As the traditional curtain-raiser – if you haven’t yet read Bathgooner’s excellent previous post about the fascinating history of the erstwhile Charity Shield, or Community Shield as it is known as nowadays, and Arsenal’s dominating records in it, I really must bring your attention to it – for the upcoming domestic season approached the general mood in the Arsenal fan-base was at best apathetic. Despite our immensely enjoyable FA Cup heroics just earlier this month, we were going to play the league leaders who not only had finished their season 43 points and seven positions ahead of us, but also coming into this match had one extra week of preparation. The general agreement was that even though a surprising and morale-boosting win to kick off what we all know will be a key season for Arsenal and its rookie manager would be wonderful to witness, even a decent performance without being embarrassed and most importantly without any injuries to our players will do just fine.
A few days back the players, at least some of them, had a little match practice behind closed doors at home against MK Dons. There was a welcome return to the pitch for Bernd Leno in that match, and a very first appearance in Arsenal colors for William Saliba, the former Saint-Etienne defender who despite yet to have turned twenty have already shown enough promise to become the type of powerful, fast, ball playing defenders who are now considered essential ingredients of any successful team.
Neither Leno nor Saliba were in the starting line-up for the match against Liverpool, but both were on the bench. Emi Martinez, who was consistently magnificent towards the end of the last season in both league and FA Cup since taking over the goalkeeping duties, started in the goal. In front of him was the defensive trio from the FA Cup final – David Luiz flanked by Kieran Tierney on the left and Rob Holding on the right. Mikel chose to use the 3-4-3 formation that he had preferred in the post-reopening stage of the last season, and one suspects the transition from back three to back four will take time with David Luiz being a key variable in that transitional equation.
The four men midfield too was designed with a now familiar tactical shape, albeit with a minor variation in the personnel entrusted to make it work. Ainsley Maitland Niles back in his left wing-back role that he had played with admirable guile and discipline in our last two Wembley outings, and Hector Bellerin his counterpart on the right. However, the ever-present Granit Xhaka in the middle of the pitch was now accompanied not by Dani Ceballos – who we all hope will return back to the club he seems to have grown a genuine, and well reciprocated, love for – but the nearly forgotten Mohammed Elneny, returning back from his loan stint in Turkey. Elneny doesn’t offer the kind of close control and verticality that Dani had started to demonstrate, but in a game where we most likely were to play without the ball for long periods of time a double pivot of Xhaka and him we hoped may prove to be functional enough.
Elneny had joined Arsenal in the winter transfer window of 2016, and so Arteta must have had formed a very clear idea about his strengths and weaknesses based on training ground and match experiences in the second half of that season before Mikel announced his retirement.
Both Pepe and Lacazetter were unavailable – a very well-deserved extended holiday or more likely in quarantine after returning back? – so the youngsters Bukayo Saka and Eddie Nketiah deputized in their places. But both of them had now started games for us, especially Saka enjoying a stellar breakthrough session culminating in being chosen as the second best Arsenal player of the season, and both were more than capable to trouble Liverpool defense.
Leno and Saliba were joined in the bench by a few more of our excellent academy graduates (Nelson, Jo Willock and Emile Smith-Rowe), with veterans Kolasinac and Cedric sitting next to them. We of course use such words as “bench” and “sitting” metaphorically, it was all a masked and socially distanced congregation of colleagues.
Finally, our captain, the überstriker, the talisman, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang starting on his now customary left wing. There are words being still written about how that is not his favorite position, and we may very well see him down the middle at some point in the season — provided he does really extend his contract and stays at the club, it is not done until it is announced on the club’s official site – but he has been an example of not just elite goalscoring excellence from that position but also a very professional tireless work ethics and discipline in doing his defensive duties whenever necessary. The kind of examples that an Arsenal captain is expected to lead by.
The first minutes of the game conformed to the pattern everyone was expecting. Liverpool were attacking in numbers and we were defending deep. There were a couple of early clearances from our penalty box – one from Luiz and a more colorful one from Tierney which he miscued enough to require an alert Martinez to need to come forward and gather the ball. We were defending well enough to not offer them a shot at our goal, but the ball rarely left our defensive third and we were conceding fouls. Just around the sixth minute from a free-kick Van Dijk scored a goal which was correctly ruled out for offside. Just past the 10th minute lark Milner headed over.
A minute or so later we produced a piece of scintillating football. Liverpool forwards were pressing high and to support them their defenders moved up to hold a very high line. We played through their press expertly with Martinez, Elneny, Holding and Bellerin all involved. Bellerin smartly forwarded the ball right onto the path of Saka who then moved himself intelligently in that little uncertain space between the touchline and the middle of the pitch which the defensive midfielders and fullbacks most struggle with. With the focus of the entire defense on the right side of our attack Saka brilliantly switched the attack with a marvelously accurate long ball right at Aubameyang’s feet. Auba darted in quickly, moved the ball further to his right and scored with a sumptuous curling shot beyond the outstretched left hand of Allisson. Whereas the build-up and playing from the back through the press, Saka’s assist and Auba’s exquisite finish were all world class, special mentions should also go to Ainsley and Tierney who with their supporting movements created enough confusion in the Liverpool defense to give Auba that extra moment of decision making. AMN ran down the middle to the edge of the penalty box like a goalscoring central midfielder would do, and Tierney made his trademark overlapping run outside of Auba. This was a goal that was well-constructed in its design, and executed flawlessly with such courage and creativity that it sent a wave of inspiration through the team to drive them to a series of fluid counter-attacking moves that on another day could have resulted in one or two more goals.
Aubameyang’s joyful celebration was included a respectful homage to the recently, and untimely, departed actor Chadwick Boseman.
Arsenal 1 (Aubameyang 12’) – Liverpool 0
We were playing in our away shirt for the new season, less red-and-white (which is the home shirt’s business anyway) but more of a white-and-red design that supposedly represents the hallowed marble halls of Highbury. Leaving behind the raging discussions about the sartorial aesthetics to more qualified people (Bellerin?), all I could think of is that a goal like that truly, and proudly, represents the pinnacle of Highbury days in our recent history.
Around 17th minute from one such counter-attack Saka fed the ball with a precise cut-back to Nketiah on the edge of the box. Eddie had positioned himself perfectly but his shot was well saved by Allisson. A little bit more power and placement in the shot and Eddie could have had a goal to his name. The attack was driven by Xhaka who carried the ball all the way to the edge of the box before finding Saka with his pass. It was pleasing to see him execute well this aspect of a modern central midfield’s game that has never really been his forte.
Ten minutes later, again from a counter-attack Saka found Eddie who had both space and time to move the ball further forward, but chose to take a leaf out of his captain’s book and tried to bend the ball into the top corner but his shot failed to trouble Allisson.
Liverpool was still dominating possession, but had failed to yet register a shot on target. We were defending well not just in numbers in and around the box but also in how we defend the space between the midfield and the penalty box. Maitland-Niles and Tierney in tandem provided a masterclass of positional defending, constantly switching roles, covering for each other especially when one of them moved forward to join the attack, harrying and hurrying Salah every time he got near to the ball on our left side. It did help that they were facing a relatively inexperienced player in Williams as the right fullback.
On our right side Bellerin and Holding were playing well enough to contain Mane and Firmino, but they were not successfully stopping Robertson from sending crosses into the box. Around 39th minute, Bellerin and Elneny had to be alert to make clearances in quick succession from dangerous looking attacks down our right side. Liverpool earned a series of corners but didn’t really threaten our goal from any of those.
We continued to look lively in our counterattacks, especially down our left. Saka and Maitland Niles both were allowed to send inviting crosses into the box. Just before the half-time Bellerin was fouled as we were moving through another quick attack. From the resulting free-kick, taken superbly by Saka, David Luiz almost got to the end of the delivery.
The first half ended with us leading by our captain’s fantastic strike.
Second half started with a similar pattern to the first half, but Liverpool pressing more aggressively and moving the ball faster compared to the first half. Our strategy remained same, defend with discipline, defend the spaces, and launch counter-attacks. From one such counter-attack around the 50th minute the increasingly impressive AMN shot over the bar.
A minute later Firmino – a consistent scorer of goals against Arsenal – shot wide. A few minutes later Auba moved through the gears with the ball at his feet and tried to set Saka up for a goal.
We had started to tire and around 56th minute Emi had to make an excellent save. A minute later Milner saw the first card of the match for fouling Eddie with a dangerous challenge. Liverpool looked desperate for an equalizer. And they brought in a couple of substitutes.
Mikel made his first substitution at the 58th minute, bringing in Cedric for a tiring Bellerin. We were conceding more and more of the possession to Liverpool, and in their desperation they were willing to push the boundary of what is considered acceptable physicality in a match like this: Keita flew in with a high boot on Eddie but escaped being carded. Emi made a save from a Minamino shot.
The pressure on our tiring defenders finally brought Liverpool a goal on 73rd minute, with Minamino scoring from a close range after the ball bounced off a few players in a goalmouth melee.
Arsenal 1 (Aubameyang 12’) – Liverpool 1 (Minamino 73)
The commentators suggested that Arsenal may now lose concentration and concede more goals. Given how the game was now shaping up it wasn’t an entirely unreasonable assumption. However, the reverse happened. The team found an extra bit of inspiration to start attacking again. The game was now less one-way and more open. On 81st minute Emi made another superb save from Mane. A little after Saka, Eddie and Tierney were replaced by Willock, Nelson and Kolasinac. Couple of minutes later AMN made an eye-catching clearance against Mane – who had now switched sides with Salah and attacking down our left – chasing him down from an advanced position and catching up with him. Cedric was busy defending on the right side as Robertson was still sending dangerous deliveries into our box. However, Cedric showed quality on the ball as well in our attacking third, sending a tantalizing cross that Willock despite timing his jump correctly and having only Allisson to beat, headed wide. Nonetheless, it was gratifying to see the position he took. We are no longer blessed with a collection of goalscoring midfielders who attack the box. Willock has the potential to become one such player.
The game ended shortly thereafter.
Arsenal 1 (Aubameyang 12’) – Liverpool 1 (Minamino 73) FT
And that’s how we shared the 2020 Community Shield with Liverpool, both Arsenal and Liverpool thus winning it 16 times each.
No, that didn’t happen. Just like last year’s event, this season’s Community Shield winner too was settled in penalty shoot-outs. Liverpool took the first penalty kick and they scored 4 from their 5 and missed one. Arsenal players took five cool, composed, high quality penalties — none of those were even close to being saved by Allisson.
Arsenal scorers were, in the chronological order: Nelson, Maitland-Niles, Cedric, David Luiz, and Aubameyang. Liverpool scorers were: Salah, Fabino, Minamino, Curtis Johnes. Their youngster Rhian Brewster hit the ball off the bar. A mildly amusing irony was noted by keen observers that Brewster was brought in the game to replace Wijnaldum most likely to avoid a repetition of last year’s Community Shield event which too Liverpool lost on penalties where Wijnaldum missed his shot.
Arsenal 1 (Aubameyang 12’) – Liverpool 1 (Minamino 73) FT
Arsenal 5 – Liverpool 4 On Penalties
A lot can be read in this performance and result. But the wiser thing probably to do is to not read much at all. Except that it demonstrated that the definite progress in our individual and collective game that we had started to notice last season as Mikel found more and more time and opportunity to put his stamp is on a consistent upward curve, and that this is an exciting time to be an Arsenal supporter.
Finally, we supporters of course have little clue in the complexities of the club’s financial situation and the difficult dance to meet the needs for improving the squad while balancing the budget, but based on their performances alone (and not just potentials or affections for the club even though those things should matter too) Emi Martinez and Ainsley Maitland-Niles – who celebrated his birthday with a man of the match performance, and then celebrated more later by learning about his call up to the England senior squad — must surely stay at the club. Right?
Such a pleasure to relive it all again. The way the mood in the club has changed is remarkable. Thanks Dr F for such a thorough report. I saw the same game. Much to happen in the days before we rock up at the Cottage!
Another pleasure of the FA Cup win. Forcing Sp*rs into games like this
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53970926
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53970926
Hahaha!
Have fun in Bulgaria you bunch of muppets.
This annoying tie, and the pain in the arse journey it entails, are brought to you courtesy of a record-extending fourteenth FA Cup win for The Arsenal.
Luvvly jubbly.
Ahh, I failed to hit refresh and Countryman beat me to the punch.
Still, as long as we are all laughing at Spuds then everything is in perfect working order.
Reference that game, if anyone is not sure who the opposition are, they are a small unsuccessful club in North London. 🤣🤣
That is the issue with the early stages of the Europa League, Countryman… You end up playing all sorts of Mickey mouse teams. Lokomotiv Plovdiv have my sympathies! 😉
Fine report Dr F.
Pretty much how I saw it.
Great to win and the players
certainly looked happy but as you say
no point reading too much into it.
Basically it’s possible only 4 or 5 of
that team will be starting in a
couple of months.
Cheers, Dr. Faustus on an excellent report.
Re: Countryman @2: Lokomotiv Plovwhat? 🤣🤣🤣
Cheers Doc. I’ve just got round to reading it. Good stuff.
It is weird we are going straight into an interlull when we have only had two training sessions with many of the players, and none with some of them. Arteta is going to have a struggle to get us ready for Fulham, so it was pleasing to see us use the platform of last season’s performances to give a good account of ourselves and get a good result. The transition into a slightly new style will be gradual as there won’t be time to work on it until the season has already kicked off.
Top class match report, Dr F. A pleasure to relive a fine Arsenal performance and the acquisition of yet another shield. You nicely summarised our emotions and anxieties going into this match against the team that took the league title so comprehensively last season.
The straw I clutched pre-match was MA8’s tactical victories over the Dippers, Shitteh and Chavski at the tail end of last season and I was confident he would have a plan. And so it proved. Had we not tired so badly in the second half I don’t think we would have conceded that equaliser. Superb performances all round.
An additional pleasure was the distress our victory clearly caused Klopp and the Dippers. They clearly wanted to win that game, nay expected to do so. The hacks can belittle the significance of the Shield victory but MA8 has proved that last season’s league victory was no fluke. That man impresses me more each day.
As you say Dr F, the primary objective was to get another match under our belts without injury, with a secondary objective of a respectable non-morale-denting result. Pinching the trophy was a bonus. However the morale-boosting value of this win should not be underestimated and our young team are getting used to picking up winners’ medals.
Just a pity we couldn’t be there.
Finally, sign da t’ing Pierre-Emmerich!
Thanks everyone for the kind words.
Interesting statistics that I saw floating around (I didn’t verify the authenticity): since Arteta has arrived: We average a goal every 52 minutes when Xhaka plays. When he is absent, we average a goal every 99 minutes. We concede a goal every 116 minutes when Xhaka plays. When he is absent, we concede a goal every 49 minutes.
If that’s true, imagine how much more efficient we can be at both ends if we find an improvement upon him.
Dr.F,
Thankyou for a splendid report of a very enjoyable day. It was good to recall it all again . I’m not so sure if those Xhaka statistics are what my actuarial friends call ‘ a statistical anomaly ‘ but most on here would expect me to say that !
It appears the excellence of Emi and AMN has forced a change of mind on Arteta’s part
( or more likely Arteta has persuaded those who hold the purse- strings to revise their plans) . Alternatively AMN’s Mum has threatened to punch Vinay’s lights out!
The feelgood factor is back with a vengeance but lest we forget in 2015 we won the Shield only to screw up our first fixture to West Ham at home . We must hit the ground running but Saturday helped us to prepare to do this .
Excellent, again, Dr F. Stoked the embers of the warm feelings from the game itself.
Agree with you 100% on Emi and AMN.
The other stat of interest is that Auba has become our joint top-scorer at Wembley, matching Alexis Sanchez with five goals. Auba scored his within the space of 42 days.
C100: Lokomotiv Plovdiv’s nickname is ‘The Smurfs’ for some reason best known to Bulgarians. A true battle of the little teams in the offing.
Dr.F
Your very interesting report referenced the way we were able to beat the press on Saturday and our goal brought to mind that brilliant first goal against Citeh in the semi-final .
The reality is that however much my heart is in my mouth as we appear to fanny around in our own area passing the ball in increasingly hazardous situations there is clear method in what years ago would have been construed to be madness. Artetaball is all about drawing the press and then playing around it and anyone playing in the team has to have the confidence and passing precision to receive the ball under pressure and recycle it effectively until you can release your attacking players with a numerical advantage . This is why I prefer Emi as goalkeeper because even though Leno is very good with his feet , Emi is extremely confident and assured under pressure with the ball at his feet .
The balls played by Bellerin and Saka were the key to the goal on Saturday just as the passes by Tierney and Pepe made the one against Citeh. And Auba plays wide left for a reason so he gets to exploit the area beyond the full-back whereas he would be more tightly marked starting in the middle .
The excruciating attempts to do this under Emery worried the hell out of me and it is anything but risk-free football but it is highly intelligent , modern football, and the team are clearly buying into it .
Great win. Excellent report.
I feel optimistic!
BtM @15, I have to observe that I have never known you not to be optimistic, sir. It’s one of your greatest qualities.
Some progress outwards- Mkhitaryan to Roma for free but saving £12-13m in wages and bonuses. Kola talking to Schalke, Holding about to be loaned to Newcastle and the parasite has allegedly been offered £15 m a year by Al Nasr. What a result if he took it!Sokratis off to Napoli for about £4m .
That would free up about £35 m a year in salaries plus the Sokratis fee
TTG@17, it sounds like we are getting down to business. I sincerely hope that the parasite takes the opportunity to find some self respect.
Quite a day of progress on the forming up of deals, apparently. The Kola to Schalke rumors sound quite strong, and being rid of Mkhi is extra refreshing, and the AMN bandwagon just keeps attracting more and more riders.
https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2020/08/31/tears-is-my-eyes-this-is-big-news-some-arsenal-fans-react-to-sky-transfer-update/
Guardian ( one of the more reliable football sources) is reporting that Dani Ceballos is to return next season on loan . If that’s true I will be delighted and we will start to look in better shape for the start of the season . I still believe we will sign Partey but it may take until October to conclude a deal
More on Ceballos
If there isn’t an option to buy, that’s a disappointment*, even in his fallow period I thought he was easily our best midfielder last season.
*Opinion subject to change 🙂
I agree with all that, Cynic. Though it was a very low bar. We need an injection of steel and an injection of creativity in that department. Willian may provide the latter and in the fullness of time Saka or ESR but the steel must be outsourced.
Good news that the Mkhi deal is
done. Should of taken the money
in January but there’s a degree of
hindsight there. He wasn’t as bad
for us as some are now saying in
the Goonerverse and the best of
luck to him. Dani is welcome back
if the story is true but we still
need one more in midfield – I’d
prefer two – and to sell Guen.
I hope to hear MA talking about
Guen’s excellent attitude now he’s
returned to training with the team
as it may encourage offers from
teams worried about that attitude.
Rob on loan seems a reasonable plan
and Newcastle a good fit for him.
If we’re to keep AMN then we
should also let Elneny go.
Elneny is ok but would just be
a blocker to giving AMN / Joe W
central midfield chances in
midweek games.
Though to be honest I’d have
cancelled the Carabao Cup this
season. And the Europa League
come to that. And definitely
friendly internationals.
Though I’d cancel the
Ropey League after spuds
trip to Bulgaria of course.
Interesting views on cancellation of competition Matt. Apart from friendly internationals I thinks that’s a very Arsenal centric view, and one that supporters of other clubs would disagree with. It’s also a slippery slope. I’m in favour of the Carabao, the Europa and competitive internationals. Squad rotation is the answer and that’s a great opportunity to let younger and marginal players make their case.
This is terrible news. Toots and the Maytals much beloved by many in this bar, including The Guvna.
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/sep/01/toots-hibbert-toots-and-the-maytals-hospital-covid-19-jamaica?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
Ken Friar has been appointed life president on his retirement from executive duties.
https://www.arsenal.com/news/ken-friar-obe-become-life-president
According to Charles Watts of Goal, Willian, Laca, Pepe and Ozil (or “the parasite” as he is known in this bar) are all back and training after Covid quarantine. Friendly vs QPR at Colney this afternoon. Gabriel on site and participating in squad Covid testing.
faustus, another gem. that first sentence, though…
not been paying a lot of attention these last couple weeks, so much of the discourse i’m lagging behind. i laugh at the spuds, though. not only playing a club bigger than they to get their season started (as opposed to us in the community shield), they get to travel to a stadium nicer than theirs (no doubt) in plovdiv…or wherever.
ned, what is “life president”? equal to “president-for-life”? purely ceremonial?
Only 64 words, scruz. I’d classify that as “could do better”.
CODF COYG
pang, it wasn’t the number of words, it was the number of clauses…but, like santa he brought the gifts.
C’mon Toots. What a classic.
😂😂😂
Another defender added to the squad.
https://www.arsenal.com/news/gabriel-gunner-defender-joins-arsenal
Re: Vagabond Sp*rs Europa League travails. “Predictably, this has gone about as inconveniently as possible for Spurs so far” and “While the Balkans are lovely in Autumn…”
How did they contrive to be in this situation again? 😀 😀 😀
Scruz@32: More honorific than even ceremonial, and certainly not (fill in the name of a president here)-like.
btw, Plovdiv is quite a nice place. It is Bulgaria’s cultural capital, though that might be lost on its forthcoming visitors.
Gabriel deal done means Holding’s loan and Papa’s sale cannot be far behind, surely? I doubt we shall see Rob in an Arsenal shirt again. You have a collector’s item, Scruz.
So, as TTG said a couple of days ago, we have two 6’3” brick outhouses at centre half, both around 22/23 years old. They seem to be much coveted elsewhere. If they are good as their reputations, we did really well to get the pair for £50m and this could be the basis of our defence for years to come. Don’t forget Mari either. Let’s just give them a little time to settle in.
Gabriel getting Kos’s old No 6 shirt.
Well, they will obviously give him new one. Or at least wash it first…
Maybe we’ll score a bit more from corners now?
I love it when we score from corners.
#oldfashionedgooner
C100: A back four of Bellerin, Saliba, Gabriel and Tierney doesn’t look too shabby.
Ned @ 44 👍🏼👍🏼
According to the Arsenal Supporters Trust, tomorrow the club will issue details on how 2020/2021 season tickets will work with restricted capacity. Should be interesting.
We have signed some bloke called Gabriel. He played for Lille, apparently.
Blimey, we sure kept that one under our hats! 😅
The video with Luiz, Willian and Gabriel had me smiling throughout. I’m sure the three of them, and Gabby and Edu, will be a vibrant part of our club this season. They all seem like great characters to have about the place.
A massive welcome to Gabriel!
Some good commentary on our new signing’s career to date
https://www.espn.com/soccer/english-premier-league/story/4164746/gabriel-signs-with-arsenal-expect-brazilian-defender-to-adapt-quickly-to-premier-league
We seem to be buying a lot Brazilian players recently I wonder why that is 😉
time for some samba!
ned, i hope it’s only a loan, and he comes back next year as first option off the bench (we will need that!). so maybe not as much of a collector’s item 😉
GSD @48, it is indeed a great video. It gives us an inkling of Luiz’s winning personality. You can see what an asset he is in the dressing room. If they can make the kind of contributions that Silvinho, Gilberto and Edu made then I will be very happy with our Brazilian family.
This Youtube compilation shows how good this guy can be for us (accepting the flaws of many such compilations). Big, strong in the tackle, good in the air, sees and delivers a great long ball and reads the game well. Welcome Gabriel.
Priorities now –
1) Sign Auba for three years
2) Sell off Torreira , Guendouzi, Kolasinac at least
3) Trigger Partey’s release clause
4) Persuade Ozil to go to the desert
5) Win the Quadruple !
ttg@54, i love your measured, attainable list.
Baff. Luiz has some calamity moments but he is a massive presence at the club. I love how much he seems to appreciate The Arsenal and revel in the history. He understands the ‘family’ side of Arsenal and that is something that will continue to be eroded by the world of modern football unless we have people at the club who keep it alive and pass it on. I would never have guessed David Luiz would be such a man, but he has been really impressive.
If we do play 3 at the back then stick him between Gabriel and Saliba. At least it will be exciting!
TTG @ 54.
Looks good. But surely you want another creative midfielder?
Also, 4) is three words too long.
GSD
Ideally I would like a creative midfielder but I think he will use Willian there. If there is any chance of putting Partey, Ceballos and Aouar in a midfield together we then would become a very interesting bet for Champions League qualification …possibly more ! A little bird close to Celtic told me last week we are seriously interested in Edouard .
We’d need to look at selling Laca and Hector to fund anything like that
TTG.
I would love Partey, Ceballos and Aouar in midfield! I’ve only seen Eduoard play once, for 15 minutes. He scored twice! He’d be a great buy. Lots of potential and exactly the right age.
We would probably need £125m for that lot and I don’t expect we have it. I don’t think we will sell Hector. If we sell well we could get £80m for Guen, Torreira and Laca. I’d still keep AMN. I dunno if we can raise more funds, or if there is any extra money available? But in Covid times I’d be surprised.
If we could sign those three players though I’d fully expect us to get CL.
the ornacle is rumbling.
https://mobile.twitter.com/David_Ornstein/status/1300887916512792576?fbclid=IwAR1mDj7UCR4xfm4cI0CQ5I7jTP23R2I5nq40eAQfdga9oiS1K7HBbxbDH60
If we get £45m for Hector then that solves my financial conundrum @59.
And AMN becomes first choice right back.
I love Hector but this is the first time I’d even consider letting him go. I dunno though. I guess we will have to wait and see what plays out.
Scruz @ 60.
I think there is a cream for that 😉
lol, i’ll recommend it to him, gsd.
I think there is a bit of a fantasy around Hector . He has never played consistently well for a long period in my view and his serious injury has reduced his pace . As I said earlier in the week I’d go with AMN who I think has a higher performance ceiling . I think Hector is a very important dressing room presence and this is primarily where we would miss him . I think it is possible that Reiss Nelson may develop into a very good wing back
Welcome to Gabriel!
@28 C100
All good points. Not sure I agree though.
The Ropey League is a good source of
income for us and would hurt if cancelled.
I just can’t see it’s justifiable in the
current situation to have groups of 40-50
people travelling round Europe for a
second tier competition. Same for the
Carabao Cup in England and Wales though
the number of people would be slightly
less. No clubs will go to the wall just
for the loss of Carabao Cup income. Why
not stop for a season? I was all for the
return of the PL – the show must go on
and all that – but the current schedule
of fixtures is an irresponsible money grab
with little or no thought for health or social
responsibility.
The remarkable thing is that since Arteta assumed control,he has persuaded Auba to stay, Willian to join, Ceballos and Gabriel to commit and seems to have Partey onsid3 too. All this without Champions League football to offer.
Every player speaks of his enthusiasm for Arteta’s project and I was blown away that he was telling Willian he wants to win the Champions League in three years…not be in it but win it! Latterday Arsene and the bumbling Emery failed to motivate the players in anything like this way . For Auba look at RVP – and we were in the Champions League then .
It’s been a tough baptism- his first job, a demotivated squad with a chaotic predecessor, catching the virus himself , the lockdown and then the disastrous start to the resumption. And he has taken it all in his stride . He will be targeted by every big club in football in a couple of years but he has a vision and if it is on track and he gets KSE support he will stay I think
I’d be sad to see Hector go though
TTG makes a good point about
whether he has fulfilled his early
potential. We’ve had a good look
at AMN at right back already and
to me he isn’t the answer though
wing back may work out better.
Perhaps Nelson too, otherwise it
will be Soares at right back in
a back four.
We’d be weakening in one area
to strengthen another – a gamble
obviously but less of a risk than
selling Laca I think.
Completely agree with TTG @66 that what Arteta has done in such a short time is nothing short of astounding. The players can recognize in him the kind of manager they wished they could have had their entire careers. At least, more inspiring than playing for Fat Sam. 😉
TTG,
@66
MA is great but did you forget to mention
he persuaded Xhaka to stay too? 😃
Matt@69
Everyone is allowed one mistake .😃😃
Tbh the fact that Arteta is so loyal to Xhaka has made me question my own conviction that he is very limited. . Arteta is a way better judge than me ….but then I see the guy play. But if we were to sign Ceballos, Partey and Aouar ( pioedream I know) he isn’t going to start in our midfield
FAQs for how reduced capacity is going to work
https://www.arsenal.com/news/faqs-reduced-capacity-matches
A summary
https://www.arsenal.com/news/202021-season-tickets-and-reduced-capacity-games
Arsenal Supporters Trust comments on the new ticketing arrangements
https://www.arsenaltrust.org/feed/news/2020/AST-ticketing-arrrangements-202021
GSD@61: There is no way that we will get £45 million for Hector. If we manage half that, we would be doing very well. Fair market value for him, Guendouzi, Lacazette and Torreira would be in the range of £85 million to £115 million in my book. You are still at least £10 million and more likely £25 million short.
TTG@64: What Bellerin has lost since his injury is that blistering burst of acceleration that he relied on to mitigate defensive shortcomings. That said, his defending seems to have improved since he returned, perhaps by necessity.
Agree with all the praise for Arteta. At this level football is a game played in the mind. He has just got into everybody’s head, but in the best possible way.
TTG @ 66. I haven’t heard this three year champions league plan being reported anywhere else. I like it. Surely it means a league win either next year or in two years? To do that we need quality. If Arteta has persuaded the owners to spend a bit more (obviously balanced by necessary sales) then I’d love to see who we bring in. I’d be absolutely thrilled with Partey, Auoar and Eduoardo. That sounds pie in the sky, but so does a CL win anytime soon. If the whole club is genuinely buying into this plan then we will have to see more investment than anyone expected.
In the video with the three Brazilians they all mentioned winning trophies a lot of times. Of course, that may just be typical stuff that players say but it does seem as though they are fully bought into whatever Arteta has said to them.
After so many season of thinking we need four or five players to have a good tilt at the title only to see two or three arrive it would be a big change to see us invest heavily and wisely (no £36m Mustafi, £17m Perez etc. bollocks). There seems to be a new energy at the club. I wonder how far that will translate into what we do in the market? I honestly have no idea who we will add or how many more players will come in. There are a few very interesting weeks ahead.
Ned @74.
If the owners are as confident as Arteta is, at least of a top four spot next year, would they make up a £25m shortfall?
I suppose that Ozil’s contract and the possibility of selling Kola, Mustafi and/or Chambers are also variables.
GSD
Here it is ! It must be gospel it was in the Daily Star !
https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/chelsea-arsenal-willian-mikel-arteta-22556824
C100
Thanks for attaching this . I think it’s a coherent and fair plan. I will be taking a rain check at the moment because of my wife’s Vulnerability . Should a vaccine emerge I’m minded to renew my old seat and watch us win the league!
Interesting and exciting stats
William Saliba’s tackling during the 2019-20 Ligue 1 season:
❍ 24 attempted
❍ 19 made
❍ 5 x dribbled past
❍ 0 fouls
Gabriel Magalhães’ tackling during the 2019-20 Ligue 1 season:
❍ 55 attempted
❍ 41 made
❍ 7 x dribbled past
❍ 7 fouls
Can you imagine a CB back not giving up a foul during any games he played in a season !
Cheers for the link TTG.
I certainly hope he does get to add a CL medal to his collection in the next three years!
TTG@78: Compare and contrast those foul records with David Luiz’s five red cards last season.
Oops. That should have been five yellows. He got only two reds.
Point well made though Ned
IF we played gabriel and saliba in a 4, and they had similar stats to last year, our cbs would have 60 made/79 attempted, 12 dribbled past, and 7 fouls. i assume no penalties, either. that’s a tackle percentage of 76, and a foul percentage of 9. do the monks have any idea what the best two of our cbs this season did?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>