2 super finishes from Martinelli. Looks a bit special that kid

I was thinking...Unai might just decide to leave at the end of the season (even if the club offer him an extension)

He might consider it job done in terms of stabilisation post Wenger and now it’s time for Freddie to take over with the kids.

Anyways....line up for Old Trafford?

Leno

Bellerin
Chambers
Holding (c)
Tierney

Guendouzi
Torreira

Pepe
Willock
Saka

Aboomerang

...

By the way...Martinez has been top notch in goal...Leno needs to watch out.

Probably should’ve added...if he gets us back into the Top4 / CL and perhaps even picks up a trophy alongside integrating all of these new players (recently purchased or academy).

The club would be open to exercising the 1 year extension clause on his contract or give him a new contract altogether but he may decide to walk and let Freddie take charge of the kids. Plenty of nice jobs back in Spain for him...even potentially the Spain role post Euros.

As bad as it gets last night. Really poor game highlighting issues with both teams.

Each week, Manuel does a little more to convince you he's not the right man to take our club forward. It was a tired, supine, insipid performance against a team lacking in confidence. Starting with such a defensive midfield trio was like running up the white flag before the whistle had blown. The torrential rain might be a mitigating factor, but I've not seen a game with such an absence of quality for a long time. Worried that we don't have a clear identity or vision of how we want to play. And at this moment, Pepe does look like a bit of a Dud. Strange times in the Premiership. The top two are in a league of their own and everyone else is shifting relentlessly down towards championship level.

Agree with everything The Fink Sisters said. I'd be surprised if either team were top 4 at the end of the season. Pepe has to be the worst £70m player I've ever seen, almost like playing with ten men when he starts, it doesn't make any sense that he looks so bad. The goal we conceded was pathetic as usual, Sokratis didn't get close enough and Xhaka ducked out of the way of it whilst taking an age to get into position.

I don't see any progress from late Wenger era, defence if anything looks worse and they've spent big money on players.

Agree with others. Poor game. On the positive side 77saka looks as if he can hold his own in the premiership as can 28JW. 21CC will do ok once manuel realises he is a central holding midfield player . Not convinced by 19PEPE whatsoever but i will reserve judgement ( early days ) Xhaka as captain is a joke, Ozil is not in managers plans whatsoever.

If all players are fit then i would suggest the best line up would be as follows.

1. Leno.

3. Tierney.

16. Holding.
23. Luiz

2. Bellerin.

21. Chambers.

29. Guendouzi ( CAPT )
28. Willock.

14. Aubameyang
9.  Lacazette
77. Sako.


Those that got close were 8. Ceballos and 35. Martinelli

You know... we could’ve finished the game with 10 men (9.5 if you count Chambers who limped home bravely)

One problem last night was  that every time they flood forward we lost at least 1 runner...more often the attacker most central to the goal.

In the build up to the goal Lingard got loose but Xhaka dragged him to the floor and then carried on into the penalty area all sheepish and guilty looking.

Same old Xhaka...losing his runner....he does that EVERY GAME.

Heard so many theories about him...he’s a false No8, he’s more attacking, he’s like Xabi Alonso and only responsible for quick balls in the centre

All I know is Gwen needs a Vieira / Gilberto type next to him...possibly Luiz or Chambers when Holding fully returns. Maybe even Maitland.

*Possibly...just a theory...all I know is it’s not Xhaka.

Not sure what’s going on with Torreira....maybe a touch sulky he couldn’t go to Milan.

....

Pepe needs to be benched for his own good. Coming on after 65/70 mins will give him the opportunity to run at tired players and get an assist or two and maybe a goal or two, gain confidence from that and kick on.

The back 4 last night was a massive improvement on the usual so-called first team back 4.
Tierney, bellerin and Holding would be my choice, and willock instead of Xhaka

Cue the hapless Xhaxa, plus Kolasinac back for Sunday.....

My theory on Xhaka is that Emery wants to sell him, so he has to play him every week to give him market value, hence why he's also made him captain, he's also Swiss Captain, if he benched him every week they'd get nowhere near the 35 mil they paid, he'll be sold at a loss anyway but but think someone could pay at least £15-20 mil to recoup some of it back. Ozil is a different situation because regardless of how much he does or doesn't pay, he's on 350k a week til end of 2021 season and nobody is going to anywhere near that bar China, and don't think he'd want to go there. Xhaka knows there's no love there from the Arsenal fans and I think that's affected his confidence, he's been poor for a long while but he's still a lot better than what he's shown the past year.

On Martinelli, was rejected by Man United on trial, looks like a real clanger as he's seems top quality technically they panned to Auba's face on the bench when he scored one of his goals v Liege, you could see Auba was thinking, wow this kid is good,  not that he needs to worry about his place!

My prediction on the defence is that cleans sheets are now around the corner, now have 9 decent prem fixtures til City at home mid December - with Tierney, Holding and Bellerin all back and Leno who's never really put a foot wrong. Stablility is the key, Maitland niles was never a right back and didn't enjoy playing there, Kola is really a wing back.

Very surprised to see some people saying that want Emery out, he should have his full 2 seasons then judge him from there, needs that time to get all his players he wants in and all the one's he doesn't out, remit this season is top 4 which looks as achievable as it has done in years, Spur's, United look very poor and Chelsea I don't think look strong enough to be shoe in, 3rd would be a good season and should be the aim. Then with CL football back can attract even better players and more money to spend with Saliba to come in...and the kids are alright too.

Lots to be positive about imo and way to early to even think about changing manager.

Can't agree that Emery continues to play Xhaka in order to find a buyer. Emerys treatment of Ozil is baffling. MO can at least open up defences and if he was to get the 'arm around the shoulder'technique of managing from Emery, Ozil may at least provide something we don't have at the club.

Emery's job will be decided if we are Top 4 or not. Hanging his hat on Xhaka is a risky bet indeed. Regards the kids - we can only introduce them bit by bit and let them get used to the PL. It's ok doing the biz against Forest and Liege, but don't think it would help Martinelli for example if he was given an extended run in the team and was kicked up and down the pitch by some prem CH's. Gradually is the way forward imo.

Handling the likes of Tierney with kid gloves

started well. Pepe corner

Bournemouth so much better in 2nd half. Only 1 shot on target though. Got the 3points. Important to not throw that away. Chambers played well. Luis and Kolo defended well, Average performances other than that.

90mins for Xhaka again. Ceballos looked very disappointed to be subbed but he did look a little weary. Torreira; comes on 1 nil up with 10 to play and there he is on the edge of their box momemnts later and spent most of his time facing his own goal. We have a much better squad than the teams we are up against imo but Emery really doesn't look like he will/can get the best out of them atm. There will be no excuses from here on in for him with a full squad available to him. If they stay fit and Xhaka is dropped top 4 ought to be a shoe-in.

I agree with the above post. Disappointing second half performance, plus points was Chambers played well again, nice to see Martinelli come on as a sub and Pepe was a little bit better.

I'm 60/40 he should go. Emery just is not learning from his own mistakes and cannot get anywhere near the best out of the players he has. He won't go of course so let's hope he hears all the flack that's coming his way and starts making the calls he has been unable to so far. Shockingly inept performance tonight from the players but it would help if Emery stopped hamstringing the team with HIS poor decisions.

Enough is Enough. This really is shockingly turgid stuff. He's had more than enough time.

Emery Out

Aubameyang has bailed this guy out countless times. The performances are worse than the league table suggests and that won't keep up. I don't believe Ozil is finished, he is a unique type of player that you have to accommodate in your side by putting grafters in behind him. He should be played as a No.10 or free role and not asked to defend but to always be available for a pass when we win the ball back. Asking Ozil to defend is a complete waste of his talents. If he wasn't the best assist merchant in Europe or if we weren't stuck with him on huge wages he wouldn't be worth it but I think he has a lot to offer in a properly balanced side that allows him to stay high up the pitch. He played most of his Arsenal career behind Giroud, an immobile striker who was facing him most of the time and not making runs. Now he has Aubameyang and Lac and Emery gets rid?

Bin Xhaka and accomodate Ozil in the side. It is ridiculous that guys like Willock and Saka are playing in advanced roles and Ozil on 350k a week is not even in the squad. That should really be a sackable offence right there. Complete waste of money.