I see special My son is 9. He knows far more about football than I did at his age. He is currently baffled at how Arsenal are changing though. Whenever I tell him that the improvement he is seeing is mainly because of the coach he doesn’t understand. He doesn’t understand because he has yet […]
Winning the fight, punched in the gut. Positives, Needs and Hopes Unbelievable. I wrote that word 5 hours ago and had to walk away. It felt like all my son wanted for Christmas was some balloons. I got the balloons. He was so, so excited. Then the evil kid next door came over, looked […]
You can’t go back, but you can turn around Positives, Needs and Hopes Part way through the game I had a moment of sadness. I’d just seen Torreira win yet another tackle, Xhaka play another fizzer between the lines and Ozil pick it up in oceans. I should’ve been excited, but I started wallowing in […]
Running to the start line I’ve never seen Arsenal fans so unified in agreement. A decent number were thrilled before Arteta’s first conference. A larger number were cautiously optimistic, unsure or upset. After Mikel Arteta’s first press conference, it seemed that everyone and I mean everyone was ‘beyond excited.’ That was the phrase I kept […]
COACHES vs FANS Positives, Needs and Hopes Part of me wondered if I was reaching a little with this thought. After dialing back the emotion of watching Arsenal trying to attack, I realized that these thoughts have validity….. Fans want defensive solidity and Arsenal fans would sacrifice their Granny for it. When it shows up […]
EVERYTHING JUST CHANGED Positives, Needs and Hopes What have you based your opinion on Mikel Arteta on? I’ve been coaching for 30 years this January. I’ve learnt over my years that there is an endless list of qualities in a great coach. I’ve also learnt that some are deal breakers that should instantly […]
ADRENALINE MAN Positives, Needs and Hopes He didn’t score. He wasn’t really the star of the show. He was however, the instigator. It’s not the first time that Gabriel Martinelli’s infectious attitude and energy have shown to be contagious. Prior to the 69th minute, Arsenal were in with a fantastic chance of coming second in […]
The 65th minute on December the 10th Positives, Needs And Hopes In my lifetime I cannot remember a more obvious sliding doors moment since Lehmann got sent off in the Champions League final. That’s a long time. Prior to the 60th minute I was seriously considering the short term future of the club. It’s hard […]
Sometimes, the fans are right Positives, Needs and Hopes Over the years I’ve wavered as to how I feel about how the impatient modern culture has infected football and fans in particular. I find it true that most people talk in extremes. Arsenal were brilliant. Arsenal are awful. Extreme views are much like sweeping statements, […]
‘DID ARSENAL PLAY NORWICH OR ARSENAL?’ Positives, Needs and Hopes If you could pick the most important need for improvement on the field, what would you choose? I’ve thought about this too much. I think this means I’m sure of what I think. I’d try to improve defensive transitions. I bet I’m not alone. The […]
