A deep dive into the rise to the top for Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal
23 games played, 17 victories, 3 stalemates and 3 defeats. 54 precious points on the board, which places The Arsenal at the top of the tree, on course for a special outcome. Astonishing. Not even the staunchest Mikel Arteta fan would have envisaged the Gunners becoming favourites for the title before a ball was kicked, […]
Reasons to be hopeful after ‘Monumental Saturday!’ – Found in Man City’s fixtures
Saturday felt like such a monumental moment in the season. The last few weeks have been so discouraging, peaking with the loss to Man City last Wednesday. Hope was beginning to dwindle. At half time on Saturday I think most people were begrudgingly accepting the new reality that we need to look down at other […]
Gary, Jamie, Danny et al! – No agenda, no honestly, really, no agenda!!!
Agenda 1: Arsenal Crumble Gary Neville, again, on the bandwagon – “The only thing Arsenal have proven in the last few years is that they crumble at the end of the season.” Jamie O’Hara, with his usual impartiality – “When it comes to the last month of the season, I don’t think they’ve got the […]
Five minutes in February: moments that make Champions [AVL 2-4 ARS] (Positives Needs & Hopes)
Five minutes in February An Arsenal blog from a coach’s perspective I’ve recently started writing music. Well, I can’t sing or play anything so it’s probably poetry until someone turns it into what the world expects from music which I suppose is music. I sit here in Cancun at a 3 day Dave Matthews concert […]
Arsenal are Bonnie Tyler…. [ARS 1-3 MCI] (Positive Needs & Hopes)
I know we’ve just had Valentines Day and no, it’s not ‘Total Eclipse of the Heart.’ There are obviously many details that could’ve been better against City. This piece could’ve been called ‘Score 1, Get 2 Free!’ We haven’t been yippy all season but some of the players felt the occasion. The focus could be […]
10 questions and 10 answers after the heartbreaking Man City loss
Why must we always miss a guilt edge chance when the games in balance? Why must we always concede only a few minutes after we miss a guilt edge chance? Why must we always give away goals for free to teams that don’t need any help from us? Why must we always have important players […]
Is forgotten man Kieran Tierney the one to re-ignite Martinelli until Jesus’ second coming?
A colleague on GT inspired me to articulate something that has been on my mind in recent weeks, by writing this excellent piece earlier today. Thomas Bahnson identified a problem that has become evident as Arteta’s team have recently struggled to break down a well-organised low block from Newcastle, Everton and Brentford. He also pointed […]
A Perfect Storm – Recent setbacks are just a ‘dent’ in our aspirations – Here’s why.
Our aim at the start of the season was to finish on the Top 4. That’s still our primary goal and we’re still well on track to achieve that. Anything above that is a bonus but seeing as we’re 3 points clear at the top of the table, the ‘bonus’ is worth talking about. So […]
Mikel, we have a problem -3 Plan B Solutions for Arteta to consider
Firstly, what is the problem? The problem is that teams have found a perticilur tactic that seem to neutrulize ours. A tactic that involves having everyone behind the ball, having the midfield and attack central and most importantly doubling up on our wingers when they get the ball. All this while focusing primarily on direct […]
Strange items found at VAR Command Centre
A friend of mine is a cleaner at the VAR Command Centre, Stockley Park. She found something on the floor, under Lee Mason’s terminal and thought I might find it interesting. She took this picture and sent it to me. Explains a lot.