Hi all. Hope you're well. God knows how long it's been since I even looked on here, but since we've been having the worst time in my memory, I thought I'd make a special stop by.
Do I like being a malcontent naysayer? No, not at all. That would mean my team are doing poorly. Do I find it necessary? Absolutely. Especially at a time like this.
We have no wins in the last two months and only one point in that time. That gives us the second worst form in the league - above only the team who are flat last. Couple that with our position of fifteenth, the inability to see where any changes are going to come from and the marked decline in performance of even our most reliable players (capped by Aubameyang failing to score at the right end yet again, but still finding the net), and we have a genuine problem on our hands.
From twelve games, we have just four wins, and worryingly, two of those came in the first two games of the season. Only three teams have lost more games than we have and they're all below us - and one of the teams below us beat us yesterday. Since the second week of October, every single league game we've played has been a defeat with the exception of one draw. This isn't simple bad form - this is a collapse.
Remember back to the early 2000s - the heyday of Leeds United. One season they're Champions League semifinalists. A couple later, they're Premier League has-beens. Arguably, that team had some better players than ours does - how many of our current squad would have ousted theirs?
I'm not saying we will get relegated - just that we could. I know in any given season that's a possibility for all teams, but this is the first time I've ever felt it's a realistic risk to us. It's not the current position, or the inexperienced manager, or the leaderless squad, or the miserly board, or the disappearance of end product from the players we always rely on, or the inability to see where change is coming from - it's all of those combined. And whether you want to admit it or not, we do have all of those problems.
The simplest one to fix is Arteta. He was never the right choice - being Pep's assistant was no guarantee he'd be any good himself. Say what you want about him 'needing time' - he's had a year. If he has more time and fails to change things, imagine the potential damage. Arteta has to be chalked up as an unsuccessful experiment that was aborted quickly when the time came. If we do this now, whoever comes in at least has the winter window to make changes. If we leave it late, he's stuck with what Arteta has proven is unworkable.
Too many times we've settled for half-measures - if you're completely honest with yourself, neither the manager nor the overwhelming bulk of the players are what you'd have picked if given the choice. Luiz, Elneny, Willian, Xhaka, Holding - who buys these and calls them starters? We need a total reconstruction, starting at the top.
Remember, I'm not saying relegation is actually on the cards - but teams have done worse with better to work with, and our team isn't working well at all right now. I'm actually one step away from begging Emery to come back - and not a big step either.
We might actually get relegated
posted on 14/12/20
At what point do we sack Arteta. I think it should be sooner rather than later.However the board will just dilly dally and they will be happy unless they lose money.
Allow a few more games to pass with the same poor results.Id want a new manager in before the next transfer window. I dont think the board will do anything though.Wait until we are in the bottom 3 and let the transfer window pass
posted on 14/12/20
comment by Pride of the North (U6803)
posted 6 minutes ago
Can’t see you going down, can see you solidifying 13/14th before the season is up
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Thanks for the support
posted on 14/12/20
Wenger in
posted on 14/12/20
comment by Jenius99 (U4918)
posted 28 minutes ago
Its always hard to find the ideal manager. Doesn't mean you don't try. I agree with Rui (nice to have him back here btw) Arteta's position is now untenable.
For me its always a mistake to appoint someone similar age to the players for such a big club. Big clubs have players on huge wages with enormous egos. The manager has to command respect as soon as he steps through the front door. Arsenal should never been a development exercise for Arteta.
At the moment there are two managers out of work who would fit Arsenal's profile. Poch and Allegri.
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Thanks mate, good to see your posts again 👍
I'd snap your arm off for Poch. He did a lot with Spurs and was harshly treated at the end. I like his management style.
posted on 14/12/20
Let’s hope so
Although we’d have to find a replacement for our guaranteed 6 points next season
posted on 14/12/20
There's plenty of managers out there who aren't complete gambles which Arteta was. It could've gone well but it clearly isn't working and it's time to move on before more damage is done
posted on 14/12/20
I like the Southampton manager a lot, and think he'd suit either us or Arsenal currently. I think Poch would do well with Arsenal too.
posted on 14/12/20
Rui
Good to see you back, mate.
Not worrying about us going down. Yet.
Think there is a way out of this for Arteta. Youth.
Hindsight, being the wonderful thing that is, he should’ve leaned towards it after winning the Cup. I’m not sure he’d be confident enough to try it now unfortunately.
posted on 14/12/20
comment by Lexington 125.2 - Give Reiss A Chance (U8879)
posted 12 minutes ago
Rui
Good to see you back, mate.
Not worrying about us going down. Yet.
Think there is a way out of this for Arteta. Youth.
Hindsight, being the wonderful thing that is, he should’ve leaned towards it after winning the Cup. I’m not sure he’d be confident enough to try it now unfortunately.
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Likewise, Lex 👍
The way I see it, what has he got to lose? If he continues as he has been, the players of his choice will have cost him his job.
Thinking outside the box requires the belief in all of those things that ordinarily would not go into the box. If Arteta doesn't do something soon, he won't have a box to 5h!t in.
posted on 14/12/20
comment by Jenius99 (U4918)
posted 5 hours, 7 minutes ago
Its always hard to find the ideal manager. Doesn't mean you don't try. I agree with Rui (nice to have him back here btw) Arteta's position is now untenable.
For me its always a mistake to appoint someone similar age to the players for such a big club. Big clubs have players on huge wages with enormous egos. The manager has to command respect as soon as he steps through the front door. Arsenal should never been a development exercise for Arteta.
At the moment there are two managers out of work who would fit Arsenal's profile. Poch and Allegri.
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I agree with that, but it's the actual decision making at board level that is the real problem, and unless something changes at that level, we're probably going to have the exact same debate next December, regardless of who the manager is.