The Europa League Final Embarrassment As It Happened
May 29th, 2019 by 'holic
Although the team picked itself really I could at least say I had nailed it again. I’m sure Unai reads the previews. Also as predicted Kante started for Chelsea. The mood ahead of the London derby in a ridiculous location was said to be good with Chelsea and Arsenal supporters mixing peacefully. Let’s hope it remains that way in the coming hours.
How would we cope with the Chelsea front three of Pedro, Hazard, and Olivier Giroud? Could Chelsea deal with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette? Luiz freed Pedro in the opening minute but Petr Cech came and played as sweeper keeper to snuff out the danger.
Our first chance arrived in the ninth minute when Kepa could only punch a cross from Ainsley Maitland-Niles to Aubameyang but the first shot of the contest drifted wide of the far post. Not surprisingly the opening phase was cagey and this was a welcome attack of note. Lacazette looked to free Aubameyang five minutes later, but just failed to do so.
Two minutes later Granit Xhaka picked out Sead Kolasinac on the left flank but Azpilicueta recovered to block the cross. VAR denied us a penalty when Kepa appeared to catch Lacazette as he was put through one on one. How costly would that non decision prove? We were taking control of the contest and Jorginho had to concede a corner to prevent another Maitland-Niles cross from reaching it’s intended destination.
We needed to turn the scoreboard over in this spell of pressure. Lacazette went chasing a Torreira through ball and Azpilicueta all but tore his shirt off to deny the Gunners striker in the box, although to be fair it probably started outside the area. Still no award was forthcoming. Pedro fouled Monreal and Sokratis reached the resulting free-kick at full stretch but his header looped into the grateful arms of Kepa.
Chelsea finally threatened on 25 minutes and mercifully Giroud miscontrolled a cross from Pedro as we were stretched on a rare break. Aubameyang responded with a cross that Lacazette could only deflect over the raiding Kolasinac. Then Granit Xhaka clipped the crossbar with a thunderous right footer from the edge of the area. We truly deserved something at this point but not scoring was looking ominous.
A corner and an Azpilicueta run around the half hour mark highlighted the ability of Chelsea to spring forward but defensively we pleasingly stood firm. We responded with a header wide by Sokratis Papastathopoulos from a corner. We held firm again when Cech got down quickly to his left to deny Emerson and Maitland-Niles dispossessed the dangerous Hazard in the box.
Back we came and Kepa looked far from confident punching a Kolasinac cross back into the danger area. It was becoming an end to end contest as half-time approached and Maitland-Niles again denied Hazard in the box. It was worrying that Chelsea had created that one on one situation. Six minutes from the break Cech denied Giroud with a magnificent save at full stretch to his left. We reached the half-time whistle both frustrated and relieved.
Mesut Ozil had appeared largely anonymous in the first-half, but look again. He was doing the man-marking job on Jorginho that Aaron Ramsey had done so well in the home Premier League fixture. He was unable to contribute as much creatively as a result and Unai Emery must have been thinking of switching to a flat back four at some point in order to get Alex Iwobi into the midfield as well.
That wasn’t a consideration at the start of the second-half which began with Aubameyang raiding down the right wing only to see Luiz half-block his attempted cross to Lacazette into the path of Kepa. At the other end Hazard teed up Giroud but mercifully the former Gunner miscued it and we survived. It was but a temporary reprieve. Giroud, who else, dived in front of Koscielny to send a diving header just inside the goalpost and we had paid the penalty for not scoring when dominant in the first-half.
That switch from Emery now appeared more desirable than ever to this old fool. We attempted to respond but Chelsea now had massed ranks of blue at the back. Pedro picked up the first yellow card of the night, seemingly for dissent, or was it for diving? That was a bit fussy of the Italian referee perhaps.
Torreira was denied by a Kante block as we sought a crucial equaliser. Chelsea broke again and as the hour approached they virtually sealed the deal when Hazard picked out the unmarked Pedro who passed the ball inside the far post. The back three was being exposed. When would Emery make the long overdue change?
Disaster followed. Maitland-Niles flattened Giroud in the box and Hazard’s penalty sealed the deal. It was his farewell gift to the bus stop in Fulham, but gifted to him by the inaction of Emery. This was not the end of season we had prayed for. Too late he sent on Iwobi, and astonishingly Matteo Guendouzi, for Monreal and Torreira. Where was Danny Welbeck?
Iwobi’s impact was immediate. Christensen was booked for fouling him, the resulting free-kick was diverted into his path, and an immaculate volley reduced the deficit, but too late. Giroud chipped a peach to Hazard at the far post and it was 4-1.
BBC summed up the next phase perfectly. “A shot at each end as this game just falls apart in terms of discipline and shape. Eden Hazard has a curler pushed away by Petr Cech and then Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang fires over.” Cech then produced another magnificent save to deny Willian. He was unquestionably our man of the match. A telling verdict on a night of shame. Sokratis too had to summon his last ounce of energy to deny the same player.
Azpilicueta smashed one just past the far post as The Arsenal simply waved a white flag. It’s hard being objective at this point. Apologies, but this is embarrassing. As I typed that Christensen blocked Lacazette’s effort as 4-2 looked likely. Joe Willock, introduced for Ozil, should have scored the second but shanked a curler wide of the mark. No criticism of the lad intended. It was probably a good idea to give him a taste of the big game. With no Champions League football next season we will need to promote the pick of the youngsters next season. He is one.
The best team over the ninety minutes unquestionably won tonight. We paid the ultimate penalty for not taking advantage of our first-half dominance. Cruelly three minutes were added at the end when it would have been kinder to put us out of our misery. Well played Chelsea. I hope I never have to write those words again. Let’s all spare a thought for those hardy souls who actually reached Baku, a crap venue for a crap Final performance. Sorry.
The end of season surrender of a Champions League place reflects badly on the head coach. In truth given the position we were in having played all of the big six with a couple of months of the season to go it was criminal. He got a second chance tonight, and failed again with his inaction until the game was lost. He has to be given a second season. We’re not a Chelsea, but he has to demonstrate quickly next season that he has learned the lessons of his first end-of-season.
181 Responses to “The Europa League Final Embarrassment As It Happened”
Bang. And goodbye block 4.
https://youtu.be/yfjNJ6gmoww
We know which time this one was…!
Let’s hope Sanlehi has the rich Turkish clubs on speedial.
A difficult one to write, ‘Holic. So well done. Not a night to remember, but somehow reflective of the way the end of the season has gone pear-shaped. A lot of work to be done over the summer.
so much for “work from home” day.
scruz – I still have hope, in the form of the golden state warriors (apologies to lone star).
Reposted from last drinks with more apologies.
Well if that is what we look like fighting to get into the Champions league then god help us, Ozil unsurprisingly useless again and I know its an unpopular opinion but I still do not rate either Auba or Laca.
This was pathetic but sadly not without precedent as this is exactly how the season ended not even with a whimper but abject apathy.
Thanks H. Tough one to write.
I watched on a Russian stream and I’ve not seen lots of replays. AMN is hardly a big concern (he has skills) but he is TOO calm. He has fire in him and I want to see it. I wonder if he was fouled before their second or just went down assuming he would get the FK? Possibly someone who has seen a replay could confirm but H did not even seen it worth a mention, which I guess does not bode well. That was the turning point.
That was the predictable Arsenal implosion all over again. I honestly wouldn’t care if half of that team were sold. Emery should make a massive statement by putting Ozil on the transfer list at 8a.m. tomorrow morning along with any other clown who believes they can churn out an insipid display like that and get away with it. Unfortunately, expect more of this mediocrity under Kroenke – this is what Arsenal are now. No actually, this is what Arsenal have been for the last decade or so. Should we be surprised??
Giroud’s opener was class. Good for him.
Chelsea were not great but beat us comfortably. Yet I struggle to find a player on our side I would rate below a 5. No one was terrible. And I totally disagree with people saying we did not care or weren’t up for it. I’ve seen us phone it in, and this was not that.
Well done H. Tough to write that up.
I feel massively for those who made the effort to go all the way out there. If the club had an ounce of decency left in them then they would refund everyone’s travel costs.
I must admit, it’s rare that I’ve felt this embarrassed watching my beloved club. I honestly don’t know where we go from here now. We are such a mess both on and off the field. If playing in this shit competition next season means we are restricted in the transfer market then we have gone from fucked, to proper fucked.
A sad performance and a sad state of affairs.
we faxed it in dino
I remember when we lost Big Ears to Barca. My reaction was spectacular. The stuff off legend. In my area anyway.
Tonight I just don’t care that much. Football has become a billionaire’s status symbol. Except our billionaire is true to his calling and cares only about money. He is not trying to gain legitimacy or recognition. Just more dollars. I’ve made my peace with that. So it just does not hurt like it used to.
I used to get so annoyed when the unitiated said ‘its only football’…
Luckily we get Bellerin,Holding and Reiss nielson back plus callum chambers
Perhaps the question GSD is who was above a 5?
Cech? Sokratis? Not too sure I would go with anyone else? Kos and Xhaka did okay but hardly inspiring.
Rudderless and lacklustre. Just nowhere near good enough, and certainly not in a European final with a champions league place at stake.
CBA @ 11
The Baku internet reception was so dodgy they could not receive our Twitter or instagram surrender. Even emails were queued. maybe our tech gurus deserve credit fir the hitherto unmanageable skill of sending a white flag via fax.
But seriously. We tried. We just weren’t good emough to beat a pretty average side. That’s where we are at.
A team filled with second raters, GSD? Agreed.
First order of business should be trying to find a buyer for Ozil and if there isn’t one, buy out his contract and get him out the door on a free.
Might as well pay to actually not be here as pay him to virtually not be.
Steve.
Totally agree. I don’t want to go overboard and act like we were all rubbish. That’s just too easy and misses the point. We were all fine. No mustafi-esque brainfarts.
But as a collective we were bang average. We lost to a decent side. But despite the 3 goal defecit I can’t say they were good.
We are just a long way from being good enough to compete at the level we all want.
You did a sterling job with that report Holic because I could feel every ounce of your pain. It’s easy to be knee jerk after the game and we are getting some emotional comments already. Believe me Auba and Lacazette are NOT the main problem .
I sense Holic’s unease with Emery and it is clear he has not done a good enough job this season. Some of the awful performances in the last few games were hard to believe.
Defensively we lost two vital players but we never produced a consistent defensive performance over a clutch of games. My biggest concern is whether there is enough quality in our management and decision-makers even with the prat Gazidis gone . We seem to be creating positions off the field for fun but it’s on the field where we are not doing anywhere good enough a job.
The Kroenkes need a big rallying statement to encourage a fan base that will soon be asked for a large sum of money to watch Thursday night football for the third successive season. Under their ownership we are falling far behind where Arsenal should be.
Probably no one wants to hear a positive response right now, and fair enough, but I thought Willock looked bright!
dino
to steal a line from scruz
and such a line
“my stomach is empty and my nerves aboil”
They’re not the main problem but they’re not top class strikers either. They are the best we can hope for, so unless we got an absolutely insane offer for one of them…
We have so many problems elsewhere though. Midfield doesn’t offer anything. It’s not defensive enough and not decisive enough going forward.
Been saying it for ages but Kolasinac is a nothing player. Not a good defender, not a good midfielder (certainly not wide anyway).
Xhaka is awful, Torreira needs a quality partner and will come good with one.
Defensively the whole lot who were on that pitch tonight should go, they’re all poor or past it. AMN is another Kolasinac IMO, not a defender and with little to recommend as a midfielder.
If there’s potential in him, he can go off and prove it somewhere else then come back.
Huge rebuild to do and no money to do it with. If we cannot shift Ozil and HM from the wage bill, we’re fucked.
Agree totally GSD, and TTG.
I often say, the outcome will depend on which Arsenal team turns up on the day. Unfortunately, it was “that” one.
Roll on Saturday and a day out at Twickenham.
Under Kroenke we are screwed. Yet if he was our owner thirty years ago people woukd have loved our financial stability. The game has changed. Lack of financial legislation has brought us to this point.
We blame Kroenke because he affects the club we love. But he is not the first. Would we feel any better if he treated us the way other owners do, as a way to gain legitimacy for their unscrupulous earnings? Uzmanov, anyone? How much money would we lift our skirts for? What value does WINNING have, and what price is too high?
I see the way football has gone. It’s too late. Tonight was the first night I realised how little I care anymore.
The final was in BAKU. The thing I thought I was holding on to is already bolting into the night.
I love Arsenal.
But football can do one.
Excellent first goal from the HFB. Substitutions were too late and poor. Willock looked bright, GSD. Kolasinac should be nowhere near the Premier League.
Nice night in St Andrews. Folks teeing off on the first tee when I left the pub! Golf in the Kingdom.
Have a great summer, Holics.
cba
You usually have a good line of your own. So I’m glad to see that if you’re stealing one then it’s a cracker.
I can’t join you in the sentiment however. My stomach is full of vodka and coconut water. And possibly, although I hope I do not get to test this theory, the remnants of my sushi dinner.
Drinks on the bar, ‘Holics. Drown yer sorrows…Howdy, Scruz (from the previous drinks)
Tough day at the office. Signicant institutional response required. Might not have the stamina for next season if them lot are successful on Saturday.
Anyway. Drink now, worry tomorrow. I’ll be drinkin’ and singin’ all night…
SMBD
well join in fella
cos
i’m stealing barbecue pineapple
for homebrew
and
cos of 8ball singing homegrown yesterday
Neil Young has rattled the walls here since
.
.
so
here’s to ‘holic and his mighty ‘holics
the only positive i’m taking away from today
That was pathetic. No shame in getting turned over by the might of a Bayern pr Barca at the top of their game but Chelski were not even that gpod. See you next season. I need a break from it.
I stopped posting a few weeks ago when the opportunity to qualify for the top four was in our hands and then we crumbled in the final stretch against teams we should have beaten. I just stopped enjoying my football.
The second half tonight was just like so many other nights we have suffered this past season, we capitulated to a team who were set up to thwart our primary assets , Auba and Laca. Sari’s tactics worked perfectly exposing our dodgy defence and Emery’s team selection.
It was a very difficult watch tonight on TV and the result and our performance will be sickening for all our fans who made the trip, including one of my regular travelling companions, Gooner Malcolm . Their journeys home will be long and hardly happy ones.
There are massive problems to be tackled at the Club both on and off the field . We are in for Thurs/Sunday football again next season and I can’t say I am looking forward to the new campaign.
Come on Roger give me some tennis to feast on.
North of the wall and looking for vintage classics for you, cba
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omJeStRoo_E
Delia @ 29
I couldn’t agree more in all honesty, watching the game made me feel like a twat and me and my son carried on.
Wrong tactics all the way
But hey it’s too late now
Liverpool lost the final last year, they got over their disappointment and made the final again this year – we should take a leaf from their book, in my opinion !
And it could all be oh so much worse … because (as far as I’m concerned) we’ve won two trophies these last two years: last year the ‘Wagner ahht trophy’, and this year the ‘Wagner remains ahht’ trophy. We could all be sitting here today still discussing whether Wagner was “in” or “out”!
aww now no
big man
no
now’s not the time
.
annie lennox
me ?
the dry boke
ATG.
You are a star. And you know it.
No matter how rubbish our performance was I don’t believe you felt like a twat. Just a gutted supporter. And that’s perfectly understandable.
Screw technology. Heart emoji.
@URI
NE
and yes
boke not boak
and
dry not ……….
.
now get back to me btm
when ye’ve 1930s recordings
of
ginger eyeballed men
with tweed coarsing through their veins
.
.
GSD,
Thank you buddy, so many different appointments but I will love my Arsenal!
CBA well…..
Can’t access a bad mess OMG
Love you to bits
Weak mindset
I must admit, I just feel totally empty after that. We are run by an absent owner whose only aim is to finance his USA franchises, and at our expense.
We had a top four finish easily in our own hands. But then we blow it massively.
We convincingly beat two decent sides to reach the Europa Final. We play a side we taught a footballing lesson to not that long ago and we pick this night of all nights, not to bother to turn up.
We have major problems on the horizon. Not only do we need a big clear out and a big change in personnel. We will now face the age old problem of the vultures circling. We now need to make sure that we hang on to the likes of Lacazette and Aubameyang. If a big offer comes in from a champions league club then we could well be struggling.
I for one won’t be doing the Thursday, Sunday thing again. Both days cause me major headaches and I’ve just about had enough of it.
I read that the premier league has succumb even further to the TV money men and as a result we can now look forward d to 7.45pm kick offs on a Saturday evening? If that’s true then it won’t be me.
Evening all, now becalmed again. So glad i wrote that up as it happened. I don’t think I could after the event.
To paraphrase Gatusso, first half we were good, second-half we were shit.
That I called it at half-time is borne out by this post and my tweet at the same time. We should have changed things rather than sacrifice Ozil to a man-marking role. That isn’t his bag. Now you all dig him out again for doing what Emery demanded of him.
Emery carries the can for this end of season in my eyes. Tonight should not have mattered anyway. You can disagree and that is fine. I would give him one more year to prove he has learned his lesson, but I get those who would deny him that. Perhaps we are Chelsea after all?
We need to toughen up we were useless tonight
Surprised so many want to ditch Emery when we put up with 12 years of junk under Wenger.
Emery reckons he will be gone in four years anyway, so give him the full four.
He inherited a total mess and needs more than two seasons to fix it. He’d ned more than two with a fully committed owner, willing to finance the club beyond sense.
Let’s see what next year brings, but don’t be expecting too much. As “bad” as Emery has been, “his” players have been far worse.
I believe se should type in good
He lost the final what is the time ? ATG
All good here Maestro!
Guvna, as TTG observed, as we read your excellent report of a match that defined our season we can feel and share your pain as you wrote. Early promise was unfulfilled and ultimately our talents were stifled by a well-organised defence.
Emery was outthought by Sari in the second half and as you suggest dithered when action was required. At the end of the day we weren’t good enough tonight and as blogs implied this morning, this result may be another milestone in our slow decline from competitior to also-ran.
The sad fact is that, as GSD observed, the game we loved is ALL about money now and is extremely unlovable. As well as not having the ridiculous resources of an oil-doped club, Arsenal have wasted so much money over the last decade and because of mismanagement give away players whom other clubs would only sell for top dollar. Although you can point to Liverpool’s (hopefully still more) successful season as the outcome of a club that has similar resources to us, their squad management, buying and selling practices and ownership ambition exposes the shambles we have been in all these areas. I have yet to be convinced that things have materially changed and I fear that I will not see Arsenal compete at the top level again unless someone rich, persuasive and probably menacing makes the execrable Kroenke an offer that he cannot refuse.
Anyone want two season tickets for next season?
More wine please, bartender.
My thoughts are with the travelling support. Heroes all and the real victims of tonight’s pantomime. It may be time to settle for Bath City.
whether ye need it or not
Have to agree with GSD@9, no one was phoning it in, and they played to the end. But we gave away four preventable goals, and we failed to score when we were on top during the first half — two old failings.
I also agree with GSD@19: Willock looked the part, as he has done in his previous cameos.
Tactically, using Ozil to man-mark doesn’t strike me as the best use of his talents. It left the midfield bereft of creativity and Auba and Lacca bereft of decent service.
cba on the half ton like white on rice.
ricist !
🙂
Around lunchtime I had a cheery message from Baku from a good mate I have met on European trips before. He was just off to meet another mutual friend and I felt a twinge of momentary envy.
It was only momentary because I thought of the inconvenience I would have caused by going and the selfishness I would feel about the cost and the time I would be taking away from home .
Now those poor sods have to find their way back over the next two days and return to face a very unappetising season .
If Tottenham win on Saturday it will create huge waves of despondency. It could have been a fine night to end our season but it was desultory and inadequate and has shown Unai is yet to acquire a magic hat . Frankly I think we need someone else but maybe its too early to reach that conclusion .
Perhaps the best thing we can do is pray that the Kroenkes decide to sell. Nothing else would lift our spirits
Sky’s player ratings GSD. What do you think???
https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11959/11731075/chelsea-4-1-arsenal-europa-league-final-player-ratings
ned ?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25W_bRYStPk
fuck it boys
.
time to get behind the scousers
.
time to Stand Tall
.
or indeed
bend down
(depends on the motor)
(and the height of the hubcaps really)
.
they’ll advise when ye get there
? arthur 39
.
i know this is like saying to me
“Oh , those potatoes eh , fuckin delicious”
but
as a triumph today
as admittedly has happened regularly before
lowicz syrup homebrewed into falling down water
was enjoyed by herself and her mate
raspberry or malina as i’m well aware it’s really called
becomes fizzy 5 to 6% giggle juice
.
.
it really is lovely
not a session drink for me
but a cold one out o the fridge
is amazing and dangerous
and about 30p a bottle
.
i’m on the apfelwein 9%
so apologies for talking shite
???
and
so as a transparent bastard
would do
to distract himself and everyone around
today
.
i have 150 treacle stout pint bottles
primed and capped and set aside
to age a few months
a mate is visiting soon
long time since
and although it sounds a lot
its bugger all if a dozen guzzlers
hit their stride
but it should be delicious
and
nobody leaves till they’re done
can’t help but think again
if c100 hadda away dayed
a fuckin entertaining spin
woulda taken up some space of
all our future memories
of this fuckin fiasco
There is nothing as awful as having to compete in Europa, meaning you have to do fourteen of your premiership matches on Sundays to get to the final, just to lose the last match and have to endure the same slog the following year, hoping to win it, which can be a crap shoot.
Maybe the way to go forward is to blow things up, go with academy and young hungry signees. Position yourself to finish eighth in the league, do as well as you can in Europa, and if you happen to win it, good. If not, you get the opportunity to blood in a sold core of young powerful players with nothing to focus on except the premiership in year two.
.
sorry ‘hol
personal distraction indeed
.
.
the distractions – great band
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_rnCi5q_ec
.
.
.
at it again ?
Thanks Guvnor, a fair report in difficult
circumstances. It was an encouraging
first 30 minutes. Then an hour of pretty
much continuous misery.
You’re a far better man than me to have
got it written Guvvy and I hope you will
continue as our hostest with the mostest
next season.
Agree with GSD@9 really. We couldn’t
stand firm and we couldn’t turn it round
but that wasn’t down to lack of effort.
A sad end to the season. The measure of
us now will be what we do about it rather
than what happened in any of the individual
games good or bad. I hope for the best
as always!!
we got to the final
but
just precisely what effort
bar headless chickenhood
did we make 2nd half tonight
had we won tonight
and moved up a rung
how would we have looked
in the champions league
with tonight’s not lack of effort
as our strength
.
i think it’s a shift in attitude
is needed –
shorts and suits
ooooooooooooooh
now there’s a shock
anyhoo
i’m gonna watch the bats
for a while
can’t see the moths
putting in a shift
if i’m honest
to be fair
Well…….I didn’t say it was a
good or effective effort.
We played badly and got
punished. It’s not much of a
difference but there is some
between not playing well and
not bothering.
if ye aren’t gonna bother
don’t bother
anyhoo
i’m the last person
should be throwing his weight about here
what with all my infirmities
cba,
I expect us to buy a CB, LB
and RW in the summer, then
win the double before going
on to dominate the game for
the next 80 years until my untimely
death at the age of 134.
As my statue, sandwiched between
those of Arsene Wenger and Chimpy
McHandy, our first human-monkey
hybrid goalie, is unveiled outside
Fortress Gooner Stadium, I can
imagine your homebrew salted tears
of regret at ever doubting me will
flow plentifully over my delicately
chiselled marble feet.
.
like the irretrievable aural assault
of drunk cunts
who you made drunk
pontificating first
on the middle east
and whether anti semitism is a bla blaaah bla
and then men calling themselves women and boxing
.
free speech
free beer
i dunno
japan 72 ?
fuckin brilliant ???
from this day forward
restrictions on homebrew here
shall be known as The Osakas
.
.
i’m serious
just ask the youngest grandchild
takeabowsonson
generosity breeds arseholery
thanks japan
i feel clean
The Osaka Protocol
?
.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EThkE3QIk4c&app=desktop
two hours to go to sleep
fuckin knackered
can’t wait
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnAG4KBOLXI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05DplyHKxzM
fuckin ell
gettin all cowboyey
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fT675sUUJqQ
mind you
at least im staring at the bastards now
so i’m two budds and half a boetticher off golden
pilgrim
.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoZymsInDEA
it is
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mI2-m4BmGiQ
i am
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZY8bdQRpmGU
a clever segue
not
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pXnZdy5U1Q
it’s not football
but it’s a journey
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89X18FWMSI4
fuckin scotland again
can’t get away from the big blue cunt
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1xPLjvDmac
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RlvDlI0EXo
it is
so it is hi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vilHf90cSc
.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nohbAywTeP0
typical
fuckin scotland again
why not relatively relevant relations from elsewhere
.
distant(very) cousin
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJquCcBvkXE
sweet merciful mother of god
my good lady wife
is what you common thames divers
would phonetically call
‘A RITE SAUGHT’
(that’s correct, no)
but
fuck me francoise is a brain full
.
think of her when you see
her wee brother mark
and by the way
ya lusty fuckin shower
when she smiles at the camera
MOVE ALONG !
NOTHING TO SEE HERE !
.
i don’t know people
.
.
I AM PEOPLE !
.
.
grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
.
.
Bang
Nips in for the ton
So I wake to a new blog in another place that again states boldly that Unai Emery is the wrong man for the Arsenal job, which is odd after about ten years of insistence that a clearly failing Arsene Wenger was the right man, the only man, for it.
How things change.
Rachel Yankey on Sky Sports News summed it up perfectly for me.
Chelsea had Eden Hazard, we had Mesut Ozil. Hazard didn’t play well but scored twice, Ozil was unable to have any impact.
Simple as that.
The problem is the players. It’s funny how the players got the vast majority of the blame under Wenger, with him escaping criticism until his last year or two, but the new guy is already not good enough and should be out, when it’s not even his team. And yeah I accept we have not been helped by an unsettled system, but largely the same players have been making the same mistakes and the signings re of insufficient quality, especially in defence.
Just as for all his success, Ferguson left behind a complete mess in personnel terms, Wenger did the same.
The people to be looking at are the people doing the recruiting, in the past and last summer, who bought the players. Then you can look at how they’re being used.
You cannot expect a manager to come in and turn average players into class acts. He could organise them better, but let’s not forget that we lost players who had been playing well to injuries. We have discovered that our squad is piss weak both technically and in terms of character (we knew anyway but it has been rammed home this season in spades).
We have a team that is largely relying on Ozil, Iwobi and HM to create and on Xhaka and Torreira to provide a shield to an awful defence.
And it’s Emery who is the problem?
I can remember certain Mystic Megs out there slagging me off on here and claiming I’d be the first person on the new guy’s back if we didn’t win the league in his first season, when I was saying Wenger should go for years. I always said I wouldn’t be, and he’d need yers to sort the mess.
But I didn’t expect the people who are all over Emery, and in some cases have been for at least half of his FIRST SEASON, to be leading the charge. How times change.
End of ranting…
Cynic @101 fair points all.
Emery will get at least the second season in his contract, if not the one year option thereafter. Firstly because he cannot be expected to make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear in one season especially when he had little or no say in last summer’s purchases and no buys in January. Secondly because I can’t see Stan sanctioning the pay-off for the whole coaching team.
This is now a test of whoever is setting the strategic direction of the club. Arseblog raised the sixty-four thousand dollar question, ‘where’s the leadership?’ We can see there’s precious little on the pitch but it’s questionable whether there’s any in the boardroom either. Raul and Vinnie talk a good game about ‘we have a plan’ so now is the time for them to walk the walk.
Major surgery is required but not yet on the coaching bench.
deary deary me, after doing the
hard yards cba has been deprived
of his ton by some pruning lower
down the order Then TTG comes
along with the salt.
It never rains but it pours.
If you want it shorter, Aubameyang scores his penalty, we qualify for the Champions League and everybody is satisfied with the man who is now supposedly not good enough.
TTG with the Saxa, OM?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSGWUrGMsUY
Cynic,
He is the manager therefore it’s 100% his team.
I assume you’re referring to Arseblog as the “other place”? A great blog, but a hypocritical blogger. He played a very influential role in opening the door for Kroenke and keeping Dein out (because Kroenke was far less likely to interfere in our football affairs than Usmanov/Dein). Now he’s the first one to complain about his lack of involvement.
We are a mid-table team, played like one and the players were at that level only and so was the manager.
I am not here to say Emery out, it makes no sense, i definitely will blame him for yesterday’s tactics as well. If you play Ozil and not even have him involved by having your midfield pass to him then why did you even play? Was it to show that he is not good enough, if that was the case then a final was not the place to do so. A counter could be Ozil should have involved himself more etc, the fact was even our so-called attack was only switching the play to the left flank and kolasinac getting into good positions and fuck it up. I am not defending Mesut here, he can pretty much leave for all i care but really blaming him for everything yesterday and comparing him to hazard is just not right.
Talking of hazard, he was good but we always allow him to be very good. He is allowed to run time and time again with no one willing to tackle him, it is just ridiculous to see him get past our players with such ease. If it needs a hacket job so be it but how can you allow any player to be gliding past as if we dont exist.
It was not just about Eden yesterday, we made Giroud world class and only he would say that frankly. Kos for all his bravado was poor, Niles has miles to go and in this aging defense, Cech for all his greatness was always going to be found out.
I am tired, I really dont care what happens now on, nothing will change nor will i stop supporting because Arsenal is a part of life and will be till it ends, I mean my life.
@105
🙂
Always liked that song Cynic.
But surely not TTG with the axe.
He looks much too young.
Well I had to give my daughter a ride so left the pub after the second Chav goal thinking the game looked lost anyway but having forgotten my jacket rushed back to see we were giving up the third. A defence like a sieve does not win trophies.
Ooh the melodrama!
Some seriously OTT drinks on here!
Haha! Football died years ago anyway!! 🙂
You do have to consider how Mikel Arteta would have faired with this team. Could he have inspired some of the players more than Emery? Would he have tinkered less with formations? Would he have played more youth? Injuries played a part but I expect most managers would struggle with this lot. Oh well we’ll just never know.
Still very disappointed here but hey ho life goes on….
This club is in a mess starting from top, if the owners don’t care why should the footballers care either? It’s this approach that has been killing us and if it comes from top nothing will change until we change direction.
Sacking Unai will not solve it however we need someone in charge who will make unpleasant decisions if it comes to that.
Since we’re going backwards why not start from scratch ditch those players on high salaries and promote young ones after all we haven’t got any money to spend so a new culture is needed and needed badly.
Agree with all that, ATG @113
What a dastardly fellow I am nicking CBA’s deserved ton. Sorry CBA ( not really )
Back to the inquest. Holic pinpointed one of the big mistakes accurately . Emery had asked Ramsey to obliterate Jorginho in January and he did so very effectively. This time he chose Ozil. Ozil is a very different bird and one that is increasingly unsuited to the pace of English football. His stats from last season are way down on before and he certainly doesn’t have the dynamism or energy of Ramsey.
Although I think he has lots to prove I thought Guendouzi might fill that role because of his mobility . Torreira might do the defensive bit but may again lack the dynamism Ramsey gave us. Note how dangerous we looked after young Willock came on . It might have been a big ask to slot in Willock but I’m sure he would have done a good job .
Our youngsters may be our salvation. We should concentrate on buying a defence and a holding midfielder.
indeed osaka M 103
it’s as if all my bullshit
was for nothing ?
but
thunder T is a good man
so the crushing blow is only near fatal
plus
i think it’s very funny from the boss
?
well now
ive just seen 114
consider yerself the recipient
of a very hard stare thunder T
?
When all the hysteria has died down we can say a/ We were bl*ody close via the Prem ; a pen v’s Spurs or holding on for 1-0 home to Brighton…sortathing and b/ 45 mins away via the EL final. That is much, much closer than last year on both fronts. It came down to depth and I’m not sure you can pin that on Emery, in fact I’m sure you can’t. Chelsea brought on Willian, we brought on Willock. He HAD to rotate in the league with ten games in 30 days. Jenks, Elneny, Mavroponos…come on, just not up to it. He had to persist with Mustafi for various reasons. I was amazed we couldn’t have scraped through those games more efficiently and I now bet Emery wishes he had blooded the likes of Willock and Mavroponos earlier but he’s human, that was probably a mistake. Chins up Gooners, I know Thursday/Sunday football sucks but at least with this manager we do know something will change here. He’s shown he has the balls to at least try to chase the poor, wretched Ozil out of our club, plus he’s going to give youth a chance and/or get some physicality into the defence via transfers. No it’s not going to be huge money signings but quite a few will leave and it’s going to be interesting again. Surely there’ll be a freshness to the project we can all get behind ?Who knows, maybe Citeh will get their comeuppance anyway and we’ll sneak in via the tradesmen’s entrance. When you look at how Prem teams have done in CL and you see how we dispatched Napoli and Valencia I don’t buy this idea we’re not ready. So fingers crossed there, Citeh are cheats. Happy Summer to all. Thanks again to the Guv.
CBA
Boy was that a hard stare! I consider myself thoroughly stared at.
Cue lots of very misleading stories about Arsenal’s transfer budgets geared to wind up the already depressed Gooner fan base. The loss of Cech, Ramsey, Welbeck , Jenkinson and hopefully Mkhi and Ozil will free up a significant amount – circa £35-40 million assuming we subsidise Ozil’s wages somewhere. With fee amortisation and lower-paid players it may be we can make four or five signings especially if we can raise capital sums for Mkhitaryan, Xhaka , Mustafi and Elneny . But transfer records are unlikely to be broken .
The big issue will be keeping the two strikers , Torreira and ensuring our best youngsters don’t go off to Germany .
Nice (?) one, Holic,
sorry your last one of another season’s fine write-ups had to be so depressing.
Fortunately, I had a family day out arranged for today, which was a welcome distraction from more miserable thoughts at yet another disappointment.
Lots of very good, thoughtful posts above. Frankly, I don’t want to ruin a nice day by getting depressed thinking about it all over again.
‘Til tomorrow.
thunder T
yeah !
.
trev ?
Thanks Trev.
I still have no doubt that the head coach was entirely to blame for this catastrophe, but it is done, and I hope he has learned lessons. He deserves a second season to show that he has. He had five players last summer, but that will be a stretch target this summer without Champions League money to look forward to.
Whoever he is able to add should be supplemented by the pick of the youngsters who most will give time to bed in. Have the clear out, buy a couple of players, promote Willock, Smith Rowe, Nelson, Saka, maybe Nketiah?
Next season will tell us where we truly are on the current financial model. It’s not what was envisaged when we were ripped out of Highbury to move to the Grove.
Thank you ‘holic for another great season of witty, good humoured and insightful writing, and for your generous and friendly hosting of this wonderful bar. All the ups and downs captured in great company.
What a shame we had so many big downs near the end.
Indeed, Holic.
The promise on moving out of Highbury was that it would propel us into the top five of clubs in Europe and, therefore, presumably the world.
It wasn’t Arsenal’s fault that owners from around the world then arrived with their fortunes to grow the clubs around us.
Our owner arrived from around the world, however, for us to grow his fortune instead.
Sadly, he is getting exactly what he wanted from The Arsenal.
We are getting exactly what we didn’t want from him.
Please take your already handsome profit and go destroy someone else.
Indeed, bt8,
This end of season we’ve had more big downs than a shop full of winter duvets. ?
What bt8b said @122. Another top-notch season from you, through thick and thin, and coming through your own ‘three weeks out’ as well. All in this bar are in your debt. (Thankfully we have Lars wallet…)
hmmmm
I suspicious am
The Guvnor has suddenly
started speaking like Yoda
I click not
Of course Guv if you have
suddenly ascended to the
exalted ranks of the Jedi
… could you
play centre back for us next
season?
Well Holic, following AFC this season is turning me into an alcoholic! I think that final tipped me over the edge! It took six pints of Fuller’s London Porter and half a bottle of William Grant to witness the complete capitulation in the second half, that was such a familiar theme of the season we’ve had! Then I realised that this bunch of player’s/Manager/coaching staff/Executive board and owner wasn’t worth the hangover and switched to Gin instead!
that’s the spirit !
Next season’s line up…
Leno
Bellerin Holding New CB New LB
Torreira Chambers
New wide forward New number 10 Auba
Laca
We also need back up (and probably a 1st choice DM, as much as I hope we give Chambers a go). I’d also keep Iwobi and see what Whillock and Nelson can do. Another option in midfield may well be AMN, as he needs to play there IMO rather than RB.
Another random thought, I’d concentrate on the Premier League next season, rather than prioritising the EL! Sure a cup is nice, but in no small part, due to Unai neglecting the PL, we finished spotless and outside of the top 4!!
UTA..
POTLESS*
Vexing.
The situation we find ourselves in, I mean. It would be nice if we could just come up with a crop of great young players as Monaco did a few years ago with Mbappe and the others. Open up an offshore casino?
This time of year the focus turns to exits and arrivals. Most of us can design a long list of exits but I would assure fans many of whom don’t see our other teams play that we have an exceptional crop of youngsters , certainly in an attacking sense. I’m not sure, other than Okonkwo the young goalkeeper , if we have any defenders who might make it but I think next season Nketiah , Nelson, Amaechi, Smith- Rowe, Saka , John-Jules , Willock and possibly Balogun could all play in the first team, especially in Europe.
As for Dexter’s team I’m of similar mind but see Chambers as a squad player rather than a starter but he is a useful and versatile player.
Behind this generation we have Musah and Azeez who I haven’t seen other than on Arsenal.com and they are very highly rated. I’d rather we promoted these boys if the long-term value is going to be greater than bringing in foreign lads who want to swan off to Barca after two years with us.
TTG
Thanks, I tend to agree and have felt we need to utilise the youth players as much as possible.
I’d like to think Medley will be promoted too and possibly Ballard as well from the defenders we have. Also AMN needs a go in midfield for me.
I do hope Liverpool come to the party tomorrow because if the Spuds win we will literally never hear the end of it. It struck me in a very melancholy moment that while Kroenke is in charge we will never win the Cup with Big Ears. We may never compete in it while he is in charge. The Spuds are ninety minutes from winning it. Aaagghh!
That is part 2, the final part of the doomsday scenario…
It can never happen…
coupla good fellas
left the fuck alone
if you make a proper show
.
clearly
fuck arse cunts
.
baff said
It’s a football blog
.
where better ?
https://vimeo.com/253637267
TTG @135,
I’ve had much the same thought about the Europa League next season.
In fact I’d go even further. The blessed thing has been a massive distraction from our Premier League run in. Four points from six very winnable fixtures was quite pathetic and some of the team selections smacked of prioritising the European trophy.
That’s all fine and dandy if you actually win the thing, but it’s an unnecessarily high risk strategy, especially with Napoli, Valencia and Chelsea still in the mix.
Ok, we did very well against Napoli and Valencia but selecting Guendouzi and Elneny in centeal midfield once was bad enough, but to repeat the folly two weeks later was absolutely stupid.
So, for next season’s Europa League, I would hand the whole shooting match over to the U23’s. It would be interesting to see how far their undoubted skill, but moreso their hunger and togetherness would take them.
I’m not a fan of the mix and match approach which usually leads to a pretty disjointed performance. Let the team that has developed together play together. It would also be good experience for Freddie to travel and work with Emery in the European games.
If we are goung to integrate a number of U23s into the first team this season, it would be good to see Freddie in the dugout for Premier League games too.
This isn’t a dig at Steve Bould but for all he does on match days, Freddie could have a seat ready and waiting for him.
If we are going to integrate youth into the first team, let’s integrate the management teams as well.
There’s revolutionary for you.
that show
the fellas made it
are not gonna be prosecuted
?
.
watch it
.
watch the show
watch the game in the bar
watch it
where better to talk to people
than a football blog
a genuine football blog
.
maybe a story needs told
maybe a story wants buried
.
seriously
.
just watch that show
and
less than marvel
at the people responsible for it
have only recently
been
kinda sorta exonerated
of made up charges
.
ye couldn’t make it up !
well
but
the
bang bang shoot shoot cunts
remain unchallenged
We have got to give some of these younger youngsters more responsibility in the first team squad if we expect any of them to develop into something special with Arsenal.
.
.
why
was britain first
founded here
.
.
‘holic
you are proud of playing a part in
running NF outta North London
.
.
.
enoch powell
found england
too wishy washy
where did he go ?
these maggots
loadsa tatts
roar and shout
places they think
they can get away with it
have zero balls
.
indeed
they were hounded out
of places
they thought they’d be welcomed
.
(story for another day , that)
.
.
.
.
.
sorry bath
but i think
a fuckin football blog
is THE place to talk about this
.
.
.
please feel free to delete all this Dave
i’m tired half cut and angry
either way
watch 140
no stone unturned
watch it
yeah blaaaaa
its all about me
its not
that’s the point
i hope as a small understanding
its understandable
the documentary is called
No Stone Unturned
and
i am not barred
though
i was reminded of the days
https://mobile.twitter.com/nowthisnews/status/1133818541650538496
anyhoo
choooon for 8ball
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kO8C9X_3cHM
and
rumours i did a fantastic version of that
are ridiculous
and accurate
no
not in sunny Donegal today
in depressing belfast
it really is a shithole
fulla go out an gettum
internet generation herberts
ye heard us ?
SQWAWK
SQWAWK
SQWAWK
twat
Apologies, Holic.
I earlier omitted to thank you for another season of excellent previews, match reports, historical pieces and stimulating discussions. I remain in awe at your productivity and commitment.
Thankyou moreover for your provision of this fine establishment for sane, respectful and challenging discussions. I do hope you can find the energy to keep going despite the dispiriting end to the season and the dark clouds many of us perceive on the horizon.
It’s been a real pleasure to meet you and many of the denizens of this hostelry in person thanks to this virtual bar and it has enhanced my match-day experiences over the last decade. I hope to share a drap o’ the cratur with you before too long.
Sláinte chiel!
It’s just been announced that Jose Antonio Reyes has died in a car accident at the age of 35. Very sad news. Thoughts and prayers are with his family.
The last name I had printed on a shirt and the last replica shirt I bought, in fact.
Fucking hell. :'(
Test drink…
Only just saw about poor Reyes.
That is very sad, and awful for his
family.
Awful news, indeed, about Jose Antonio Reyes. Thoughts and prayers with his family.
The death of a young man at 35 years of age puts a lot including football into perspective.
An Invincible has gone and will me much missed .RIP José Antonio
What a sad loss and for one so young. Descanse en paz Jose Antonio Reyes. What a load of lives he touched in Spain and in England, as the BbC article about his life shows, particularly the words of Cesc Fabregas
Always liked Reyes
.. 🙁
R. I. P
Was rewatching the invincibles the other day and remembered how much I liked Reyes and how sad it was that he could never settle in London, seeing the news today just made it even sadder to reminisce, screw how our season turned out we just lost one member of the invincibles showing that there are more important things in life.
Rest in piece Jose.
I have two particular memories of Jose Antonio.
Firstly a fifth round FA Cup tie agains5 Chelsea at Highbury. Trailing 1-0 Reyes hit an Exocet of a drive into the top left- hand corner . Absolute cracker. A couple of minutes later he scrambled home from close range to win us the match- that was part of a run of four successive wins over Chelsea in the FA Cup in four seasons.
The other was during our 49 match unbeaten run against Middlesbrough at Highbury. We were trailing 3-1 in the second half when Dennis , then Bobby Pires scored and from the kick-off Reyes turned inside his man and hit a right-footer past Schwarzer. The old stadium exploded with joy. Memories of happier times
The Chelsea game always has Motson commentary when I see clips of it, but Martin Tyler was doing the game (which was on Sky if I remember correctly).
He was also the commentator on that Middlesbrough game, although many YouTube clips have a different one by Alan Parry. I remember that goal in particular for two things.
Firstly that we scored whilst Sky were still showing replays of the previous goal live (this is not on the highlights videos) and for the Tyler commentary.
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/xjhgaj
Stand up. For the Champions.
That us awful news and certainly does put things into perspective.
So sad.
What an awful final. Not a great advert for English football .
The Totts were unlucky ( in my view) about the pen . It wasn’t even handball let alone deliberate but they shouldn’t have started Kane .Flat game – two very nervous sides
It’s come to something when
I’m relieved Liverpoo have won
the CL.
Citeh and Liverpool see straight in 2019 but what about 2020???♂️?
Cynic et al,
Problem is not simply players.
Emery was brought in as a Europa League specialist to get us back to champions league, who allegedly had a very detailed presentation about our players and was known for being meticulous in preparation for individual matches, making us more tactically astute and flexible for challenging EPL games. He was the antiWenger who could improve our struggling players and overhaul our pathetic defense so he was given £70m to spend on defenders and a keeper.
We fluked the unbeaten streak and reverted to form the rest of the season. Our defense and offensive statistics are worse across the board, and some are at all time EPL lows.
You don’t have to listen to me though. Tim summarizes pretty well.
http://7amkickoff.com/index.php/2019/06/01/how-can-anyone-be-emery-out-after-just-one-season/
Emery’s system is awful, and we’ve lost our footballing identity. Many of the players are just so mediocre, but the system didn’t help them any.
Maybe we will fix our problems and close the gap next year, but my money is on falling further behind.
We conceded the same number of goals in the league this season just ended (51) as we did the previous season.
What is remarkable about the end of the season is the meltdown across the clubs who came third to sixth. Chelsea, the neighbours and ourselves won one of their final five games and ManU none at all. That adds up to three wins in 19 games.
I’m not going to pay any attention to someone who spells defence with an s
🙂
Cynic at 176
Heh heh. Same goes for colour and aluminium.
???
So, our players are mediocre,
our manager is incompetent,
our board are buffoons and
our owner a particularly
sucky leech.
Perhaps we could form the
next government.
Re: Matt @178. At least our fans are not atavistic savages such as some others I could mention.
The last time I checked.
Tissues may be required. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>