Month: January 2021

ALREADY, even before Match of the Day kicked off, I knew.

I successfully avoided the score all day, having missed our FA Cup ‘performance’ due to family walk times with my partner and dog. Honestly I wasn’t too fussed at all, and it turned out I had the better of it.

All the signs were there: the trending of ‘Willian’ on Twitter, the trending of ‘Pepe’ on Twitter, the trending of ‘Arsenal’ on Twitter. Either some serious magical flourishes were going on, or – the more likely – we weren’t shooting, scoring, or doing much of…well, everything.

It’s clear that we have a problem.

When you don’t play young players and struggle, as we have so far this season, it seems bizarre that Arteta even picked a team he must have known lacked bite and energy to cause problems. And not just to any team, but to a competent if somewhat erratic Southampton – in a game which they would be all up for dumping the holders and their table neighbours out of.

I understand the disappointment of the team selection, for all of the above. But it’s clear to me the priority is the league and ‘giving players the chance they deserve in the FA Cup’, to paraphrase the manager, also rests those we need for the crucial league fight.

I’ll admit it, that we can’t depend on experience professionals to even create one chance in a whole half of football is bewildering. Willian (with his two shots on goal this season so far) is bewildering: his performances currently have all the dynamism of a Sunday boules friendly after the break for Derek’s birthday cake.

Quite what Arteta can do to lift Willian and the others who struggle without young pups nipping at heels I’ve not a clue. I suppose we just hope Arteta recognises the importance this season of Saka, ESR, Martinelli and AMN and strategises a way for us to see more of them than not.

I’ll be honest, I’ve not really been following transfer new this January. Frankly, I’ve taken all the topical news my news brain can healthily handle. But my hope would be this:

Better players. With enthusiasm. Even with the enthusiasm of a Sunday boules friendly pre cake for Derek;s birthday, with the looking forward to said cake providing some zip. That would be a step up. The level doesn’t seem to be too high to beat at the moment, so Mikel over to you. You do of course have my sympathy that players who should know and should do better aren’t doing so.

Still, hopefully us being dazedly dumped out of the cup is a wake-up call to some. Or maybe they’ll think they’re still asleep and dreaming when we face Southampton again on Tuesday. Here’s hoping the alarm call is for those who can manage more than two shots on target in a game of football.

Hi again, dear reader, from one of the most un-kept-up-to-date Arsenal blogs around. Last time I was here I was writing about a horrible loss for Arsenal and pondering the impact on the sad end to the Wenger era.

Some years on, we’re in the midst of a totally bizarre pandemic with Arteta (or at least his younger squad members) leading a surge in form. Form which could be an exciting new beginning should another lockdown not gazump football for the foreseeable.

I’ve never claimed to have insider knowledge into the club, and I don’t, but nor do I need it to see what a bit of enthusiasm and effort brings to a team bereft of ideas and impetus. A Martinelli showing shades of Alexis, a Saka on the road to a POTY perhaps, an ESR proving genuine workrate and willing can trump Özil’s tweeted charm offensive.

All of these are things to be celebrated, as is the absolute worldie of a goal, for a left-back, of Tierney against West Brom (*cough*, 4-0 Sam). And did I celebrate! Bouncing on the sofa with a pumped fist to the bemusement of the dog: “WHAT A GOAL”, before attempting to sound completely chill on Twitter.

TIERNEY IS A GOD 😱 #WBAARS

— All The Skill… (@AllTheSkill) January 2, 2021

The Arsenal are fun again, bringing joy, and more importantly, wins to our lives. And that we have a solid if uninspiring CB pairing in Holding and Mari is wonderful. Let them be our solid if uninspiring CBs, and continue to be solid to undo the un from the inspiring. Utterly solid CBs is what we deserve, after a cocktail of Mustafi, Sokratis and Luiz.

There’s the beginning of a solid back four or five in place it seems. Could be, may just be, and well done for Arteta for doing whatever it is he’s doing to help turn the form around. He’s doing something surely. Hopefully for Runarsson too: give him soime love and some bigger gloves.

Fun times

I know, I know, this season hasn’t been the best despite our recent uptick in form. But the league is enjoyable, no? From 4th to 12th, the difference is six points as I type.

And although I’d rather we hadn’t have flirted shamelessly with the bottom of table this season, the closeness of the league takes me back to the 92/93 era of Ipswiches and Sheffield Wednesdays in the Prem. Villa coming 2nd, the almost mythical Norwich of Gunn, Fox, Ekoku and Sutton playing wonderfully.

QPR! QPR finished 5th – it wasn’t a happy time for us in 10th, but boy I loved that season. I was 10 and Arsenal were wonderful, if a bit naff, and then some years later a Frenchman arrived.

Anyway, I hope we continue to climb, but the closeness of the league adds some enjoyment in the absence of the throbbing throng of crowd community.

Mob mentality

It’s not all fun and games though. If as a professional football club your social media team calls out a pundit, an excellent pundit, like Karen Carney purely for stating her opinion…it lacks class.

Here’s my view on that whole horrible saga. Needless from LUFC’s social media peeps really – especially given the clear amount of bigots who also sadly follow football and have access to a public platform to hurl abuse in the pile-on.

any club should have high standards of inclusivity. If you directly criticise any pundit as a club for doing their job, you give free-reign to idiots (sexist, racist, bigots, any of them) to pile-on.

Especially if you don't then acknowledge you were first with the fuel.

— All The Skill… (@AllTheSkill) January 2, 2021

And guess what. A lot of things burn in a fire. But if there's no fire in the first place, a focus of flames, there's a lot less burning being done, and a lot less legitimisation. (X/2).

— All The Skill… (@AllTheSkill) January 2, 2021

Having deleted her account, I hope Carney returns – or at least doesn’t have the episode prevent her from doing her job just as earnestly.

Anyway, best to you and yours in these trying times. See you again. Here’s hoping for more Tierney-time and hopefully a bit of Partey at the weekend against Newcastle.

That is, assuming football doesn’t leave us like it did in 2020. Please, no.