VAR (Very Average Referees) Academy It is the mid-season review at the VAR Academy, where all the ‘referees’ get together to assess how things are tracking and to check if all the refs are on course to meet their season KPIs. It’s 9.30am and the full thicket of EPL referees (google it, it’s the collective […]
Arsenal build-up shape The two most commonly deployed build-up structures Arteta favours is the 3-2-5 or the 2-3-5. And in yesterday’s derby, the Spaniard opted for the latter. Xhaka and Partey operated in a double pivot, with Cedric staying deep and at times inverting. Lacazette and Odegaard would both offer themselves between the lines, Tierney […]
Pay attention to Arsenal POSITIVES, NEEDS and HOPES When love is present it is hard to be objective. I try to be objective when writing about my team but I have to breathe after the game and wait. I wait at least 4 hours so I can divorce emotion from reality. I hope I’m not […]
Now that we’ve got the Europa League out of the way for a week at least, it’s all about one thing. You don’t need me to tell you what that is. By now, I’m sure you will be gripped with The Fear. North London Derby Fear is a fear like no other you could possibly […]
The New and the Familiar POSITIVES, NEEDS and HOPES Arsenal are sneaking up on us. As we have seen ourselves as a dominant possession team for the largest part of the last 20 years, I don’t think we give this current group the credit they deserve for their current improvement. For at least the last […]
The biggest match of the season, a season defining week, make or break for Arteta, are all phrases that any Arsenal fan will have read or spoken this week ahead of the Europa League Round of 16 and the North London Derby. In reality, it is simply the biggest week, since the last biggest week, […]
The worst Arsenal transfers of the 21st century In the winter transfer window, Arsenal finally managed to get rid of Ozil’s huge contract by letting him go to Fenerbahce for free. Undoubtedly, zero pounds is a significant financial loss when you remember that the Turkish German came from Real Madrid for 42 million. Nevertheless, […]
Since Martin Ødegaard’s move to Emirates Stadium from Los Blancos on January 27 his performances have been repeatedly praised by many. Arsenal manager is among them. Martin’s only 22 years old, playing in one of the most competitive leagues in the world, yet he has adapted so fast that he was trusted to start in […]
Despite all my rage I am still just a rat in a cage Burnley. At Turf Moor. 12.30pm kick off. During a normal season, this wouldn’t be the most attractive of fixtures to begin your weekend with. For some reason though, I’m not feeling as worried about this one as I usually would. I’m sure […]
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 […]
