when playing with a one-goal lead, Arsenal became relegation candidates.”

    Which gave me an optimistic feeling to see us go on against Fulham and score the second and third goals. Credit due to Willian in large part, who wasn’t part of the culture of crumbling after taking the lead.

  129. 129
    bathgooner says:

    bt8 @128, I too found that particular analysis interesting. As others have said of many of the analyses linked, these data simply confirm the evidence of our eyes. Last season we seemed terrified as soon as we took the lead and defended deep and frequently lost it and the game too. Interesting to see the data confirm that is relegation behaviour and the opposite of top teams’ response to taking the lead and indeed what we were used to seeing an Arsenal team do until the advent of Unai Emery.

  130. 130
    bathgooner says:

    Mega heh, Cynic @127.

  131. 131
    bt8 says:

    Excellent read confirming that it is not how many languages that are on your cv that is what is important, it is how well you are able to communicate with them. In Arteta’s case both factors are on his side, at least if his Spanish and French are as good as his English.

    https://www.football365.com/news/opinion-bielsa-arteta-expose-laziest-language-tropes-leeds-arsenal cellent read.

  132. 132
    Doctor Faustus says:

    bath @ 125: I think the problem I have with Keown’s “too many languages” criticism of Mikel is not that he himself doesn’t know many (or any) other than English — and as you said that can be expected given the time and place of his youth — but that he made an absurd critical comment about the manifest strengths of a new manager of the club he loves and supports. It is not a big deal, but it was a stupid thing to say, and doesn’t reflect well on him.

    A polyglot manager like Mikel has a much higher chance to get his messages across at the training ground and more so at the middle of a match. Obvious, I would think. 🙂

    Most of these ex-players once they become “pundits” tend to demonstrate various degrees of ineptitude and blind-spots.

  133. 133
    Doctor Faustus says:

    bt8@131: Clarity of communication is an outcome of clarity in thought. If you think clearly, then even if you have a limited vocabulary you can express yourself clearly. Muddled expressions are often outcomes of muddled thoughts. It can get exacerbated by lack of linguistic skills, but something like football management which relies primarily on a combination of existing constructs — tactical formations, transitions, core philosophy — all perfected in the training grounds a clear-minded manager will not confuse his team even if he wasn’t very good with the primary language.

    Having mastery, or even a good grasp, of multiple languages do help as you can then express some ideas in language-specific idioms more succinctly and overcome individual players’ limitations in understanding the common language.

    Emery’s thought became more and more muddled as he failed to stick to one or two core principles that he could convince him and the team about. Being a “chameleon” on the field is a very confusing guidance for the players to go by.

  134. 134
    Countryman100 says:

    Bt8 @131. Given that he is Spanish, I’d be surprised if his Spanish isn’t at least as good as his English. Being Basque it’s also likely that his French is near native.

  135. 135
    Steve-o says:

    Late afternoon all,

    Looks like Auba is about to sign da ting (as the young ones say).

    ‘Live’ on .com and also their social media channels.

  136. 136
    North Bank Ned says:

    For anyone in the bar who feels they need to bring themselves up to speed on the XG metric in the first chart in the StatsBomb piece, I commend this short video explainer:

  137. 137
    Steve-o says:

    “I signed da ting because I want to become Arsenal Legend.
    I know it won’t be easy to be a legend but I will work hard for it.
    I hope you guys are happy! I am a bit nervous because there are so many of you!”

    And now Wrighty just joined in.

    “I love you man! You signed da ting when we need you the most. We love you, Captain!”

    Laca next to join in. Mostly to say congratulations. Loads of bro-love.

    “When are we going to celebrate this? With lots of water and vegetables!”

    End note from Auba:
    “I am so proud to stay here and I hope to see you guys soon. Let’s go forward.”

    Apologies if I’m paraphrasing most of it. I’m pretty sure there will be a full transcript somewhere soon!

  138. 138
    North Bank Ned says:

    C100@134: 🙂

    Emery was Basque, too, though.

    Sadly insularity has a long if not honourable history in English football.

  139. 139
  140. 140
    Cynic says:

    Expected goals is the worst stat in football and the most pseudo-intellectual waffle bollocks (official term) ever invented.

  141. 141
    Cynic says:

    As for Keown his point is perfectly sensible. He wants to understand what his manager is shouting from the bench and a single dressing room language is the way to go.

    Maybe there should be a new meaningless stat in football. The XL (Expected Languages) stat.

  142. 142
    Cynic says:

    Tyler – Here’s the Arsenal lineup and it looks like one packed with potential, Gary

    Neville – Yes, Martin. Were in a for a real treat here, there’s languages and dialects all over the pitch in this team. We looking at an XL of eight from this team today, so we should be in for some entertaining, if baffling, football at times.
    Tyler – Now a look at the Bolton team… Oh.

  143. 143
    Countryman100 says:

    Cynic. Not for the first time we are in violent disagreement. Instructions to a player should be crystal clear. What could be clearer than his native tongue? Speaking LOUDLY AND SLOWLY to him in English?

    Superb news about Auba. Truly it feels like a new era.

  144. 144
    Doctor Faustus says:

    Love you Auba!

    This signing brings so much positivity to the club. Congratulations to everyone in the club for getting this done.

    As Mikel said, let us get him some more practice in holding trophies. 🙂

  145. 145
    Gunnersaurus Stunt Double says:

    Auba. Confirmed. A very good day.

    Nuff said.

  146. 146
    Gunnersaurus Stunt Double says:

    Cynic @ 141. Bollocks.

    As long as the players he is speaking to understand his point then who cares what language he makes it in?

    Unless, of course, you think our English players are so stupid that they cannot understand single word commands in another language, despite having heard them every day on the training pitch?

    “Fuera” means out. It is the same word the gaffer always uses. That’s why, when you watch them on the pitch, they clearly all understand it.

    Just like every single foreign player who has not had good English language skills has effectively learned the basic English to know what their manager is asking of them (regardless of whether they can have a tactical debate in english). “Press” “Get tight” “Switch it” etc
    As long as all the players understand each individual instruction which cares what language it is in?

  147. 147
    Gunnersaurus Stunt Double says:

    I am too late to all the tactical and statistical offerings to read them all or have an opinion. But I don’t need to read a word of them to know that we have bought poorly for a few years. Or that we did not score enough goals last year.

    Or that Arteta will sort us out…

  148. 148
    Gunnersaurus Stunt Double says:

    Also, just for the record. I do not give a shit if Martin Keown understands what Arteta is asking from his players.

    I care that his players do.

    Has Martin Keown criticised the lack of clarity from the manager? I don’t think so. There is no on-pitch evidence to support such a criticism, which I do not think Keown has made. So what we have is a bloke who speaks only English wanting instructions to be made in English only. Errr, okay.

    Keown is a legend. He knows a lot about football. But I will take this particular opinion with some salt. A few barrels’ worth, in fact.

  149. 149
    TTG says:

    Am I alone in wondering at the need to resign Aubameyang for a huge sum of money when Yaya Sanogo is a free agent? No wonder we struggle.
    Seriously I am delighted . Auba is a legend .
    The term ‘ legend ‘ is wildly overused in football but Sanogo was a legend .One of the very worst strikers I’ve ever seen. I’ve recommended him to The Totts as back-up to Harry

  150. 150
    TTG says:

    Bang!

  151. 151
    Countryman100 says:

    Wake me up Ya Ya Sanogo
    We know you’re better that that cunt from Togo ……

  152. 152
    Gunnersaurus Stunt Double says:

    I’m glad you’ve gone Yaya Sanogo
    Because scoring goals seemed to be a no-no

  153. 153
    bt8 says:

    Come to think of it, with all our recent Brazilian signings Arteta must be practicing his Portuguese.

  154. 154
    Countryman100 says:

    Despite his time at Rangers he’ll probably find talking Glaswegian to KT3 more challenging!

  155. 155
    bt8 says:

    Auba recognizes a good deal when he sees it, and Arsenal get a good deal too. A three year extension for a 31 year old striker, world class or no, and I am sure he is exactly that, has the effect of a pay rise for his outstanding first two seasons at Arsenal, as well as tying him to the club for the rest of his career at his best level. If he is still banging them in at 34 I would consider it gravy.

  156. 156
    bathgooner says:

    I think the pile-on to Martin Keown has been a bit unfair. The man was simply giving his opinion that he personally would prefer to play in the system used by Arsene Wenger. Much as he prefers man-marking to zonal (for which he gets far less opprobium).

    I haven’t read the link but I heard him make comments during the game to the effect that, and I paraphrase, “Being able to shout instructions in multiple languages to the team is all very well but I preferred Arsene Wenger’s demand that everyone speak English in the training ground and on the pitch.”

    I remain impressed with anyone who is articulate in multiple languages. I understand that Arsene was articulate in more languages than the number in which I can order a beer or ask the directions to the loo and it seems that MA8 is similarly gifted. I do see huge value in communicating personally with a player in his own language in a one-to-one. However I see merit also but also in the suggestion that a common language (and what is more common than English?) might be advantageous when shouting instructions during a game particularly in a system that requires multiple players to be flexible in their relative positioning as detailed in the Arseblog article recommended by Clive yesterday. This notwithstanding GSD’s observation that the basic instructions in any language can be picked up by most players (maybe not Ian Rush) though the seconds (hopefully, rather than minutes) it may take some of them to compute the message in a foreign language might be critical at the top level.

    I also recall Arsene making the point that he asked his players to use English at the training ground, in the dressing room and on the pitch to reduce cliques and aid common understanding.

    I personally don’t care what a coach decides to do particularly if he gets the best out of his whole squad but I don’t see any justification for the bed-wetting caused by Keown’s opinion. It’s his opinion and he’s entitled to it.

    I wonder if MA8 has bought an Icelandic phrase book.

  157. 157
    Countryman100 says:

    I don’t agree with very much of that Bath but I guess you and Cynic are entitled to your opinion, antediluvian as it may be!

  158. 158
    scruzgooner says:

    of course, i never remember arsène ever doing much sideline shouting. and it seems english is what is spoken currently in ma8’s dressing room and in practice. keown’s commentary was about ma8’s sideline, in-game communication. maybe arteta uses the different languages to make sure the correct player knows he’s being instructed? i.e, calling out in glaswegian for kt3 to “push up th’left” or whatever and in english for amn (“i say, a sprint through the middle old boy”). instructing them all in english he’d have to call out names for everything.

  159. 159
    North Bank Ned says:

    Titter ye not, TTG, as Frankie Howard used to say. Sanogo’s market value doubled since leaving N5 for Toulouse. We got him on a free, and you get what you pay for…

    bt8@153: Portuguese is one of the seven languages Arteta can hold a conversation in — along with Spanish, English, French, Italian, Catalan and Basque. But not German apparently. May explain the whole Ozil thing…

    To GSD’s point at 146, I played for teams in distant lands where the vast majority of the other players were not native English speakers. You pick up the basics you need for getting through a game in multiple languages pretty quickly. I bet Klopp doesn’t have any trouble getting his players to understand what gegenpressen means.

  160. 160
    TTG says:

    My hearing like almost everything else isn’t what it used to be but I’m told by one or two people who can discern the coaching instructions that Arteta speaks to Ceballos more than almost anyone else and speaks exclusively in Spanish. That is pragmatism rather than a decision in principle . I think it probably helps new players, especially young players to be addressed during games in their own language but there was a method in Arsene’s insistence on speaking English for the reasons Bath outlines.
    This reminds me of the ( true) story when Overmars and Anelka were having a feud and wouldn’t speak to each other . Arsene took them to one side and speaking in English to Overmars asked him what he thought of Anelka . Marc is Dutch and pretty frank.’ I think he’s a selfish , lazy bastard who plays for himself and not for the team ‘ he said and walked off . Anelka ( in French ) asked Wenger what he said . ‘ He thinks you’re the best striker he’s ever played with ‘ said Arsene .
    The next day Anelka scored a hat-trick against Leicester and Overmars made two of them Maybe there is a middle path?😃

  161. 161
    North Bank Ned says:

    Arteta has said that he holds all team meetings in English.

    AW, btw, spoke a mere six languages — French, German, English, Spanish, Italian and Japanese, although apparently he is not as fluent in Japanese as he is in the first five.

    On the subject of polyglots, Mkhitaryan speaks seven languages: Armenian, Russian, Ukrainian, English French, Portuguese and German.

  162. 162
    Doctor Faustus says:

    Keown’s opinion was not about the training sessions — which I don’t think he is invited to — and Mikel has earlier replied in the same interview that the trainings are conducted in English. The little training videos they post in the web-site you can hear all the coaches shouting instructions as well as encouragements in English to everyone.

    Given the short time he has had to work with the team, and given how much of an absolute mess everything was, it stands to reason that detailed in-game instructions were important for him to make sure that the players react to each situation exactly as he envisioned and wanted them to. If he has had a lot of practice done with various in-game situations he wouldn’t have needed to shout so much specific directions. In those directions using each player’s primary language is a fantastic idea. On TV you can hear him telling Pepe to get inside or outside based on the situation, or asking Ceballos to look for Tierney on the left for the pass or move forward with the ball. Neither of them will be fluent enough in English to respond immediately to those directions and the fraction of a second taken to translate that in a fraction of a second lost in the middle of a move or a transition. So it is a strength, and he used it well. Keown is entitled to his opinion and I am entitled to my opinion that it is an absurd criticism to make about in-game directions.

    More settled the team gets we will see less need of in-game management.

  163. 163
    Doctor Faustus says:

    NBN@161: Petr Cech speaks a few if I remember: Czech, Russian, English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese.

  164. 164
    bathgooner says:

    C100 @157, it basically depends on whether one can tolerate different opinions without needing to join a pile-on in a tribal reaction or having to respond with a gratuitous barb. 😉

  165. 165
    Gunnersaurus Stunt Double says:

    Things are going very well when this is the juiciest topic we have to discuss…

  166. 166
    North Bank Ned says:

    Great story @160, TTG, of which I wouldn’t believe a word if it didn’t ring so true.

  167. 167
    North Bank Ned says:

    Dr F@163: I would imaging these days a top player would be able to get by in most if not all off Spanish, Italian, French, German and English if only to be marketable in the top five European leagues.

  168. 168
    Countryman100 says:

    Where, pray, is my gratuitous barb?

  169. 169
    Doctor Faustus says:

    NBN@167: agreed. Maybe that’s why the captain of the peripatetic spuds cannot find a better club to move to. 🙂

  170. 170
    Cynic says:

    Am I alone in wondering at the need to resign Aubameyang for a huge sum of money when Yaya Sanogo is a free agent?

    You are Arsene Wenger and I claim my 7 Euros.

    Speaking of Wenger, he too believed in the single dressing room language. What a misguided fool he was eh lads? If only he’d known some Serbo-Croat, maybe Suker would have been a 50 goal striker.

    A rare occasion where the former manager and I agreed 🙂

    Incidentally, if you respond to something I say with “Bollocks”, I reserve the right to respond with a “Go fuck yourself”.

    Good night.

  171. 171
    Doctor Faustus says:

    Again, I find why the simple and obvious distinction between common language used in training ground and in-game player specific instructions delivered to a player in his primary language is being overlooked is baffling to be honest.

  172. 172
    scruzgooner says:

    it’s easier to cultivate an argument that way, faustus.

  173. 173
    bathgooner says:

    Ned @136, just catching up on some back-drinks and found your link. I thought that was an excellent explanantion of XG which is a widely misused and misunderstood parameter but is clearly useful in the contexts outlined in that cartoon.

  174. 174
    bathgooner says:

    Dr F @171, the difference between a training ground common language and individual player instruction is clearly an important distinction. I also share your concern about the risk of losing seconds (or in some cases, possibly even minutes) when you require a player to translate from an unfamiliar foreign language a message more complex than a simple “Avante!” or similar!

  175. 175
    goonerholicsforever says:

    Regarding the discussion about Keown and languages, cannons outwards please. Discussion here shouldn’t rise to insults (real or perceived), other than the loving kind 🙂

    A reminder of The Guvnor’s Rules found here.

  176. 176
    Goonersince54 says:

    Who would have thought a puff piece by Martin Keown could generate so much divided and sometimes testy opinion in the bar.
    What a waste of oxygen on a really great day for the Club,with the re – signing of Auba,which seems to have created almost as much excitement as the day i signed a new contract with the Ramblers back in the day.
    But i digress,
    It’s on days like this that i thank my dear old Dad for growing up a Gooner,and taking me as a 4yr old to the magical stadium at Highbury for my first game.
    66 years later,through good times and bad,and i haven’t regretted one second of it.

  177. 177
    Osakamatt says:

    Wot Clive said @176

    Great news on Auba!!

  178. 178
    Osakamatt says:

    @175
    Thanks.
    Noted and agreed you miserable b…..
    oh 😄

  179. 179
    Countryman100 says:

    Clive at 176. Agreed. Wonderful post.

  180. 180
    Osakamatt says:

    Emi is officially gone it seems
    though we’ve known for a few
    days. He’s been great the last
    few months and I wish him all
    the best at Villa. Glad he’s got
    a Cup winner’s medal as a
    memento

  181. 181
    scruzgooner says:

    lovely interview by wrighty with auba on pravda: https://player.arsenal.com/video/im-awe-you-youre-guy-now-auba-x-wrighty

  182. 182
    scruzgooner says:

    good luck, emi!

  183. 183
    Countryman100 says:

    That Cup win was so huge. And EMI was a huge part of it. Go and have a wonderful career Emi. Thanks for everything.

  184. 184
    bathgooner says:

    A toast is on the bar, Clive.

  185. 185
    Goonersince54 says:

    Thnks Matt/C100
    Bath,
    I trust it is fresh orange juice. ??
    On the subject of Auba,
    Let’s not lose sight of the importance of his re – signing,and the message that sends to other players Mikel/Edu are trying to sign.
    If one of the best strikers in the world is happy to commit another 3 yrs to the club,then that must assist in persuading other talented players to come as well.

  186. 186
    Gunnersaurus Stunt Double says:

    Cynic.

    If someone reserves the right to tell me to ‘go fuck yourself’, but is kind enough not to specifically exercise that right…

    Then I reserve the right to buy them a virtual pint and smile over one in a long line of disagreements, as well as many times we have agreed. I would not have it any other way.

    There is one on the bar for you and here is to the next time we don’t see eye to eye. It is never personal.

    Cheers Cynic, and all Holics everywhere.

    UTA!

  187. 187
    scruzgooner says:

    drinks on the bar for everyone (how about endless pitchers of uncle dave’s rye IPA), from this ‘merkin. especially cynic, gsd, and anyone considered antediluvian. and orange juice for clive.

    here’s to auba!

  188. 188
    bathgooner says:

    Scruz @181, finally got to it. That is a truly lovely interview. What a great dynamic between Wrighty and Auba. As Clive observes, this signing surely has ramifications. Well done MA8!

  189. 189
    scruzgooner says:

    baff@188, love to have a drink with either of them, they both seem like genuinely nice guys. clive is right, and we should celebrate!

  190. 190
    ecg says:

    If you haven’t seen Emi’s goodbye video, highly recommended. Someone who understands what it means to be an Arsenal player. Blog’s posted it in the news tab. Sad to see him go but hoping he has great success at Villa.

  191. 191
    Osakamatt says:

    well in for the 150 there TTG.

  192. 192
    ecg says:

    Might as well go for the double…

  193. 193
    ecg says:

    Plays keepy-up like a Rob Holding wannabe to carry the ball out of the back, looks up and punts the ball cross field to…

  194. 194
    Osakamatt says:

    Thanks ecg.
    Emi comes across well in the video

  195. 195
    Osakamatt says:

    oh, mis-controlled the ball from
    Rob in shock at his sublime
    skills, it bounces up, smacks me
    in the face and rolls into the path
    of…..

  196. 196
    bt8 says:

    Still can’t believe Rob was able to do that, but can he do it every week?

  197. 197
    ecg says:

    I can’t remember what he did to Aguero a couple of years ago, was it a nutmeg or did he just turn so fast that Aguero ended up on the ground?

    Picks the ball up from OM, nutmegs Xhaka just for fun and lays the ball off for…

  198. 198
    Pangloss says:

    The Wantage clogger, who swishes ineffectaully as the ball bobbles towards…

  199. 199
    Osakamatt says:

    Magnus Magbussen, our
    adventurous new Icelandic
    keeper who’s wide on the left
    to float a cross in for…..

  200. 200
    bt8 says:

    Double tons like the good old days

  201. 201
    Osakamatt says:

    the good old days?
    Like before the Flood you mean?

  202. 202
    TTG says:

    The weird thing about Emi who goes with the thanks and affection of the entire Goonerverse is that when his moment came he was never able to feel directly the love and appreciation of the fans . All of his superb displays in that final marvellous cameo after he replaced Leno were behind closed doors . How bizarre is that? He waits nearly ten years to be the main man in goal and when he gets the chance the grounds are empty ! There are many Gooners who won’t have seen him play live .
    Thankfully his performances were extensively covered on TV and in the bizarre circumstances we are living in now we tip our hats to someone whose contribution to our cup win was monumental and fundamental. Without a keeper of his quality it just wouldn’t have happened . A lot of Gooners will have him in their Fantasy Team, Maybe he counts as an honorary Goooner for the rule of three? Does that seem fitting ?
    Good luck Emi!

  203. 203
    Osakamatt says:

    Emi will certainly stay in my fantasy
    team. The Villa defence will keep him
    busy

  204. 204
    bathgooner says:

    TTG @202, that’s an important point. Emi has never played in our first team in front of a capacity crowd, responding negatively to every misplaced pass or error. It may have been a factor considered in the decision to let him go rather than the ice-in-the-veins Leno. We have never seen how well he responds to adversity and the baying mob.

    I wish him well. His farewell video was excellent (none of the disingenuous Hi guys! bullshit). He comes over as a lad who has worked hard for 10 years, been patient, been loyal, took his chance and showed great skill in the few games he has played at the top level but is now looking to progress his career, having finally taken a place on the top stage. He is an excellent keeper and I am sure that he will do well at Villa.

    Of course he should be regarded as an honorary Gunner in the Ropey League.

  205. 205
    TTG says:

    Interesting that in pre-season friendlies Villa have won at Arsenal and Old Trafford!
    I have a business Zoom call at 4pm but otherwise I hope to see us put out foot on the necks of the Aussies and squeeze the life out of them. Watching Aussies choke is delightful when it is as dramatic as Sunday night

  206. 206
    TTG says:

    I’m interested in diversionary tactics by clubs to pacify supporters .
    I am sure this is what S***s are doing with the Bale story . Either he writes off a huge sum of money and/ or Madrid heavily subsidise his salary if any deal has a chance of being done .
    It’s another childhood Arsenal fan being used as a smokescreen. There will be ‘negotiations’ like there was with Dybala last year but Levy couldn’t sanction a deal like that given the current situation and their wage structure . But it deflects from what happened on Sunday and the growing noise around Arsenal . If he did join Jose would probably play him at left-back anyway .
    Interesting that we are hearing that the Swamp is ‘ the only place he wants to play ‘ and in the next breath we hear he was desperate to go to China last year. Lots of great football in China . I can’t believe what an easy ride Levy gets after one trophy in the last twenty years and the League Cup at that

  207. 207
    North Bank Ned says:

    Well in for the double-ton, bt8.

    As others have said, touching valedictory video from Emi. I wish him well. He will have seen Fabianski and Mannone, even Woj, go from back-up to starter by switching clubs, and can’t be faulted for following suit. At 28, he couldn’t leave it much longer. And he leaves a parting memory of a brief but glorious run of games that will not tarnish.

  208. 208
    Doctor Faustus says:

    Best wishes to Emi! And hoping he gets the #1 jersey in the Argentina team, something he is very focused to achieve.

    Ned, two questions for the monks: 1. Other than Nelson Vivas, is Emi the only ever Argentinian in our first team? 2. Does this transfer make him the most expensive Argentina goalkeeper ever?

  209. 209
    TTG says:

    Dr.F
    Don’t you remember Fabian Caballero? He was a punt in the days when Arsene could do little wrong. He played a few games but was never a regular . He played upfront . I think he was paired with Anelka on occasions

  210. 210
    Doctor Faustus says:

    Thanks TTG. No, I don’t. 🙂 Looked him up and apparently he was loaned out to us and played one match.

    The only Argentinian player — other than Messi, of course — in the last 10 years or so I wished had played for us is Aguero.

    Here’s hoping Martinelli to break all his records and become the most successful South American striker in PL.

  211. 211
    bt8 says:

    Just watched Emiliano’s farewell interview. Brilliant. An Arsenal legend and truly an original. Thank you many times over Emiliano Martinez for everything you did for the club. Your love for the fans comes right through, and the fans will always feel the same about you.

  212. 212
    bt8 says:

    OM, As many of the doubletons in the good old days were achieved with the benefit of hyper-powered cba solo jaunts, maybe this one will prove to be more substantive than it did upon first appearance. 😉

  213. 213
    bt8 says:

    Auba interview with Wrighty upon signing da ting was also a goodun, and a lotta fun seeing those two together. Thierry Henry the only missing ingredient?

  214. 214
    TTG says:

    Dr.F
    He was in the team around the time Vivas was as well. I was never a fan of Vivas . I thought Fabian played as a sub a few times and played in the League Cup . That is a brilliant name isn’t it- Fabian Caballero . The English equivalent would be something like Frank Ryder I guess.

  215. 215
    bt8 says:

    Beebs report: Spurs are in Bulgaria for the Europa League and could play every Tuesday and Thursday for the next three weeks if they also progress in the Carabao Cup.

    And that’s not even counting their league matches. 🤣🤣🤣

  216. 216
    Countryman100 says:

    Bt8 @215. And all because little old us won the Cup! 🤣🤣

  217. 217
    Countryman100 says:

    Interesting thread from the fans forum

  218. 218
    North Bank Ned says:

    Dr F@208: TTG has beaten the Monks to the punch on your first question. On your second, he is the most expensive Argentine keeper and the 15th most expensive from anywhere.

  219. 219
    Doctor Faustus says:

    Thanks Ned @ 218. That then turns out to be an unexpectedly excellent piece of business all things considered. This piece on Athletic talks about the rationale behind Arsenal’s decision: https://theathletic.com/2067962/2020/09/16/bernd-leno-arsenal-goalkeeper-emiliano-martinez

  220. 220
    Osakamatt says:

    @212
    Yep, of course an old-fashioned
    title challenge should see a
    regular supply of double tons
    😉

  221. 221
    Osakamatt says:

    Stories that we hope to get
    the Dijon keeper in time for
    the weekend. I’ll be pleasantly
    surprised if we can move forward
    that quickly.
    We’ve already told Matt Macey
    he can move on in this window
    so it’s not optimal if we don’t
    get things moving.

  222. 222
    Osakamatt says:

    @206
    Agree with your thoughts TTG
    but to be honest I think I’d
    prefer Sp**s to get Bale. A
    huge financial gamble on an
    unfit and ageing player who is
    very likely to fall out with
    Maureen. Works for me.

  223. 223
    Countryman100 says:

    According to the Athletic it will cost Spurs £15m to loan Bale for one season. No loan fee and half his wages I.e, £300k per week. Not that expensive (until he gets crocked).

  224. 224
    Gunnersaurus Stunt Double says:

    Mourinho can have Ozil back for a season loan if he will cover 300 grand a week!

  225. 225
    TTG says:

    Matt
    You make a very good point and if it hobbles them financially it’s a great situation. Sadly I have a feeling it may revive his career although Moaninho is not the manager to get the best out of him. I remember going to QPR a few seasons ago when we were grappling with S***s for a CL place . Our kick off was at 5.30 and they were just finishing their game. It was 0-0 into injury time but my colleague said ‘ Bale will score in the last minute, he always dies ’ and he did . Fortunately we beat QPR and edged them out for the place but this signing is designed to develop a bit of a feelgood factor at the Lane .
    On BBC today a man was abseiling above their stadium on live TV. Mrs TTG thought my suggestion that while he was up there he could piss all over the pitch as a symbolic gesture a vulgar one . She just doesn’t understand! 😅😅

  226. 226
    bt8 says:

    Guendouzi featured prominently next to Auba in the main picture on the official site. Tea leaves?

  227. 227
    North Bank Ned says:

    I’ve read reports that Real will pay as much as £500,000 of Bale’s £600,000-a-week wages. Who knows? If true, that would make him more the sort of bargain that Levy likes — and still save Real more than £5 million a year on its wage bill. Real would only be paying £26 million a year to have him not playing for them instead of £31 million.

    For Bale’s team, the negotiations are probably deep in the weeds of the tax implications of what he gets paid where for what, given Spain’s favourable tax treatment of foreign footballers.

    Bale’s return would undoubtedly give the neighbours a fillip. Shedding Ali would help them even more.

  228. 228
    North Bank Ned says:

    bt8@226: that opening shot is four of our five native French speakers walking out to training together, so it may be more feuilles de thé.

  229. 229
    North Bank Ned says:

    Looks like the club has succumbed to the betting partnership fad:

    https://sportsbet.io/promotions/arsenal-fc-partnership

    Seems the ‘holics pound will have to become the ‘holics bitcoin.

  230. 230
    bt8 says:

    Saw that about the bitcoin betting sponsor. Estonian company. Is that anywhere near Rwanda? 😉

    Win your bitcoin bet, and get an all expenses paid safari?

  231. 231
    Osakamatt says:

    @27
    Ned,
    Real would have to have a screw
    loose to do that…..oh, yes

  232. 232
    scruzgooner says:

    for the “late of this parish” and “sounds familiar” files, football365.com references an ex-gunner’s performance in everton’s carabao cup game: “The Liverpool Echo said Walcott ‘burst down the flank on multiple occasions but was just a little too wasteful’. That’s the epitaph confirmed.”

  233. 233
    Countryman100 says:

    Cause for concern about our potential Icelandic goalie?

    Exclusive Runar Alex Runnarsson Interview with Arsenal Iceland SC – Cause for Concern!

  234. 234
    Osakamatt says:

    @233
    Yes, I think so C100.

    An astute bargain or not?
    Sometimes you get what you
    pay for but we’ll get a first look
    soon enough as if it goes through
    quickly he might play against
    Leicester next week

  235. 235
    TTG says:

    Stories circulating that we agreed personal terms with Aouar two weeks ago and that we have had a bid for Raya rejected . Looks like the Icelandic lad is eventually destined to replace Macey not Emi .
    If Ned’s info is correct that is a seriously wonderful deal for S***s. He is still an extraordinary player who has won two Champions League finals through his goals . He also looks pretty good for Wales . The big issue is if he has as many injuries as he has had in Madrid

  236. 236
    Countryman100 says:

    It’s a great deal for Spurs if he doesn’t get crocked. It will also lift a club that badly needs lifting. We’ll see.

  237. 237
    TTG says:

    Crystal Palace fans are hearing a rumour of a loan swap deal with Zaha going to Arsenal and Reiss Nelson going the other way( loan with option to buy) . I’m not sure this makes any sense but it looks like I was completely wrong about Bale .

  238. 238
    Gunnersaurus Stunt Double says:

    Zaha?
    Well, I suppose we only have Pepe and Willian to play right wing. 🤣

  239. 239
    bt8 says:

    Trusting they figured out the difference between a Taiwan and PRC …
    https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/54192237

  240. 240
    Countryman100 says:

    For anyone that enjoyed the shots how that was Spurs tonight, it will be repeated in North Macedonia next Thursday night.

  241. 241
    Countryman100 says:

    Or even shit show.

  242. 242
    bt8 says:

    North Macedonia. Is that in Europe even? 🤣🤣🤣

  243. 243
    TTG says:

    C100
    Take some care with your typing
    Nobody likes etymological mistakes 😃😃

  244. 244
    North Bank Ned says:

    TTG@235: I don’t know if that info is correct. It is just something that I read. I imagine Real wants rid of Bale for the same reason we want rid of Özil, and are hoping that he will find he likes playing again rather than sit it the final days of his contract.

  245. 245
    bt8 says:

    “Both Plovdiv and Spurs were exactly what you would expect. Plovdiv were well-drilled, massively up for the occasion, very big, often bald and frequently bearded. Their shirt numbers were all over the place; one of them wore 61, a subtle dig perhaps at just how very long ago Tottenham’s second and final league title was. Spurs meanwhile were leaden, ponderous and rubbish.” 😀 😀 😀

    Full report: https://www.football365.com/news/spurs-avoid-disaster-but-little-to-cheer-in-plovdiv

  246. 246
    OsakaMatt says:

    @245
    Thanks bt8, an amusing hatchet
    job of a report.

  247. 247
    Osakamatt says:

    I noticed Raya was still not in
    the Brentford squad for their
    Carabao Cup game.
    Unless he’s in quarantine as I
    also read Brentford have had
    some Covid19 problems.

  248. 248
    TTG says:

    Matt,
    I think Brentford want Raya to be loaned back a la Saliba this season. If we don’t think the Icelandic lad is good enough to be no.2 this seems a risky and unhelpful move with finances so stretched .I’d prefer us to look elsewhere in these circumstances

  249. 249
    Osakamatt says:

    Me too TTG.

    Though it should be said that
    I didn’t think we should go into
    last season with Emi as our
    back-up keeper. Couldn’t have
    been more wrong on that one!

    But Emi’s sudden rise was all the
    more enjoyable because it was so
    unexpected for many of us.
    It’d be very lucky if lightning struck
    twice with Runarsson, who it seems
    struggled to get in Dijon’s first
    team last season.

  250. 250
  251. 251
    Osakamatt says:

    the 250 to follow the double
    ton bt8. well in.

  252. 252
    TTG says:

    Good work Bt8
    An opportunist par excellence

  253. 253
    Cynic says:

    Zaha is infinitely better suited to Premier League football than Pepe will ever be.

    Note : Resorting to stats to “prove” Pepe is a good player will not wash. I’ve watched him play, remember.

  254. 254
    bathgooner says:

    Excellent link there bt8 @245. I enjoyed it very much. Thanks for sharing.

  255. 255
    bathgooner says:

    C100 @233, somewhat concerning information. Sounds like a significant downgrade but you generally do get what you pay for.

  256. 256
  257. 257
    TTG says:

    If anyone’s interested I did a piece on a very ancient Arsenal/ West Ham game when it was our second match of the season – it was just after the 1966 World Cup ! Very different times . You’d have to be 60 plus to actually remember it . But it was a very interesting game !
    https://www.onlinegooner.com/articles/view/5396

  258. 258
    TTG says:

    Bath@256
    Thanks for highlighting this. Dave Seager is a good Arsenal man and an old mucker of Holic I believe.
    It’s a very sensible comparison . I saw the defence training this week with a rope connecting the back four and that set me in mind of George’s drilling of the back four .
    George as a manager was completely different to how he was as a player . He was a bit of a dilettante during his playing career but he was a tough manager although I thought he let Merson and Adams follow poor lifestyles off the pitch . He undoubtedly helped Arsene because his back five was a wonderful legacy to pass on to his successor

  259. 259
    Osakamatt says:

    To be honest I’d rather keep
    Nelson than bring in Zaha.
    Though I’d be open to him going
    on a loan for someone we do
    actually need. Could be good for
    Nelson and us.

  260. 260
    Osakamatt says:

    Luiz back in training and presumably
    available for selection.
    Must be tempting to go with the
    same 11 though.

  261. 261
    Osakamatt says:

    @257
    Thanks TTG – an enjoyable piece.
    The start of something good, just
    like the present day 😄

  262. 262
    Esso says:

    Friday night – one in loving memory of CBA

  263. 263
    BtM says:

    @258 TTG, I played golf with George a couple of years ago (charity shindig – he’s still a good golfer). Forty yards out he chipped a ball to within two feet of the flag.

    Fellow golfer : “You have a lovely touch, George”.

    George (instantaneously) : “So the wife always tells me. 🙂

    And yes, he undoubtedly helped Arsene with the back four and then Arsene helped Tony with his addiction extending the lifetime of the same unit.

    As for Zaha, he was so good at Man U in the EPL that they loaned him to Cardiff then dumped him back at Palace – his standard at best. Pepe will do fine under Arteta. May have sunk without trace under the good ship Unai.

  264. 264
    Doctor Faustus says:

    All the other top leagues in Europe — Germany, Spain, France, Italy — will allow five substitutes this season.
    Not PL where apparently ( don’t know if that truly is the case ) the smaller clubs voted against it.
    I think a five substitutes rule would have helped to keep all the PL teams in better shape.

  265. 265
    bathgooner says:

    Dr F, the majority of clubs voted against keeping the 5 subs rule. It makes perfect sense for those PL clubs with small or even average squads to do so given the strength in depth of the squads of the Oilers, Chavs and Mancs (the latter in theory) which allows them to add five fresh high quality players late in games. I don’t think it’s unreasonable despite the mitigating effect on fitness.

  266. 266
    North Bank Ned says:

    Thiago Alcantara for £20m to be paid over four years seems a smart piece of business for Liverpool.

  267. 267
    North Bank Ned says:

    The Arteta as Graham 2.0 is an interesting comparison. There are similarities. The immaculate hair for one, but I wouldn’t stretch the analogy, too far. I have often wondered what would have happened to the team had GG not had to depart because of the bungs affair.

  268. 268
    bathgooner says:

    Ooooo Arrrrrr! As we say in the West Country. Bring me Aouar!

    Top 10 Qualities Needed in Arsenal’s Midfield – Houssem Aouar addresses 9/10

  269. 269
    TTG says:

    Bath
    Mouthwatering preview of what Aouar might bring us. I think the key things in the English Premier League in midfield are first touch , upper body strength , stamina and of course eye for a pass. I’ve not seen this boy before but he has a great first touch and eye for a pass. The one worry might be upper body strength . Interesting that Torreira has struggled with this when I thought having watched himin the World Cup it would be no problem . Ceballos struggled early on but got stronger as the season wore on .
    If we did sign the two under scrutiny ( Partey and Aouar ) I wonder if my friend Xhaka would make the cut. I think Ceballos is much more mobile than Granit but then so am I . Xhaka would play a deeper role and clearly Arteta likes what he brings

  270. 270
    Goonersince54 says:

    I see Bayern had a tough opener to start the Bundesliga tonight.
    Only beat Schalke 8 – 0 with Serge getting a hat trick.
    Re Pool, as well as Thiago, they have also just signed Jota from Wolves for 40 mil.
    Getting stronger, and City will be without Aguero for at least a couple more months.

  271. 271
    Osakamatt says:

    Jota is an interesting signing out of
    left field at 40m. Strengthens their
    depth but not the first XI.

  272. 272
    scruzgooner says:

    >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>