Portrayed as a fraud. Painted as a failed genius by others, there is more to Unai Emery’s tenure with Arsenal than meets the eye. Charged with the titanic assignment of returning Arsenal to Champions League ascension, Arsène Wenger’s successor highlighted the arrival of a new era. For the first time in over two decades, Arsenal […]
The Either/Or Conundrum Mistakes happen everywhere and football is no exception. No big drama, we chin up and move on. What makes it particularly difficult to process is its repetition, over time, as the concept of learning through experience doesn’t apply. We can accept the odd mistake, the brain fart that bears unpleasant consequences but […]
The Premier League’s ‘Big Six’ isn’t a fixed concept. Fifteen years ago, you might have argued it was more of a ‘Big Three’. Whereas ten years ago, there were maybe four teams who challenged for the title. The number of teams who hit that peak of performance, and dominate both home and away, can shift […]
On occasions when our manager and players have failed to deliver in games, some of our supporters including myself, have criticised them, so by the same token, it’s only fair that we praise them when they do perform. After previously questioning some of Mikel Arteta’s tactics and decisions, it was perhaps inevitable that I would […]
Manchester United 0-1 Arsenal – 14 years is way too long! This isn’t a peak Man United side by no means. Yes, they finished third last season and have some top players like Pogba, Fernandes, Rashford, and now Cavani. But to win at Old Trafford after 14 years with some debasing defeats (8-2), […]
It’s not in the Headlines POSITIVES, NEEDS and HOPES My son Maxwell asks me the same question each week after his football match. He asks me, ‘How did I do, Dad?’ All parents reading this can relate. We all get a similar question. We all probably feel the same way about our response. We tell […]
Attacking solution enclosed POSITIVES, NEEDS and HOPES “Do Rapid Vienna have a goalkeeper? I haven’t seen him yet and this is the 55th minute” “This looks like a massive game of keep away. Again.” “If we are going to score, it doesn’t look like it’s going to be from open play.” “Eddie looks lost. Why […]
An Arteta-induced L Manchester City 1-0 Arsenal – PL review It is about time we got an away win at another big six club. But this game wasn’t it. Maybe we can beat City in the League Cup very soon. But not this time around. I can recall a time when City was a […]
Arsenal made significant moves to strengthen their squad in the transfer window for the remainder of the 2020/21 campaign. Thomas Partey was signed for £45m on deadline day from Atletico Madrid to put the cherry on top of solid business performed by the club. https://twitter.com/Arsenal/status/1313245492030181384?s=20 For too long the Gunners have settled for second best […]
I wish there were 3 A Thomas Partey blog At some point, maybe soon, Arsenal will play with a three man midfield. It may be that we choose 3 actual midfielders or it may be that when we pause the TV we see 3 players in midfield much like when Saka and AMN play, or […]
