‘Running out of rubbish’
An Arsenal blog from a coach’s perspective
The worst of me isn’t fun to see. I think the American word is ‘jerk.’ I am nice 95% of the time. The worst of me comes out at the following times;
- After the third time that Brad Hackem wipes out my playmaker after he has passed the ball. The East TN referees don’t pay attention to what happens after the ball has been distributed. Brad can break a leg and the ref thinks that it’s irrelevant as the ball has gone.
- Calling CVS pharmacy. I have yet to crack the code of how you can speak to a human.
- When I forget how much I dislike a certain group chat and get overly intrigued so open it, only to be wound up by certain friends who can’t ever admit they are wrong.
- People that think that the only point of going to England is to go to London and Stonehenge, in particular.
- The feeling when I come out of the ‘It’s a small world’ ride in Magic Kingdom and realize that those are 9 minutes of my life that I will never get back.
I hate to admit it but number 6 is being wound up by British pundits that I know are just trying to wind me up. Most of the time I remember to not get upset by someone that I know is going to upset me, but every once in a while I let have a moment of relevance.
My first thought when we went 2-0 up was how this was going to stick it to Gary Neville and Jamie O’Hara. Not because we were 2-0 up at home to Sunderland, but that we have yet again won another game in a different way. The only ammo that they’ve had this season has been the January ‘are Arsenal going to bottle it’ and ‘we rely on set plays.’ The truth of these situations is that every team that wins anything (apart from Barcelona women’s team) suffer a blip. The key is to keep the blip to 2-3 games only and that is what we did. Although Arsenal have won a handful of games with set-pieces it has been treated as if we are cheating or being favoured by referees. Arsenal should be applauded for figuring out the most threatening way of scoring from corners, not ridiculed. Those who are actually playing and coaching in the modern game recognize this as they are copying. The pundits hate it as not only is it effective but they despise Arsenal inventing better ways.
So, Arsenal have yet again won a game in another different way and by identifying needs of improvement. Shooting from outside the box. Another ugly yet much needed goal from close range and a goal that points at a very intelligent substitution of Martinelli against a tired defence.
The media are running out of rubbish and it’s hilarious. Should I tune in to Jamie and Gary now? I really shouldn’t because even if they compliment us it will be a passive aggressive dig and I do need to call CVS about some medication so …… let’s not.
POSITIVES:
VG:
He is quietly showing consistency. In his general game and in front of goal. The timing of his rise is perfect if he can keep it going. Here is a stat that you won’t see on TV or hear on Talksport….
Trossard:
You simply can’t rule him out. He’s too tricky and far too capable. He doesn’t have bad games. Quiet sometimes, but not bad. Like the chap below, he is too competitive to take second place.
Rice:
He really wants to win. He seems so driven and focused which is all part of him being so aware of danger.
Attacking change:
If I was to pick one change that will lead us to GloryLand, it would be using Havertz as a 10 rather than Odegaard as an 8. The defenders have to worry about him and VG which is complicated by Havertz arriving from deeper. I often feel that Odegaard hanging out and making pretty patterns with Saka can be redundant and that Saka would appreciate the space rather than the support.
Saliba:
He was really challenged today by Brobbey. What impressed me was his defensive understanding of how far he could go whilst on a yellow card.
Zubimendi:
Shooting a ball that is coming across your body is difficult. It’s even harder to keep it down and strike the middle of the ball. He accomplishes this as his swing is short and compact. Trust your technique and dial back the power.
Eze:
This is clutching but I loved how he dribbled across the pitch at the games end, ignoring multiple simple passes. He is so technically secure he really needs to do more of this. Trossard is there. He mixes his game up. Goes left, right, makes simple passes, sneaks the cheekiest passes through small gaps and isn’t afraid to keep the ball as he runs across the pitch trying to find a solution.
Sunderland’s approach:
They play with a lot of technical belief. Much composure. I wonder if the fact that they came to play might encourage others? They had us concerned for a short period.
NEEDS:
This:
Should I care about what the Brentford staff have to wear? No, but I just threw up a little in my mouth after getting another glimpse of it whilst watching them beat NUFC.
It’s hard to hate something more than Jason Tindall when both things are on the screen, but this vanilla and mustard jacket is quite horrific and I’m going to have to see it again on Thursday.
Oh, one of the coach’s just stood up and I saw the brown tracky bottoms. I need to spend a couple more minutes in the loo.
Calafiori:
He just needs to be careful pulling on jerseys as it’s starting to become a habit. He will be targeted by coaches, players and refs, if he continues.
HOPES:
City:
By the time you read this, we will be 6, 8 or 9 points ahead. City will have to overcome an in-from Liverpool which could be quite lovely. I’m calling 3-2 Liverpool.
Spuds:
Six points above relegation. I’m very much a believer in teams who think they are too big to get relegated, getting relegated. Players who know they will not be playing in the Championship and a coach that is on the back seat on the top floor of the struggle bus.
Arsenal winning the Premier League and Spurs getting relegated was a gift I thought I’d never get. Like Auntie Marion going from giving me and my brothers 5 pounds to share for Christmas to being gifted a Caribbean cruise with a penthouse room.
TWEETS and THOUGHTS:
What a quite brilliant photo….
….that has now been immortalized.
What happens after an Arteta team talk.
More things I didn’t know about.
The power of the squad and staying fit.
I get a real ‘try hard’ feeling about Rosenior.
FINAL THOUGHT:
I’ve just finished writing my article for The Gooner fanzine. I wrote about what Arsenal need to improve to solidify our hopes in 4 competitions. When you start thinking about it, there is quite a long list of things that aren’t at their optimum. In particular, the fluency and understanding in attack. There are many players who are playing at 7/10 for another thought.
The crazy part is that Arsenal are top of the league by 9 points having only been a 7/10 attacking force this season. What happens if we really start to click?
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.
A good read Mike, thanks for that.
Jamie O’Hara epitomises Talk Sport, the whole schtick of that joke of a broadcaster is based around taking the p*ss. I rarely listen to it anymore, sometimes if I’m driving home on the A13 from a days work in the evening and I haven’t got a podcast to listen to I’ll tune in but it’s like self harm, Talk Sport is so low brow they insult the listener, which kinda shows us what they think of us.
Gary Neville is more insidious not least because he is treated by Sky Sports as an analyst without bias who also brings an insightful element to his opinion. He is neither, he wears his Ferguson inspired dislike of Arsenal like a badge of honour and to my experience has yet to inform me of anything concerning football, that I didn’t already know or understand, how that fraud became the face of football on Sky is a mystery to me?
Gary Neville is out of touch. The game has passed him by. Arsenal have passed him by. As for vanilla and mustard tops I’ve seen worse. Like Scotland rugby team playing in some sort of pinky purple outfit.
Thanks for a thoughtful read, as ever.
Sunderland are the sort of mid-table opponent we should beat routinely, but too often failed to do so in previous seasons. Similarly, with Gyökeres’s goals, both old-fashioned centre-forward strikes, more thump than finesse, but which we have lacked in the recent past. Things are different this season.
Regarding Gyökeres, I tucked away your observation last year that foreign internationals often don’t come good in the PL until their second season, and so have kept the faith in him. It looks as if he is on the right path.
The only antidote to UK TV pundits is to get a VPN and watch games broadcast in a language you don’t speak. So much better for your understanding and blood pressure.
This is a funny suggestions. I heard Arabic commentator among the most enthusiast. Maybe I will give a try!
Mike. Thank you for your thoughts.
The first 45 minutes was a prime football. I thought Sunderland will play low block defensive football, but I was wrong; they were not afraid of playing from the back and facing our press. I agree with Arteta, it was a long match for us.
Somehow, unlike Leeds, after the second goals, they truly lost their intensity.
I really enjoy our more direct approach. Even if we lost the ball, our DM and backline still not too far ahead and capable to close a threat. I just hope we aim for more corner when we find out path forward was difficult.
Previously, my default prediction is 2-0 (one from open play, one from set pieces). Now I start thinking that our default outcome should be 4-0. One from set pieces, one from inside penalty open play, one from outside penalty shot, and one from fast counter, while our defense maintain a zero conceding. I am happy we are capable of multiple route. I have advocated that we need a fresh game plan than our usual slow possession built up. The lost against united seems the trigger for this rejuvenation plan. Now I feel far more confident than 2 weeks ago. We have a solid game plan to win everything.
I hope Gyokeres would learn one thing or two from Brobbey. They both are similar type, a power striker if I may say (not too tall, not too technical, but powerful with their run and shot). But Brobbey ain’t a nice guy on field like Gyokeres. No wonder Saliba had a difficult times against him.
I think Hincapie is our first choice left-back for now. Too many times Calafiori gave unnecessary foul, and misplaced passes. Myles has two player in front of him now, it is a tough task for him to overcome.
I am glad VG got his flower. Always appreciate a hard worker.
Coyg!
I am glad you give flowers for Leo!
When the game started, I kind of asking why Gabi Jesus played ahead of Victor. But during the game, I understand, Trossard has to play as himself as creative left winger, and also took Odegaard ‘s coat. Very often we saw Trossard came to the right 8 area to inject some creativity. During these moment, Gabi Jesus fill the left wing space and Havertz fill striker positions. That was a nice tactical variation from Arteta.
Trossard also sometimes comes deep to collect the ball, like Odegaard usually did.
I kind of worry of Trossard, before the final whistle, he looked lying on the field with pain. Probably cramp. No wonder. He played as a left winger, left wingback, right 8, and sometimes coming deep to collect the ball.
I kind of looking for news about him, but did not find any. I hope he is alright.
In addition, I think we need to find a new number 6 next season. Not because Zubimendi is not good enough, but we seem to find more benefit when he play further upfront, as the number 8 (the goal scoring is the proof). When Norgaard came to replace Trossard, things getting funkier, because then Eze goes to the left wing (but still penetrate the midfield), while Zubimendi goes to the right 8. The attacking midfield contest becomes hotter now.
I don’t mind. Just don’t forget that someone has to anchor the area in front of our two CB. We conceded goals (remember Dorgu?) because we were too adventurous with our move and failed to anchor that area.
Coyg (once again)