Always nice to see Theo scoring at the Emirates…
I find reactions to Allardyce odd. If you bring him in to deliver an outcome he will do so via a proven effective means. If the preference is for relegation then go for it.
His recent track record is that thick owners bring him in to deliver but don’t want him around long term. Rather odd when you consider his achievements at Bolton.
Similar issue with Moyes. West Ham brought him in to fire fight, which isn’t really his thing. Got away with it then sacked him anyway. Brought him back in and have given him a little time and suddenly you have arguably the most improved team in the division.
He never scored with quite so much composure wearing an Arsenal shirt. A very cool goal
I like him but is sad he never really turned out to be a great goalscorer.
1 Like
Like a gun for hire.
I’m afraid with that celebration he catapulted himself from much loved former player to pantomime villain. He is the highest scoring player at the Emirates in Arsenal history as it stands and as a fan base we where very sad to see him go though he never really fulfilled his potential he was always a player who ran and played his heart out and it’s good to see him as part of a team where he looks to be thriving.
1 Like
I’ve a feeling Mikel Arteta will be around for a long time.
Tottenham might manage a trophy this season playing that way.
Spurs will win nothing.
1 Like
Somewhat like Arsenal did last season. 
Apart from an FA Cup.
Yes, that’s what I meant, actually.
Arsenal managed to scrape a trophy during a period of reinvigoration of the team. I think this could be the storey of Tottenham this season too. I don’t see Spurs supporters accepting the dull way Tottenham play for longer than a season though.
Or possibly the players.
Arsenal did scrape a trophy and quite unexpectedly even for us fans.
I look at Arteta and I really feel bad for him he has inherited probably the worst Arsenal team in 30 years and I really hope he is given time to build his own squad and turn things around because in him I see a great manager of the future with whom I would really love to see Arsenal prosper.
On the subject of Spurs they have fully bought into the Mourinho way of playing which is as we all know is dull as ditch water but if he doesn’t win anything (which he won’t) the fans will turn on him.
For all the banter I have with the many Spurs fans I know they are a team who historically play a brand of creative, attacking flair football which is the opposite of the way Jose plays, starved of and desperate for success the fans will put up with it if they win something but honestly I’d be surprised if they do.
2 Likes
…agreed. Liverpool were a joy to watch today.
100% and as much as I’m loathe to admit it because I’ve family members who are big Liverpool supporters they play football the way football should be played with flair, intensity and in a way that is entertaining to watch with a manager who wants to play that way for the fans and for football in general.
1 Like
I don’t think the way Tottenham play is sustainable, even if they do win a Trophy.
If you were Kane or Son and the likes of Real or Barcelona were sniffing around and you had to endure a season or two playing counter attacking football, you would almost certainly get fed up and probably disheartened, the thought of playing more engaging football elsewhere would be very tempting.
Mourinho’s way of playing relies almost exclusively on having a very good front line who are also quick, it just doesn’t work otherwise. And without a trophy, the supporters and the players will revolt.
Seriously? Kane and Son are on fire. No incentive to leave whatsoever. Spurs are realistic title contenders and, frankly, some of the counter attacking has been terrific.
I’m afraid I don’t subscribe to the idea that there is one way to football or that old chestnut about anti-football. Liverpool are fantastic but the EPL would be incredibly dull if everyone played that way.
1 Like
30 years, really?
We’ve had some stinkers in the past, with players like Bendtner and Sonogoals. Players with broken backs and all sorts of dross when Wenger had no money.
Our current team look worse but there’s a lot of quality in there I feel. They’re just playing woefully. Sadly they just need the confidence they had at the end of last season. Quite where it’s gone is the million dollar question.
I did not say there was only the Liverpool way of playing football (football existed before Klopp came along), I said the way Tottenham are currently playing is not sustainable, quite different.
At times today, when the Tottenham midfield were unable to get the ball for very long periods of play, they decided to hoof it and by pass the midfield, almost harking back to the 70’s route one, do you really think that’s Kane or Sons game?
There were two reasons for that:
-
The midfield had given up so much space and possession to Liverpool, the midfield were nothing more than moving obstacles.
-
Mourinho probably thought that Williams and Fabinho were rooky CB’s he wanted to pressure their defensive heading and thought he could get some joy with flick ons and the high/long ball pressure.
As I say, playing this way gives away too much qualities in other areas of the team, Tottenham can’t rely on a tactic that is predominantly Son and Kane centric indefinitely.
When Wenger had no money and with all that dross playing for him he never finished outside the top four until his last two seasons when a good proportion of this current squad played. Then Unai Emery took over and after a decent start 5th place, Europa League final this current squad fell asleep at the wheel and got him the sack 4 months into last season. Then Mikel Arteta took over and after a decent start 8th place and an FA Cup this squad fell asleep at the wheel and we are now languishing in 15th place with 2 draws, 7 losses and 4 wins there is a common denominator here this squad.
Of the current 25 man squad I’d keep Bernd Leno ,Gabriel , Tierney, Ceballos, Saka
Aubameyang, Pablo Mari, Thomas Partey, Ashley Maitland Niles, Martinelli and if we couldn’t recoup at least half what we paid then Pepe too but that is it .
All of the others can go.
1 Like
No it wouldn’t. Give me Liverpool v Leeds on the opening day of the season over Man City v Spurs any day of the week.
1 Like