A Humbling Epiphany – Positives, Needs & Hopes

A Humbling Epiphany

An Arsenal blog from a coach’s perspective

The wet rag was out. I haven’t gone to the wet rag for a while. Lori had nicked my blood pressure cuff because teaching 1st graders these days is blood pressure cuff worthy.

The complaining was flowing like the waterfall in that Tarzan movie that I loved when i was seven. It was like I transformed myself to a place I’ve not been to for so long that I started to not recognize myself. Zinchenko’s ‘one crazy pass a game’ deal wasn’t just creating a groan like usual, but an explosion of words that mean idiot but aren’t as fruity because my kids are in the room. Xhaka’s hotly debated moment took me back to XhakaVille where I used to live. The village where the sign says, ‘XHAKAVILLE…. A place for scapegoats.’ Granit Xhaka was actually in control, not angry and didn’t need to be subbed,  but you wouldn’t know it from watching me send him back on the earliest flight to XhakaVille. Then as the game hung in the balance my reaction to Saka’s cross for Trossard and Martinelli’s pass to Saka would’ve made you think that they had recently run off with my teddy bear. Men can have teddy bears. It’s ok. At least that is what I’ve told my 49 year old self.

As we all are, I am a much more measured person after the final whistle. Lori brings me back down to earth rather quickly and this time I had to refocus on the importance of my role yesterday afternoon as the egg hider for my niece, Millie.

I don’t know if it’s other people that humble you or if your personal angel that lives on your left shoulder whispers in your ear like she does me. I sat for a few moments in the cozy corner and whilst collecting my final thoughts for this blog, I was overcome with perspective. Actual reality. Actual reality of where we are.

Firstly, we are trying to win the league. Unexpectedly, but here we are. The title is not yet close for us or City and we are in really good shape. We have two very winnable fixtures whilst they have their eyes elsewhere. We have a group of players, fans and coaches who are fully behind this experience and in the case of the fans, we have by far the most supportive fanbase currently in world football, I’d say. Being six points ahead doesn’t mean that it comes down to our trip to City. That’s disrespectful to the rest of the league who are all capable of beating City on any given day as Forest, Southampton and Brentford have proven. We have a team where everyone in our first 11 is in top form. We also got a better result at Liverpool than anyone else at the top and were much closer to winning than they were.

It’s that perspective is hard to grasp when disappointment is whispering from your other shoulder. It feels like being told that you aren’t going on the 10 day Caribbean cruise but are actually going to Southern Italy instead. If you were told that your were going to Southern Italy first and were never informed about the possible cruise, you’d feel differently.

The other truth is that this football match was 96 minutes long and Liverpool were truly dominant for 2/3rds of it. Their XG in the second half was higher than they got beating Utd 7-0. It was a 2-3 game that we drew and although we had chances, only Gabriel’s header actually ended up as an effort on target whereas we needed actual Superman to save us. The game didn’t end in the 39th minute. We have to learn from that. We deserved the win? Maybe, because we did get to 90% through the game winning, but looking at the entire 96 minutes, I think Liverpool deserved the win more.

The other realities that I’ve discovered since I took the wet rag off are that the title MIGHT be decided at the Etihad, but there is an equal chance that it won’t. That Rob Holding might’ve been a bit clumsy/eager, but he still played very well. That Gabriel is still the most underrated player in the league and that a Salah with a point to prove couldn’t prove it when he was around. That if City do win the league then they deserve a big fat clap because they will have to win a lot of games in multiple competitions, and if we had to do what they have to, we’d want a clap. That Partey, and Zinchenko played well and often very well, yet still made mistakes. That 3 of our most senior players in Jesus, Zinchenko and Xhaka are important but need to not get over-hyped as all three became over emotional. That Arteta could well end up as the best modern day coach, but he still seems to panic or lack clarity on occasion.

Xhaka not showng his experience

Above all, that likely nobody reading this has ever experienced playing at Anfield when it turns hostile and especially when Liverpool remember that they are actually really good. So, we actually don’t know how that feels and what it does to you and your normal game. That the stress of their momentum has led to Liverpool winning or coming back to draw 8 games at Anfield in the last 9 years during the last 10 minutes. Added to this, that as much as Paul Tierney’s reffing skills tick you off, imagine if you had to smell his breath whilst he was b.s.-ing you.

Culture is trying to get us to think that only extreme views are heard. It’s so extreme now that those that are balanced and are not trying to be important are now the rare breed. This is proven by all the post match analysis not actually being analysis of the most exciting, tactical game of the season, but about the drama of a lineman tickling the chin of a player, whilst ignoring the likely fact that it takes two to tango.

In summary, it’s ok to be upset at Arteta’s substitutions and at the same time remember that he is the main reason that we are six points ahead. Also, that we are 4 points away from the goal that most of us thought was unrealistic back in July, of Champions League football.

Keep believing. This is a fantastic team that deserve a positive vibe.

Sensational

POSITIVES:

• Got to start with Ramsdale. He may well have just raised his profile further. Closer to being England’s #1 and winning the Goalkeeper of the Year. Nick Pope has done very well and DeGea has done DeGea things but both have massive weaknesses regarding footwork and bravery. Having Ramsdale as our goalie is more than just having a top keeper. He makes me proud. Why? Because ultimately, all a fan can ask for is your best. Very few footballers truly get there. As we live in that world of extremes, we are too generous with our praise and too harsh with our criticisms. Most keepers wouldn’t have even bothered to try to stop Konate’s chest shot thing, as it was probably a 7.8 XG all by itself. The fact the Ramsdale tried was enough for me and the fact he saved it gives him a cape, in my eyes. We might just find that Ramsdale will win us the league or Ederson will lose it for City. Just a cheeky prediction based on one being hugely overrated. Oh, and has anyone got a compilation of his one on one saves? He’s the best at that too.

• Gabriel playing well away from home isn’t new. For those that haven’t been paying attention this is normal. I think he just enjoys situations of adversity. Lucky us. The reason that he isn’t being getting flowers is because his abilities are not trendy. He’s a real man’s defender so to speak. He enjoys the defensive part of defending. The total truth is that he can do the modern stuff too. His passing is underrated but he can fizz balls between the lines better than most.

• I’m loving the weekly sneaky team talks. Ramsdale is going down now as often as Ospina did, but for a very different reason. I wonder how long it will be before the refs/commentators catch on. Arteta is also using this to disrupt opponents rhythm (see Gabriel in the 2nd half).

• I’m feeling comfortable with Holding now. I think that compliment is a happy blanket that covers many improvements. His passing is his best improvement as well as his agility. Arteta makes players better. Another example.

• Is it just Arsenal fans that notice that Martinelli is very good at crossing? I don’t hear anything from elsewhere.

• Even though it was getting us in trouble on occasion, I really like our composure in our own box. You can see that they have been instructed to get their head up and pass rather than clear. I’d say that this quality alongside offensive patience are the two main differences in top teams and others. Most football teams are perfectly content with clearing everything in their defensive third and their fans will cheer it. At the other end the fans lose patience before the players and then here comes a low percentage toss into the box. I’m proud that my team is brave.

• Another improvement that Arsenal have made this season that hasn’t been recognized is tackling. Especially in the middle third. How often do you see an opponent striding towards our back four when not on a counter attack?

• If Tierney does leave this summer, which I expect, then we will miss his reliability. He may be a bit limited on the ball but there are very few left backs who defend with his seriousness, even as a disappointed sub.

• Martinelli was a terror. It surprises me that he doesn’t draw more penalties as he has mastered how to cut off his defender in the box.

• You may have noticed that we have been man to man marking in midfield more often than not. It creates tension and risk in our opponents and many opportunities to win the ball in the final third. You have to be very disciplined not to let your man beat you or it falls apart and becomes a negative.

NEEDS:

• I maintain that Balogun has a place at Arsenal. I don’t agree that we should cash in simply because the fee would be good as his stock is currently high. He will get an almost identical fee to Nketiah and I think his playing style is what we are missing in certain games. Yesterday was that game. Liverpool were winning the midfield in the second half, largely because their defenders could push up and squeeze the space because we weren’t offering a threat behind. Balogun lives on the shoulder of the last defender and is quick. I wouldn’t be surprised if his house in Hertfordshire has a centre back attached to the garage or perhaps he sleeps with a cardboard cut out of a 6ft 4in man? This is getting weird. Either way, this type of striker is a profile we need. I’d sell Eddie even though I like him and I’d keep Balogun and play him enough to satisfy him and also benefit our team.

Want him back

• If Saka could learn to cut across his man when he is the target on crosses, then he would score more and he would’ve won us that game. There is also a concern that some of our players are not getting to their areas in the box on crosses. With quick players like Martinelli, it can be hard to catch him but the penalty spot was open on many occasions yesterday for a simple cutback.

• There is an obvious need to be more ruthless when winning. We looked very content at 2-0, but should’ve stepped on their necks. We are too comfortable playing keep away and were either too content to play ‘no score football,’ when the game wasn’t won and when Liverpool were sulking. You just don’t get the feeling that Arsenal WANT to be ruthless yet. I hope that this lack isn’t the reason we don’t win the league, as goal difference will be in City’s favour as they absolutely value the need to kill games.

• There was a small concern that there were a few players who lost trust in their team. Martinelli was over doing it in his half. Tierney had Martinelli available right at the end and there were a few other examples. It’s not a concern ordinarily as most everything we do on and off the field is team minded, but I got the vibe that some were trying to be the hero.

HOPES: 

• I hope the players can mentally unwind this week. See the positives, learn the lessons. As stressful as that was to watch, they have the stress we feel on their backs. I do wonder if the season will be looked at in retrospect as won or lost because of the mental side of the game and who handled it better.

• I will be surprised that if in time we find out that the PL referees weren’t up to no good behind the scenes. Our game whiffed of a homer ref but the best example so far is the Brighton game. Wording this carefully and repeating what I’ve said for a while, it is more likely that there is something going on than not. I thought it could simply be incompetence, but I can’t close my eyes to the fact that it’s VAR that is getting things wrong as much as the refs. They are also taking far longer than it takes us and still getting it wrong. It looks to me that the PL don’t want/need BHA in the Champions League. I’ve learnt two valuable lessons recently in this new crazy world. Firstly, that when leaders of. most every country treat corruption as the norm, then others in power will follow. Secondly, that you will be far closer to the truth if you believe what are labeled as ‘conspiracy theories’ than if you believe national mainstream media. If this is all true, then the PL are risking their future. It is the most popular league in the world and if it is being decided by higher powers than the players on the field, then the international players will play in another country, as ‘what’s the point?’ It will then unravel and go bankrupt. I’m sure I’m not the only person reading this that lives in a country where the PL is the most watched league even though we have our own professional league. I sure hope I’m wrong, because this would be heartbreaking.

• Do I wish that my soccer experience watching Arsenal was as emotionally simple as the crew in this picture, below. This is Max’s Middle School team, or a few of them. Jake, Theo, Isaiah, Lincoln and Max. Nathan and others aren’t pictured but Nathan needs a mention because he scored a weak foot goal, a rarity for a young US player. They just lost 6-2, but here we are at Double Dogs and the game has quickly been forgotten. Sometimes I wonder if we are too invested or if I should be as invested in other areas of life with the same passion as I have for Arsenal. Either way, congratulations to the Berean boys for having a healthy perspective that us adults could take a lesson from and especially to Theo for being ok with his ketchup helmet.

FINAL THOUGHT: 

I stay proud of my team. Not because love is blindness, but because they deserve it. And whilst I’m thumping my chest, the Emirates is a far better atmosphere than Anfield. The only reason that it’s harder to play at Anfield is that the crowd are significantly closer to the pitch. Anfield is like going to the zoo. The lion is normally asleep but if you wake him then he will intimidate you.

See you next week!

Mike McDonald

Former Highbury regular. Moved to TN, USA in ’99. Married with 3 kids. Coached in UK and US for 27 years.
Mike McDonald Soccer Academy in Morristown TN, Olympic Development coach, Regional Premier League Champion.