Freddie Ljungberg says he’s going to stick with experience to get Arsenal back on track, but has made it clear we need more from the senior players than we’ve been getting.
The interim head coach returns to West Ham where he had a season as a player, looking to take his first one in charge of the Gunners.
Form has been patchy, confidence is at an all-time low, and when asked if he needed his experienced heads to step up, he told Sky Sports, “We do. We need to change this downward spiral.
“I haven’t said I’m going to build the team against specific players but I felt I want to play the experienced players when it’s such a difficult situation like it is at the moment.
“I made a conscious choice to put down the older players to take the responsibility and change the games.”
It will be a serious test of character for a group of players who have shown some deficiencies in that regard, and while erring on the side of experience is understandable, some of these guys have been the most culpable in this recent run.
Let’s hope we can turn it around tomorrow.
With Man U beating Man C yesterday, we are now definitely the most underperforming squad in the prem. Freddie is essentially saying, and rightly so, that our senior players need to step the fuck up, take responsibility and most of all show the fight they would have needed to get to where they are in the game.
I can just about abide by sub par performances if the effort is there BUT we really need to combine maximum hard work with improved game intelligence in the next few games.
I get that senior players need to perform better. But at the same time, it’s senior players that have got us into this mess with their abject performances.
Personally, I’d prefer to see a Chambers Holding CB pairing than Luiz Sokratis. We know what they offer and it simply isn’t good enough. Neither deserves to keep their place, despite their experience.
We can blame the defence of course but our mighty attackers let us down too. The so called outscoring the opposition tactic needs efficiency, the element we are lacking now.
Someone needs to remind Ozil why he gets paid £350,000 a week. Biggest robber since Sani Abacha.
I take it that you’re a Nigerian. I’m a fan of Ozil but he’s definitely not decisive enough. Should have scored some goals in these past few games but lacks that edge which is a shame.
You have been consistently anti-ozil for as long as i can remember, always the slightest excuse to slag him off. Why not call Freddie out for shipping him off to the wings? A 10 is a 10. A striker is no good in the wings. Torreira is a defensive midfielder. Why is this so hard to get?
Always the salary has to be mentioned. Ozil hasn’t been our worst player by a long way and has really been working hard
Freddie’s been handed a poisoned chalice…it’s starting to look as if we have our own version of the “bomb squad” that Poch famously had to get out of Tottenham.
We should be able to rely on our senior players and if we can’t then why are we surprised we’re in the position we’re in right now?
You can point fingers all you like at the players, but for me everything still goes back to the lineup. I am yet to see a 100% logical team sheet this season. Every single game has been dysfunctional mess with too many square pegs in round holes. It’s as simple as that, footballers are CONFIDENT when they are COMFORTABLE. They are scared when they are out of their depth, being asked to perform unfamiliar roles. I feel like a broken record on this. 1. Pick players in their natural positions. 2. Look for complementary partnerships in key areas. Not Xhaka/Guendouzi… Read more »
The only positive is that January is a few weeks away. There has to be significant changes in the playing staff. I don’t care where we get a real Midfielders and central defenders from. I’m sure Emre Can & Adrien Rabiot will be available for the right price. Players are available for the right price
I want to see a back line of
Bellerin Chamber Holding Tierney
Gendouzi Xhaka
Ozil
Pepe. Auba Martinelli
This team has pace creativity and defensive stability. Give holding the captaincy aswell. I don’t think strikers should be captain.
The only thing I’d change from your line up is that I’d move Luiz into the midfield. That midfield has not worked with any other combination. Try Luiz and Xhaka and see if it works.
Torreira instead of Guendouzi is the one change I would make. Why so many thumbs down
I support you 100%
You’ve seen the financial results, we are skint. I very much doubt we will get reinforcements in January
I don’t think the senior players give a shit about Arsenal FC.
Well let’s think about all the goodwill the club as shown telling Mustafi, Xhaka(implicitly), and Ozil they can leave! What goes around comes around, depending on your level of cynicism. Frankly, we should not play any of those three unless we have to and, again try like hell to move them in January.
Who would have thought that one day we’d be going to West Ham full of trepidation and desperate for a win to stave off a relegation battle? Sad. Interesting news yesterday about the club’s financial plight: it looks like Stan’s mismanagement of AFC is now bearing extremely bitter fruit. And with the high likelihood of no European football at all next season things are going to deteriorate even more next year. We’re more likely to sell than spend the huge amounts needed to turn us into a decent side. I think it’s called a vicious circle. This actually might be… Read more »
You mean to finish off a frosty relationship is to burn your own house or watch someone burn it so that he/she sees no value in you and leave you??? Na i wouldn’t do that or wish for it.
Er, no. I mean I hope Stan sells the club to someone who actually loves football and is prepared to invest his time and money to make us great again.
We could get even worse owners, there’s lots around, just sayin’. The best is if the current owners understand better what Arsenal is about, how different things are in England, and stop totally trusting the snake oil salesmen they’ve been listening to, we can but hope.
From where we were when Stan bought into the club, I could not have imagined a worse scenario actually.
Hopefully the huge amount of debt he has generated and the general fact that every single Arsenal fan cannot stand the sight of him might encourage him to sell.
Arsenal would be a very attractive proposition to someone with the money – huge reputation, massive TV and franchise incomes, middle of London.
It could become a reality…
Kroenke is NEVER going to win the fans over – they cannot stand the man..
The quoted gate for Brighton game was the standard 60000+ which is probably all that KSE are interested in at this stage. That means their income was unchanged from previous years and all tickets sold.
Only when ST renewals go begging and true attendances begin to show through will concern be raised by accountants. That and a drop in TV money when we become also-rans.
I’m a red member and was looking to get a ticket for the game. The website said it was sold out with tickets only left on the exchange. If some season ticket holders don’t fancy going why aren’t more tickets going on the Exchange? Surprising to see so many empty seats especially for Freddie’s first game in charge at home.
Ticket revenues not a lot compared to TV money etc. Not having European football and a poor EPL finish will make a bigger debt in finances than empty seats will.
Here is a decent summary of what our owner is putting together in Southern California. https://www.athleticbusiness.com/stadium-arena/can-rams-chargers-stadium-bring-new-financing-model.html
I hope that means Pepe starts. He was our best player against Brighton
Pretty low bar for that title though!
Yep. But at the same time he showed the desire we’ve all been crying out for – and at £72m, a prive tag he is well aware of, its good to see him not simply sitting back so credit where its due. I do understand Ljungberg’s POV though. The more experienced heads in the group need to set the baseline in our performances and they really haven’t been. So if they can up their game, supplement them with hungry young/fringe players it can only benefit all involved. At least Freddie is highlighting out deficiencies without singling out specific players –… Read more »
Well, along with the much-maligned Kolasinac.
So stick with what isn’t working and expect a different result the madness continues. Xhaka having had one of his better games but outshone in midfield by Mooy. Ozil showing fight after the final whistle. Papabob , Papabob Papabob!!! Valium please
Or we can mix it again. No regular eleven, lack of stability and cohesion. We do not need scapegoats anymore, just start to build some confidence slowly. It is said we are the most underperforming team in this league. It’s sad but you can play much better with our players and resources, so that’s the thin line of my optimism.
Its the senior players – the ones you would be looking to get Arsenal out of this predicament who got us into it to begin with. Sokratis, Luiz, Xhaka and Ozil simply are not good enough to be in the starting line up – lets be honest they are not good enough to be at the club. Holding, Chambers, Torreira and Martinelli with the right encouragement and support would do a much better job for Arsenal and all are young. There is an old saying – those who fail to learn the lessons from history are doomed to repeat them.… Read more »
Özil… he was heavily involved in our last 3 goals… but well…
He took the corners big deal. It’s not as if he’s bossing games we have mainly been scoring from dead ball situations no penetration from open play. We are paying 350 k for a specialist kicker is this NFL?
He is a lazy bastard – sorry but shit does stick.
he aint lazy, but bar the liverpool game he’s been bang average like the rest of them
He hides every game in the middle of the pitch to avoid contact, watch his positioning where he isn’t open for a pass, it’s intentional.
He hasn’t hidden in any games and never has. Maybe not as effective as he once was but is working hard.
No heart for the club, plays for himself.
Ozil has never been remotely lazy and in recent matches has been working as hard as any other player. You only see what you want to
Oh fuck off. Ozil is a complete waste of space who only gives a fuck about himself. Petulant spoilt little boy, he is one of the main reasons arsenal are so bad now. The other players all see that you can be a wanker & still get paid handsomely, so they follow suit.
Spot on, Ozil should ride the bench, that’s his most important contribution.
Ozil is shit, he cant score he cant mark, he is walking on the pitch, i dont know what does he offer to a team, just few good passes in easy games
I love it. First mention of ‘senior players’ and the typical response of‘Xhaka, xhaka, Ozil, Ozil, Ozil- when both of them easily outplayed Aubamayang, Lacazette, and our veteran defenders the last 2-3 matches.
Fuck the scapegoating ladies and gents, and let’s see things how they truly are across the board. Falsely singling out players is a distraction that doesn’t make anything better.
You are truly blind if you feel Ozil has done anything to warrant being in the team. You know what has stayed the same in this 5 year slide. Not Wenger, not Sanchez, not Emery, not Gazidis but the one & only Mesut Ozil.
What a load of bollocks, Mesut didn’t play at all while we got into this mess, open your eyes and look at the match instead of being a fucking sheep listening to cunts like aftv and most of the former players nicking a living masquerading as pundits. How many times does Mesut give them the outball only to be ignored, how many times is he stuck in possession with nobody making any movement at all? He’s not perfect but he’s nowhere near the biggest problem in this team.
Even though Ozil hasn’t looked any worse than anyone else, his reintroduction to the team hasn’t had any kind of impact. For a star player, a supposed leader and someone who many on here claim is the best AM in the league or even the world, that is hugely damning.
Look I don’t disagree. Auba and to an extent Laca are vastly overrated. But Ozil IS terrible. Our defenders are terrible. Our squad is a mess. That doesn’t mean Ozil and Xhaka are good
Never said they have been ‘good’ though, did I? The point is, picking two favorite whipping boys gets you no closer to the truth, it only gets you two favorite whipping boys. I guess for those who are into that sort of thing, that’s your business. But the rot goes much broader and deeper. Continuing to berate and degrade two of our players -who are not our weakest, nor are they on the worst form in the team- does absolutely fuck all to help. It is, in fact, counterproductive. Right now they’re what we’ve got. Why destroy the motivation they… Read more »
It is possible to argue rationally, though I don’t agree, that Ozil does not fit into our system (or, anyway, some system that we theoretically have), that he is a “luxury player” for our squad, and so he should be sold. It is possible to argue rationally, though I don’t agree, that Ozil’s salary hampers our ability to buy other players. But it is not rational to say he is not “good enough” to be at the club. No manger in England, in Europe, no player on Arsenal or any other club in the Prem would agree. Sometimes supporters are… Read more »
Seems the problem is relative to our other choices. Do we want to have Ceballos or Pepe play for Ozil, and then pick between Guendouzi, Torriera, Xhaka, and Willock as other playmakers? Maybe so put there are limitations either way you go. Last thing, to scapegoat Ozil for everything that has happened over the last five years, let along two years, is nonsense and bordering on hate. I would like to see him go for his one good, as the league has always been a physical test for him, but while he is here I would hope to hell we… Read more »
Ozil is long past his best. He’s done nothing for Arsenal. A disaster since day 1. We never had any need for him ever. He was given to us by an agent looking to offload him out of Madrid when they made it clear Modric was their preferred no.10. Wenger fell for it and we’ve been lumbered with this waste of space ever since. Our team has never been able to accommodate him because he has no game suited for the English premiership. Every time he starts it means we’re playing with 10 men. The 350k deal given to him… Read more »
So the most creative player in the league and the quickest to to 50 assists was a disaster from day 1. Helped us win 3 FA Cups. One of Wenger’s best signings. He may now be inconsistent but if you haven’t appreciated what he has contributed to us you have a poor knowledge of football
Helped us win fuck all. A complete disaster from day 1, yeah. Goes missing in every big game. Does fuck all in every other game. And sits there happy to rake in 350k week while the team suffers because of it. The absolute worst signing in our clubs history.
Actually I think many people would agree with that sentiment now. Or at least they’d say he wouldn’t play in the sides challenging for the title, which is where we should be. He looked a world beater when he was out of the side while we were struggling. Now that he’s playing and not making a difference, people reunderstand his true level, which is sadly where he’s been at since signing that contract.
They do need to step the fuck up and give 110%. They have no Emery to hide behind now and Fred bless him needs all the help he can get from them. He has really been chucked in the deep end and they owe him and the club some big performances. They are all so much better than they are playing at the moment. With the pace and attacking options we should be scaring the opposition and scoring for one. The defence is another matter entirely but even if we still concede goals we should be able to outscore most… Read more »
Exactly how much time should they be given to “step the fuck up” ? How long as Xhaka, Ozil and Sokratis been underperforming? Successful businesses don’t become successful by carrying dead weight. You perform or you fuck off Its called life and it applies to everyone… Including dead weight players on huge salaries who do precisely nothing – just like Ozil, Xhaka, Sokratis etc. I am personally fucking sick of reading the same garbage about the same players week after week – they might as well cut and paste the same criticisms every week to save time. Give young players… Read more »
All the players need to give 100% not just the senior ones. And by *step it up* I was referring to Auba/Laca/Ozil/Xhaka mainly. And If they can’t get their act together in the next couple of games then I am all for playing the youngsters. Hell I would even go so far as recalling Eddie and playing a front 3 of Pepe, Eddie and Martinelli or even Saka, Eddie and Martinelli. We are fast approaching the point where we have nothing to lose!
Without Auba we would be dead last in the table. He has more than carried his own weight the past couple of years – we need to stop shunting him out on the wing to fit in Lacazette.
He’s our goal scorer so he’s just doing his job. People forget how many chances he missed last season…as well as the penalty that might have got us top 4.
He does need to start up front away from home definitely but his pressing in games is pretty poor and he’s very lightweight in challenges.
And if the links to him and Madrid are real is his head even at Arsenal anymore…he downed tools at Dortmund when he wanted out of there.
You’re so right, look at the last few games and he’s been awful. His dream is to play for Real Madrid and if they are in for him we should sell in January because we sure as hell won’t be getting any decent performances out of him. Take the money and buy the defender and midfielder we need.
Sell Auba in January and get relegated.
Sounds like a plan!
Ozil – underperforming since 2013
Emery started the season with young players, especially wingers, who were exciting going forwards.
We now seem to be opting for at least 8 defenders which gives us no real positivity in midfield to give it to our forwards. But this has neither given us any more strength at the back.
To make best use of our attacking forces, play more forwards but make defenders stay back and tackle, challenge, block more. Once we are really on top, then they can press forwards.
I always thought the ‘best’ players works better.
Holding needs to start. Torreira needs to anchor the midfield. Auba needs to play in the middle flanked by Martineli and Pepe/ Nelson or Saka. Kola and Laca on the bench. That’ll do for now as the minimum required in my opinion but everything good, potentially gets undone by serial mistake makers like Xhaka, Sokratis and Luiz. No wonder we’re shot of confidence.
Luiz was the worst signing we could have possibly made.
Im 100% not a fan of his. I also think players seem to become especially poor after joining arsenal. Torreira was amazing when he joined but has gone right off the boil.
By a mile!
A million miles!
😀
I find it hard to believe we couldn’t have agreed terms with Gary Cahill
Freddie, how about having a proper first XI and formation, unlike you playing Willock at #10 and senior players out wide? Stop being Emery 2.0 and put the best team out in a 4-2-3-1 and get the results.
Don’t know why the three thumbs down, but I guess it’s symptomatic of the times at our club
1. You’re calling Freddie Emery 2.0 all of 2 games in and 1 week in charge
2. You’re taking a shot at Willock who has been pretty solid this year and isn’t remotely the source of our issues.
Thumbs down doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a “sign of the times” – you made a couple of derogatory statements that people simply don’t agree with
Derogatory? Where? I am huge supporter of Freddie to get the job, but his performance in the first two games are reminiscent Emery.
And since when did Willock become #10? You understand the game well first before accusing.
Reread your comments. The answer to thumbs down isn’t usually you’re right but others simply down vote everything. It’s normally people disagree with you. You said multiply things people can disagree with – even your reply that I don’t understand the game well enough to disagree with you oozes of arrogance
Since you think I’m arrogant, can you tell me how and when did Willock become a #10? That isn’t his strength and I just mentioned that, which got you all files up. I’ve been a fan for 40+ years and I called it the way I saw it. Willock isn’t #10, the same way Auba isn’t a right winger.
How about you go and get your coaching badges?
It’s too late in the day, buddy.
I know we are always missing those who are not there, but I sincerely miss Ramsey. He was our missing piece when not injured and an actual future captain. Yet I still believe there is enough harmony amongst our current crop, what would actually help is playing Torreira stuck with our defence with each defender coming in to help him close down opposition as they find it so easy to just wade into our box. Xhaka to play his Swiss team role and release on the counter. Bench Papa and Luiz both, they are detrimental especially playing out the back… Read more »
I have faith in Freddie. Since he came in, he’s showing improvement theres more determination and the ball is being move fast. He plays good attacking football. Very unlucky to pick up only 1 point in 2 games. There’s still a lot of work to do but also there’s a lot of positivity, we need to keep our faith in him cos he knows the team and he loves the club. He will find his balance and the players will get used to his style soon. The fans really need to be behind him. The defense really need to be… Read more »
I know this might be an unpopular opinion with most people but I really think we need a massive clear out of some of not most of our star names and replace them with players who will be hungry for success and fight for the badge and each other. Something in the club and this team is rotten and we need to weed out the bad seeds quickly before it spreads to the rest of the club. As they say a fish rots from its head and at this moment in time the executive team and board really need to… Read more »
This club began rotting when the Kroenke’s took over as majority shareholders. Owners goals are not the same as players and supporters, so we will not achieve our goals, it is as simple as that. The rot stops when we get a solid Director of Football that doesn’t eat at the same table with the agents, someone like Overmars. We won’t get a new Director of Football until the Kroenke’s are out. Buckle up, we have a ways to fall and for those that say regulation is impossible for a club of this size, look at Leeds and how long… Read more »
Something in the club and this team is rotten and we need to weed out the bad seeds quickly before it spreads to the rest of the club.
Well said.
I was watching Hughwizzy’s video on YouTube (at the BHA game). He filmed a few very short clips and one of them showed BHA with the ball in midfield and our players just walking around in front of them in a half arsed ‘press’. For sone reason his short clip made it really obvious. Then I watched every other team over the week actually running when pressing in midfield.
Hugh wasn’t pointng this out on his video, but if you watch it on his channel you’ll see it.
They simply can’t be bothered. We are in massive trouble.
Totally. I watched udinese vs someone last night and their midfield ran and pressed the bollocks out of them. I wished that was Arsenal
Everton did the same yesterday. None of this tippy-tappy-crappy Spanish style playing out from the back but an old style boot down the pitch to an old style centre forward for flick one to the speedy players. Worked a treat.
We have Auba and we’ve tried booting the long ball but he can’t deal with it. If that’s the tactic we should have saved a lot of money and kept Giroud.
Giroud was lazy and constantly needed Bostic to hold him together.; more concerned about his hairstyle than putting in a decent shift. I’m talking about a Centre Forward who actually puts in a shift.
The problem for Freddie as I see it is that what he wants from the experienced, senior plYers is, in my humble view, unlikely as indicated by those self same players stalling over extended contract talk and, in essence, waiting to see what happens. I sincerely hope I’m wrong but it seems to me that those players have an eye on their own personal futures rather than the future of Arsenal Football Club. Loyalty is unfortunately something that is rarely seen these days. It has been replaced by money and the leeching agents are largely responsible.
I’m uncomfortable criticising Freddie, but I think it’s
some of the senior players that need dropping. I double dare any of you to try one of those online premier League results/table predictors.
Being honest with my predictions I had us in a quite shocking position by New Year’s Day.
Please prove me wrong Freddie, and win 6-0 vs West Ham with our experienced players playing as though their lives depended on it.
But I do wonder how our experienced players would respond if we dropped into the bottom 3 in January?
I hope I don’t have to find out.
I don’t agree. Freddie needs to play his best XI and stop talking rubbish
If his best XI are all U-23 players, then so be it. Emery hid behind youngsters, and Freddie is putting experienced to the sword
But that could be a good thing as it might make the board realise that our senior players are just not good enough like we all know
Down to 11th and 4 points from the drop,,, I am so shitting it right now, and I can only see a loss tomorrow, and our players aint got it in them to fight or we’d have seen some right by now
I can’t help but feel chambers and holding are only championship level not prem league, i no their probably the best we got but that shows just how bad our defence is, am I alone in thinking this???
We certainly do. Watching more limited teams like Wolves doing well, plenty of hard work and competitive spirit, working as a unit. …we seem so disjointed particularly in midfield but also our attacking play hasn’t been sharp(never mind defense these days a given) 1)Aubameyang as much as he has the captain’s armband does not compete for the ball or retain it enough. His pace seems elusive as well, often not in evidence. Also he needs to track back if played in a wide role. Wide forwards need to be responsible as well. They are often times to loose with the… Read more »
Then there is this alternate narrative that some how unproven players will do us better. This has not born out to be the case. Willock has been good effort and energy but clearly not the answer starting. Holding when he has played was too easily turned and has his own faults. Tierney came on but there was no master class anymore than Kolasinac last match perhaps our most effective performer in terms of fullback. Mavropanos whom some prefer to wank too the limited number of times he has been on for us looks green in positioning, makes mistakes too. Too… Read more »
And I think we need to stick to 4-3-3 or a 4-1-4-1 at the moment. If we play Ozil in the midfield 3 fine maybe we carry a bit of risk but we just have to demand a higher work rate off ball from the German, if not we replace him simple as that. Ditto for that matter anyone in the team : ………………………….Laca………………………………. Auba…………………………………………………….Pepe ………………………….Ozil……………………………….. ……………Granit………………..Guendouzi…………….. Kolasinac…………………………………………….Bellerin ………………..Holding………..Sokratis…………………. …………………………Leno………………………………. Again as mentioned this isn’t prefrential, so Kolasinac and Tierney will both be equal picks IMO. Ditto Torreira and Guendouzi. Cebellos also potentially when fit for higher up in place… Read more »
YO You need to give Pepe a chance I am not sure what Freddy is thinking. I see a negative framework around players from Africa ( i know he is french) with regards to their work ethic at practice. This is coming from coaches that are white. I think there are many stereotypes propitiated by the media and coaches, heck, all of football when it comes to race. There are many biases (unconscious) that go unchecked.
Watching some games over this weekend, i notice that Arsenal games are filled with Arsenal players on the ground. I see hardly any effort from the players except Martinelli atm. Pepe when he gets a game and Gwendouzi(who i noticed has learnt to not keep the ball too long). Our quick passing game is long gone, can we get it back? I never thought i would say this, but Arsenal need tough PL players and get rid of these so called technical players(that are not doing anything at all). I used to love the technical aspect of our game, now… Read more »
We still need technical players but they need to be gritty. Our best teams had players that could thrill us but they never backed out of challenges. The thing that’s really gone from our game is character…if we really do find ourselves in a relegation battle we will soon find out who has the cojones or not.
Amazes me that Ozil cannot put in a tackle for this team. We do not play through the middle any longer but wide through the wings. That’s very much unlike Arsenal. Have a look at Leceister. Their play thru the middle is super thereby creating lots of chances. Something needs to be looked at IMO