Title contenders

There, I said it.

I should have said it a few weeks back, because that’s when I was sure we were.

It seems the majority of the Arsenal fanbase seem really afraid of talking about it, like they might jinx it or something.

To be clear, we are contenders. That doesn’t mean we are going to win it. But it is nice being in the race.

Liverpool were clearly contenders at the start of the season. They’re no longer in the race. That puts it in perspective.

The facts as they stand. We’ve played 17 top class matches this season. We’ve won 14, lost 2, drawn 1. If that isn’t title contention form and results, I really don’t know what is.

Let’s break it down further. In the League, we’ve played 12, won 10, lost 1, drawn 1. We sit top of the table, 2 points clear of City, clearly still the favourites to win it. But if they’re favourites and we’re 2 points clear after nearly a third of the League games played, we must be considered contenders at the least, by any measurement?

Let’s look at it another way. Let’s say we lose to Chelsea this weekend. Quite possible, as they’re looking to bounce back from their 4-1 trashing down on the South Coast, away to Brighton. For the record, I believe we’ll win and Jesus will score a hattrick. You heard it here first, twice now. So we lose to Chelsea, Man City and all the other title contenders win their games. We would have played just over one third of our league fixtures, and this is what the league table will look like just counting 13 games played for all the top 6.

Man City will be top on 32pts, just a single point ahead of us. But here’s where it gets interesting. The next closest teams will be Spurs and Utd (respectively at 3rd and 4th) on 26pts each. That’s still 5pts behind us. They’ll be followed by Newcastle and Chelsea (respectively at 5th and 6th) on 24pts each. That’s 7pts behind us. All the aforementioned teams are surely considered title contenders by neutrals and fans alike. Surely our name must be in the hat?

I understand the need to do a Ranieri with Leicester, ie just set short term goals and meet them and see where we stand at the business end of the season. I’m pretty sure Arty has that bit sorted out, or even if he doesn’t, he certainly doesn’t need my two pence. But here’s why I feel the club as a whole need to see ourselves as title contenders. By this I mean the fans, the players, the staff, the board, the owners. Basically everyone associated with our beloved Arsenal. We’re not going to get a better chance at the title anytime soon.

What do I mean by this. Just take Liverpool as an example. I’m not trying to knock them while they’re down, but it’ll be foolish to not consider what’s happening there and draw lessons for ourselves. They’re just over 7 years into Project Klopp, and all they have to show for it is one miserably League title. Okay, I get it, that’s still one more than us in that same period. But how’s this for some perspective and context, Leicester have won the same number of League titles in the 7 years Klopp has been at Liverpool. Yes, I’m well aware that Klopp has also won an FA Cup, a Charity Shield, a League Cup, a Super Cup and a World Club Cup. Oh yes, and a Champions’ League, who can we forget. Again for context and perspective, Mikel in less than 3 years at the club, has already achieved a third of that latter haul. So here’s the question, will Gooners be satisfied with a similar haul after 7 years of Project Arteta. That’s assuming any one of Man City, Barca, PSG, Bayern or even Newcastle don’t buy him out before that. They’ll certainly try, trust me.

So here’s the deal, however much we strengthen our squad in quality, strength and depth over the next decade, we are not going to ever guarantee that we’ll be in such a commanding position for a title tilt one third the way through our league fixtures. Yes there’s the curve ball of a winter World Cup and an enforced 6-week break that is bound to play havoc with our best laid plans. But this unique one-off anomaly will surely affect all the other teams, especially the other title contenders?

In fact it could be argued we might find ourselves in a better position, having less of our first team away as compared to the other title contenders, for now at least. Furthermore, when the business end of the season comes a calling, while we will be in the serious and gruelling rounds of the Europa League, it is only the Europa League. Again, to be clear, I want to win the Europa League. As well as the League Cup and the FA Cup. The other title contenders will have the same considerations to deal with, 4 of them will be with the Champions League. And this is why the club as a whole really has to take our title challenge seriously.

We the fans, in person and online, have to really back and support the team through thick and thin this season. And believe me it most likely will get thin sooner rather than later. Our beloved team are unlikely to get a better chance in the coming decade, so while we should definitely enjoy the ride, we should make sure our 12th player is certainly at his best. Definitely at the Emirates, but perhaps more crucially away from home. The greater global Gooner community should find ways to be the 13th, 14th and even 15th man.

Likewise, the players need to mentally brace themselves for a title push. Yes, it’s Arteta’s job to manage this, but if our goal is to have leaders across the team, this is the best time to step up. This applies as much to the reserves, the loanees and youth players as much as it does the first team. If Reiss Nelson’s example is anything to go by, we’re definitely on the right track.

The board, the chairman and the owners have a very important job this season come the January transfer window. They need to be willing to go all out to tie-up the loose-ends for critical contract extensions, as well as support the manager in bringing in the right reinforcements. While this is always a gamble in January, the potential pay-out for this particularly gamble has never been, and may never be, higher.

Most importantly, Arteta has a really tough decision to make. He may have to prioritise the league over the other 3 potential trophies. Again let me clarify, I would like us to win all 4. His team selection away to Eindhoven showed he is currently averse to any such form of determination. But this is a unique season. He may never get a better opportunity however long he stays at the club, and may it truly be a long tenure. Considering this is his first management job, I can’t imagine the stress and pressure he is under. That said, he seems to be relishing it and taking it all in his stride.

So I for one am going to enjoy the ride and get behind the team for their title push this season. There, I said it again.

Come on you Reds!

Come on you Gunners!!

Victoria Concordia Cresit!!!

Here we go again

Well, where do we start?

To be honest, I should have started weeks ago.

It’s easy now, after our stellar 5-star 5-0 win over Forest at the Emirates to say we are title contenders. Though I know some, many who are Gooners as well, who will begrudge this team that privilege.

Don’t get me wrong, the journey ahead still is long and arduous. I can see us possibly losing to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. But I’m not going to change my assessment and hence why I decided to write this now before we play the Chavs. For the record I do believe we’ll beat them and Jesus will get his first hattrick for Arsenal. You heard it here first.

But first things first, where do we start indeed. I will start with the needless loss at Eindhoven.

Let me clarify, I’m not bothered about the loss itself. It’s a game that we could afford to lose, due the outstanding industry and grit of the manager and the team in the previous 4 games. What irked me was the needless trip that key players made, all for a loss. This result is solely on Arteta’s shoulders. In a way I’m glad that I’m writing this after our best performance this season as it means I don’t have to wallow too deep into the potential mire that our 0-2 loss away to PSV presented.

The game in Holland presented Arteta the perfect opportunity to field XI second stringers who are in severe need of game time. It also allowed him the opportunity to rest our first choice starting XI and some of the usual ‘subspects’. It also allowed him the chance to give more youngsters game time with a valuable European away trip in a no pressure match, yet clearly a crucial ‘high stakes’ game that was there to be won. What’s the worst that could have happened, we lose. Which we did anyway. Unlike Macbeth, I haven’t waddled into this mire so deep that I should get over to the other side. Truth be told, I’m barely up to my ankles in the grime.

But thanks to super Mik, I can turn around and get out now.

This is what I love about the manager and the team. It’s almost as if he planned it, which I don’t believe for a moment. But the sign of a truly great manager is that he knows how to use the windows of opportunity that come his way and shine lots of needed light into a room so there’s clarity to find the right door to exit.

This has been the hallmark of Arty’s time at Arsenal. Nobody wanted Saka to leave the field early, especially under the circumstances (The complete lack of protection from referees is a mire I’m dying to wade into but I fear I may go in too deep and just drown there. Besides many others have written and commented in a very balanced way). But the superb introduction of Reiss Nelson, from left field, shows how well Arteta manages these windows. Tomi’s introduction on the wrong flank for the pressure game against Liverpool is another recent example. Trawl through Mikel’s short career at the club for many more.

The win, and the manner of it, has clearly presented us the door. Let’s hope we can walk through this door boldly and bravely with 4 good wins in the three different competitions over the next 12 days that sees us firmly set for the second half of the season, after the enforced World Cup break.

I was going to continue about us being title contenders, but I’ll save that for a.p.a.t., hopefully soon.

Arsenal 1 – 2 Brighton

Well, well, well …

Going to start with the match report first, because I really need to get it out of the way. We were missing key personnel, but truth be told, it shouldn’t have made a difference. If anything, the players who got their chance should have seized the opportunity with both hands. The amount of space Trossard was given for their first goal is inexcusable. Regardless of personnel. Mwepu’s goal for their second was a brilliant strike, a half-volley off the bounce, but again it does seem to have been avoidable.

Martinelli had a good header ruled out for offside just before half-time, which arguably could have changed the complexion of the game. VAR took forever to decide, and still got it wrong. Odegaard’s 89th min consolation was a tad bid lucky, but that’s why it pays to mix things up and try those shots. But why oh why did we wait till that late in the game, and only after having to chase it?

To me this was the most worrying thing about the loss. We look bereft of ideas and had no penetration whatsoever. Yet once Martin’s strike went it and the 4th official indicated 6 min of injury, we looked more dangerous then than the previous 90mins put together.

I know this is a bit of an over-simplification, but football is a simple game. You put in the graft and effort, you inevitably get the reward. This quality which has got us results this season seemed missing until right at the death. I don’t want to over-analyse it, certainly not here and now anyway. I might see how the next few games pan out, then maybe APAT.

My next big worry is Lacazette. He’s been functioning fine without goals until the interlull because he has been a vital part of creating them for others. But against Palace, and especially against Brighton, we needed our senior striker to pull his weight in that department. Especially since he was particularly poor in the other departments that have helped him paper over his very poor goal tally.

I might do a separate piece on this later. We’ll see.

Bottom-line, amazingly, win our remaining 8 games and 4th place, with its accompanying Champions’ League spot, is still ours. But until these issues are sorted out, it looks like St Tott’s will pass us by another year.

Let’s see how Arteta and the team decide to respond away to the Saints at St Mary’s.

Mikel Arteta has made it fun again

Third post today! I’ll try and keep this short. Keep more material for the next few posts, hehehe …

A lot has happened since my single solitary post about Unai Emery’s time at the Emirates.

Now it’s Mikel Arteta‘s Arsenal. Sorry, it had to be done.

What can I say, I really am enjoying watching Arsenal play again. Even in the wee hours this morning, watching them get hammered (score-wise) by Paddy’s Eagles, I was fairly calm and sanguine about our CL chances, and more importantly the season’s trajectory.

Is he the right man for the job? Time will tell. What can’t be denied is there is a positive vibe around the team, the club, the stadium, the fandom etc that is really down to him. Bearing in mind he came to the club at one of it’s worst periods of our history, certainly recent history. Might post more on this in a separate post. Bottom-line for me as a fan, I love watching my team play again. Win or lose. I’ll certainly enjoy it more if they win the last 9 games, but regardless, this is what being a fan means. I won’t say this is my only reason for picking up the pen (ok, keyboard) again. But it certainly makes the process easier.

I’ll stop here. A quick shout-out to Fredrik Ljungberg. In everything that has happened, people forget that one of our Invincibles was also our manager, albeit for a short 6 games interim spell. His stats probably won’t turn any heads. But I feel those 6 games went some way in making Mikel’s transition and acceptance easier. Maybe APAT.

Either way, what an amazing servant of the club. Was truly sorry to see him leave. But perhaps it is for the better. Only time will tell.

We love you Freddie …

Crystal Palace 3 – 0 Arsenal

It would happen, wouldn’t it. Vieira and his team certainly showed more desire and hunger. This was really a nothing game for them, except maybe for Paddy to flaunt his credentials, for when Mikel’s time is up, one way or another.

Not going to write much about the game (he says), for many reasons. In the big scheme of things this game wasn’t a must-win for our Champions’ League ambitions. Much like our last lost, to Liverpool, this was more important as a statement for next season.

Don’t get me wrong. We really needed and should have won this comfortably had the right desire and hunger been there from the start. Sure there were mitigating circumstances. Yes, Tierney’s absence and Tavares’ inclusion meant that our hitherto solid defence was a little out of sync (both first half goals were from that wing). Yes, VAR should have flagged the foul for the headed assist. Yes, the penalty for their third was soft. Yes, we had a much more decent penalty shout. Yes, … I could go on …

Don’t get me wrong, if we had won this game, and to some extent the Liverpool game, we would have set ourselves up nicely for a top 3 finish. Like I said, in the big scheme of things, we still play all our top 4 rivals. The equation hasn’t really changed. Win our remaining games and Champions’ League here we come. Maybe this loss will be the final wake-up call the boys need to show up with 110% commitment for our final 9 games. They come thick and fast now. To be honest, if had to lose one of our final 10 league games, I would gladly it have been this game. We got to do what we can for Paddy …

But herein lies that niggling worry for me. Make no mistake, barring an improbable collapse that doesn’t see us finish in the top 7 for a European slot, Arteta has definitely shown he has the team heading in the right direction. But what happens next season if we do get that CL spot? What must success and improvement look like next season to show sustained progress? If we couldn’t manage an interlull, despite having more rest that most, how will we handle European games midweek? All this in next season’s crazy World Cup year …

But maybe I’m overthinking it. I’ll say this though, win or lose, I’m finally enjoying watching my team again. It has been a long while. On to the next game. Brighton at the Emirates. No excuses.

Come on you Gunners!

Back again … (he says)

Well it’s been a while.

Hopefully this time it won’t be ages and ages till the next one.

To be fair I did post about Unai. So it hasn’t been that long …

Still probably time to write some thing about Mikel … let’s see where this goes …

Long time no see, heh heh

Well well well. I’m back again. I’ve been away so long I almost forget the password. It would have been forever … …

Anyway, a lot has happened I don’t quite know where to start. I suppose I wanted to post something on Arsene’s farewell, but quite obviously didn’t get around to it. May still do (he says).

Unai Emery. Where to begin. Basically, he’s made Arsenal fun to watch again. Just. Well most of the time.

I’ll leave it for now. Not sure when I’ll be back. But as they say, better late than never.

Before I go, here’s some food for thought: we go from Arsene(al) Wenger to Unai Emery(ates). Yes, its cheesy, corny, etc etc. But if the rest of the season and his time here progresses like his whirlwind start to the season, well we have the formula to pick his successor all sorted. 21 unbeaten and counting.

To write, or not to write …

It has been absolutely yonks since I wrote anything about Arsenal. As usual it has been very painful watching the games or following them on various media platforms. However, even while writing this, fresh with the memory of the win over Burnley in mind, I suppose it is somewhat therapeutic. We’ll see. I suppose I need to keep in mind why I started this blog in the first place. Maybe after we’ve really blown all our chances or maybe we win a cup or two …

On a separate note, spare a moment, a thought and a tear for brave Chapecoense …

Haiku

Another piece from Byan On, a haiku

           I believe All’s well

     for I know it Will end well

  just as seasons Pass

Something different.

Seeing as it has been ages since I’ve posted anything football or Arsenal related, seems bizarre that I’m posting a poem here, but since it is an experiment of sorts, here goes:

 

Literature (or “literature, just kill me already”)

 Byan On

 

Literature is a tall building,

a high vantage point

to get a different perspective.

 

Literature is a knife,

that slices bread chops vegetables

and generally eases one’s life.

 

Literature is a gun,

that can be used for leisure or sustenance

and to defend in dire need.

 

Literature is a drug,

that should be only used for healing

never abused or misused.

 

It is highly addictive, but Literature never kills.