REFOCUS ON WHAT IS IMPORTANT
Regardless of your feelings on the Southampton match, you have to get over them, and move on. There’s a big fish in Portugal this week and it must be fried. We also have a beast of a game to handle against Bournemouth at the weekend… I honestly can’t wait for both games because they are a sharp reminder that we’ve come a long way as a club and we are finally at a point where we are consistently challenging for major trophies in April. I’m just not going to allow two games we used b teams in to shape my feelings on this season.
This week, we’re going to see the return of missing players, and a return to the sort of dominant football we’ve been used to.
We have to now look for the positives around the weekend even if it makes you feel a little queasy.
The biggest one: we’re not playing a highly emotional game against Manchester City in the semi final of the FA Cup.
That has two knock-on effects for Arsenal and City.
For Arsenal, it now means that we have a whole week to focus on the Newcastle game at home after the City game. That is so important, because it means there will be more in the tank for leg one of the semi final if we can make it past Sporting Lisbon.
For Man City, it means they have another away game to deal with at Wembley, and it kicks their Burnley game into a midweek game. They’re already getting that issue with the Bournemouth game that’ll also be a midweek game when it’s rebooked.
One would also suspect Man City will be playing Chelsea in the FA Cup final. Which might put a little bit of extra spice into the game next weekend that Pep has to deal with at Stamford Bridge.
Mikel Arteta, whether he likes it or not, made a very big strategic decision with the team he picked for Southampton. My hope is that the added stressors put on the squad by the local media made it almost impossible to bring players like Saka and Declan into the team… yes, all that bullsh*t by the media might actually work in our favour, because if the injuries aren’t that bad, we could have a pretty fresh group of players coming back into contention at the exact right time.
The most important one of them all is Jurrien Timber. Ben White looked like his head was on a summer move at the weekend. There was no focus in his game, he was making poor decisions… he looked like he’d rather be anywhere than where he was and he put in an all-time shocker of a performance. We need Jurrien back in that team desperately. Especially for the City game that’s coming up. My hope is he can make Sporting as a warm-up for the Bournemouth game.
When Arsenal lose an important game, there’s often a lack of proper appraisal of players and managers. As fans, we’re emotional, and some of us hold gripes. I say this, because I thought some of the Odegaard slander was misplaced and pathetic. I have had an axe to grind with him this season, but come on, he had a really positive game considering how long he’s been out. He will be, without doubt, essential to any success we have this season, and we shouldn’t be reimagining good games negatively. Hopefully he’s good to start against Sporting as well.
The most important combo of players that we need on their game is our two best midfielders. Declan and Zubi. An absolutely incredible duo. They have to start. Zubi has been given some rest — Declan hasn’t played since the cup final — having those two a little fresher for the remaining games could prove really valuable. I’m fully expecting those two in the starting 11 on Tuesday.
We should also have a fully fit left side of midfield to pick from. Trossard is another who needed a break, and Martinelli is another player who has a little hater club that actually doesn’t watch what he does. Am I in it? Maybe. I wasn’t kind about how he played against Southampton, but then I watched it back and looked at the data and I was wrong. He was decent. He had a bunch of shots, he was ghosting past his full back, he created a lot. I think the main criticism I have of him is I expect a Brazil starter to beat up on smaller teams… he beat them up, just didn’t land a killer blow. Sporting feels like the sort of team he does well against, so we’ll see.
The only other two we’re worried about are Ebs and Hincapie. Arteta said we could expect special things of Ebs and who knows on Hincapie… but I would appreciate a full back who is all defending in for the run-in. I love Calafiori, but it’s hard not to notice what he was letting Southampton get away with when he came on. Crosses and runners were having a good time against him. He’s always going to be a centre back in my eyes. Southampton didn’t change my view.
I’m in a bad place with Kai Havertz. I called him the guy who was going to give us what we needed from a striker heading down the stretch, but I have to be honest, he has not been great lately. I don’t like him in midfield, but my bigger concern is he just doesn’t look at all sharp at the moment. I say what I will about Gyokeres, but he looks fit, and he is in great form right now. Against Sporting, I should want to see Kai doing bad things to them, but I’d be far more comfortable with Big Vik there.
As for the right side of our midfield, we probably only have two choices for Tuesday, and it’s Madueke or Dowman. Can I be honest here… I can’t see past Dowman. Madueke looked like he was playing within himself when he came on. Dowman looked like a seasoned pro too good for that game the whole game. If Saka isn’t available, why would we go for Madueke based on what we just saw? Experience. Age. Not putting too much pressure on a young man. I get it, but based on merit, give it to the guy all the senior players kept giving the ball to.
This comment from Guillem Ballagué really nailed where we are on the discourse.
The treble/quadruple Arsenal talk started in January if not before. That’s setting an impossible bar that’s been reached almost never in football history. If they win the Premier League, that IS a massive success. Reaching the Champions League quarter finals, on the back of the semis last year, IS success. They are growing. Comparing them to the greatest sides in history and then criticising them every time they fall short, more than holding them to high standards, is in my opinion just a way to deny them credit for what they’re actually achieving.
Are domestic cups nice? Yes. Would I be unhappy with winning them? No. Would Man City give up where they are with them now to be in the quarter finals of the Champions League and 9 clear in the league? All day long. Every single coach, player, fan, and member of the technical team.
This season has one objective. Bring home a major trophy to North London. No excuses. Nothing else matters. No other side quest trophy would make a difference to the narrative if we didn’t win one of the big ones.
So this week is important. If we can leave Porto with a draw or better, we are in great shape to do some damage in the return leg. If we beat Bournemouth, we are forcing Manchester City to need to beat us at their place. If we grind out a draw or better, the league is over for them.
For all the usual, excruciatingly boring people that want to talk about firing the manager after every bad result… that want to talk about standards… that want to highlight that I was harsh on Wenger.
What are you talking about?
All I’ve ever wanted from Arsenal is to be in the conversation for the prizes that matter. I’ve wanted a manager who would push the board and ownership group to spend some f*cking money. I wanted a manager that could build a team where we’re the subject of ongoing conversations about our ideas being best in class. I wanted a world where people in the game would look at what we’re doing and cite it as best in class. I wanted to get to the end of a season and be in contention for the biggest prizes in world football.
… and that’s where we are. If you don’t like the football, no one cares. If you’re bored of winning a certain type of way, you are a big problem for the game. If you are upset that the game is fine margins, take it up with the Premier League, it’s just a great league these days, and all games are generally fine margins.
The game has never been faster, more aggressive, or at a higher level. This is the best Premier League in history when it comes to the levels. We are top of the league with 7 games to go, we’re going to have most of our players fit and firing by the weekend, why the f*ck is anyone out here talking about making changes?
In the 2004 Invincibles season, we went out of the semi finals of the FA Cup to Man United. We went out of the two-legged semi final in the League Cup to two losses (1-0, 2-1). We lost in the Champions League quarter final to newly minted Chelsea… with Wayne Bridge scoring the goal. A man who didn’t even like football.
Do you remember that? No. You don’t. Because the after glow of a major trophy makes you forget all that nonsnese. Even when you finish second, no one remembers domestic cup failures because they just don’t have much relevance these days.
But, remember, even with the great teams of the past, there were still embarrassing haters. This is what someone dug out that was said at the time.
Just incredible. But worth noting as you gather yourself for the coming weeks. No one will remember the last two games if we grind out glory and bring home a big trophy. What you always have to remember is that along the way, there are always plenty of folk that don’t have the stomach for the big time, and above is a prime example of how that sort of thing can age.
I’m excited about the week. I’m done with the past. This is all about a glorious future and enjoying the journey with you lot.
Ok, have a great day, see you in the comments. x