I feel sorry for Arsenal (Positives Needs & Hopes) [ARS 1-1 BRE]

I feel sorry for Arsenal

An Arsenal blog from a coach’s perspective

Is sympathy an emotion that a football fan should feel? Aren’t we supposed to be elated or disgusted? Well, I feel sorry for us.

I’m sure at the end of the season that I will write a piece sharing all of the emotions that we went through and come to the conclusion that it wasn’t one problem that saw us fall short in the league. For now, I just feel bad for the players, staff and fans.

I think it was this tweet by James Benge that prompted this emotion.

Well, actually it was more of a confirmation. Brentford, much like Everton, Man Utd, Forest and West Ham recently have been very fortunate to get any points from Arsenal. I understand that we are also at fault for not creating enough and not converting either, but there have been reasons, not excuses, as to why this is the case.

These emotions were also prompted by listening to Eric Dier talking about Angie PastaCheeseSauce at Spurs.

He was asked about what they did in training and said it is exclusively Angie working with them on ‘his system.’ That’s always a massive shiny red flag for me. A coach that has perfected how to teach something his way but can’t teach alternatives. A fraud. Like a salesman who has periodic success in his career because his one method of selling is emotional manipulation and so he touches the hearts of all the little old ladies that come into his business and purchase his products out of guilt and empathy. The salesman has a sad life story that he tells everyone alongside his ability to tear up on command. After a while his boss notices his sales figures dramatically dropping as Rita, his frequent customer and her friends noticed that Angie the salesman keeps repeating the same sob story when she goes in his shop. Angie PastaCheeseSauce is asked to use other sales techniques to sell but he can only do manipulation.

Silly story I know, but you’d be shocked how many coaches are essentially con artists who excel at one thing and force their team to conform to it rather than the coach conform to the tools he was given.

Why would Angie’s con job make me feel empathy for us though? Well, we have a coach who doesn’t have one way of playing. Who has a complex, modern system that has been proven to produce big results against the big teams for at least two years now. A coach who doesn’t allow excuses. A coach who tells the press to look at him if there is fault to be handed out. A coach that has his staff improve individual players to the point where it is quite a strain to think of an Arsenal player that hasn’t significantly improved under the current regime. A coach who has been robbed by a corrupt refereeing organization and a coach who is firmly in the Champions League spots when you look at the ‘injuries table.’

It was absolute sods law that after Mikel rightly made all his subs to rest players for Wednesday and try to win the game, that we would have to play 10 minutes with 10 players when Jorginho got hurt.

Gary Neville’s embarrassing comments on US TV this weekend about Arsenal ‘not improving’ and ‘going backwards’ also prompted me to stick up for my club. Neville is a multi Champions League winner in the ‘most overrated pundits’ league. Of that there is no doubt. He was respected 10 years ago because his competition was Jamie Redknapp and Craig Burley, and still is.

I may have predicted that Arsenal will win the CL but I also feel that I will be unsurprised if we do. This season has seen Arsenal win the ‘adversity Champions League trophy’ in quite convincing style but as we continue to march towards the actual Champions League trophy, let’s not be surprised if a few of our players’ legs fall off mid-game in challenges where they were also given red cards for the new ‘just for Arsenal’ refereeing rule of ‘not allowing your leg to fall off whilst being fouled.’  This rule is exclusively implemented for teams in red and white with cannons on their upper left chest.

You watch….. Arsenal will win the Champions League in the 79th minute of the Final as a flustered VAR team have to communicate with the referee that “their is no rule for Arsenal yet implemented that stops us subbing on our German striker who has just duct tapped his leg back on in order to play,” after Havertz scores the winner.

POSITIVES:

Raya:

I think he might now be the best GK in the world. If you look at the qualities needed it would be hard to not put him in the conversation.

Comfort with feet

Agility

Shot stopping

Prescence

Catching crosses

Consistency/Reliability

1 on 1

Bravery

Game winning ability

Reactions

Distribution

Is there anything on this list that he doesn’t excel at?

Saliba:

I thought this was one of his best performances this season. I also think that being the senior CB will bring his game up a few levels. I think this is what we are seeing.

Kiwior:

This was the first time I’ve watched him and didn’t notice him. That’s a great thing. We just want a solid option to Gabriel. A player who is mistake-free who can be unspectacular, if needed. He’s getting better and to be fair, not many can just come into the team every once in a while and be brilliant.

MLS:

I’m so very impressed with his evolution. Such confidence in one so young. Such impressive consistency and stats like this one. Ordinarily, you’d say that he would go to the top, but he might be close to that right now.

Partey:

Understanding that we only know a portion of what is going on, it seems odd to me that we are not renewing Partey. Are we concerned about his 200K? Don’t want to be burned on 30+ year olds like in the past with players like Auba? Off field situation?

There will be a massive scramble to sign arguably the best DM currently playing. Just wish Arsenal were a part of the scramble. With Jorginho leaving, this is another reason to retain his experience.

NEEDS:

Ethan Nwaneri:

I’m sure the coaching staff will talk and show Ethan how he can use his arms and triceps to wiggle clear of defenders after he has beaten them. You will have seen that he beat his full back twice but got shoved away. More gym work so he can have the same balance as MLS would be beneficial but also the understanding that if he fouls the defender then who cares. They get a free kick 115 yards from their target and in reality we get more penalties.

Short corner:

I’m really not sure what those short corners were supposed to be. The players looked confused too.

Attacking strategy:

This is a blog all by itself. What are Arsenal trying to do when they recycle the ball around the opponents box? It’s not as though we have no plan. It’s obvious that Plan #1 is for our wingers to go inside or outside and shoot/cross/cutback. There just doesn’t seem to be a plan when the ball is central. I’d encourage the dink. I’d encourage for Nwaneri to not hurdle the fouls and get the free kick for Rice. I’d encourage softer passing so 1 touch shots could be had. I’d encourage dribbling into the box and encouraging challenges from defenders that would rather not challenge. I’d encourage combinations. Lay it to Merino posted up who takes the attention away from the player delivering the pass, who can now get a return pass.

HOPES:

El Khannouss:

I’d seen that Arsenal were linked with him earlier this season. I didn’t pay attention. Then I did. Dang! He’s one of those attacking midfielders that is sometimes unplayable. Reminds me an awful lot of Eden Hazard. Hazard wasn’t bad (pre-pies). Does he even play football anymore? Not sure. Anyway, you need to watch this clip. He’d be cheap too as Leicester are about to go down. Alongside Tyler Dibling at Southampton, these two are going to the very top.

Tyler Dibling:

That last thought has prompted me to mention Dibling. When I first saw him, I resisted my eyes because he has such a stupid last name. Dibling sounds like something that a Scouse kid does when his parents aren’t looking. I saw Russell Martin being interviewed and he was asked who was the most talented player he’s ever coached. Understanding that he hasn’t coached anyone better than Southampton, he said Dibling. He said it wasn’t even close. I suppose he can say that now that he is not their coach. Dibling has everything. Two wonderful feet. Incredibly fast and gifted at dribbling, especially running with the ball. Wonderful shooting ability from long range and now needs to be given an opportunity to play for a better team and get better statistics. Arsenal have not been mentioned in regards to Dibling, but I’d say he’s a dark horse for a purchase this summer simply because of his age, potential and lower price with Southampton being relegated.

KDB:

I saw him interviewed. He said that the PL was a possibility. He’s either got an offer or wants one. I’d be very interested in having him as a rotational option, especially with an aerial specialist in the box. I think that there are too many people who look at age and ‘legs’ and discount players without really thinking. Apologies to the 69%. Imagine being in a tight game, as we have many times this season, and having his technical brilliance on the bench? Having a player in your squad that has won everything that we want to win. With Jesus and Zinchenko not playing/leaving, we won’t have that anymore. Maybe Arteta might see this as a short term ‘push us over the edge’ signing. I think Arsenal fans are so in love with the club signing younger players who we improve that they forget there has to be balance in the squad. I’d be very excited as that level of quality is rare.

Raphinha:

Another even more unlikely signing but a current candidate and possibly favourite for the Balon D’or. If this is true then Arsenal will be all over it as they’ve pursued him before. Would be an absolute difference maker and would likely elbow a big name out of the starting line up. This is too lovely to ponder on.

Arda Guler:

This might be a more realistic signing than Raphinha. A very Arsenal player and a very Arsenal ‘rescue your career’ signing. A super talented, potentially elite player and option in Odegaard’s position.

Kingsley Coman:

An elite winger. Plays on both sides. Free transfer. Electric and undoubtedly a difference maker. I doubt that Arsenal would be interested if they had to pay 70 million but with other expensive signings to make, somebody might have to come in as a free transfer and this rumor probably has legs.

EllieAnn and Max:

These two legends of mine will be watching with me all the way to Champions League glory. They are my Arsenal buddies that share in so many happy moments with me. This picture was taken 4 years ago but it popped up on my phone as a memory and I thought I’d share.

TWEETS and THOUGHTS:

Knox Gooners:

Lori, Max and I watched the game with the Knox Gooners on Saturday. A lot of very committed Arsenal fans in that picture.

Max’s game:

I lost it with the ref at Max’s game on Saturday. Can you spot my beef?

Onana and VAR:

These are everywhere. These are brilliant.

FINAL THOUGHT:

If there is anyone who would like to be on my ‘Who am I’ Arsenal quiz next week or upcoming dates TBA, please mention in the comments. For a little flavour of the quiz, can you guess this current or former Arsenal player? You get more points if you can guess it on the first clue.

• In the shower or the car and definitely at the concert
• Charlton
• Like many he made a mistake leaving
• Didn’t always stay in his hole
• Good combination with Van Persie

Thanks for reading! I’m off to go sing a Song.

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.