Can we get on with the football now?

Good morning.

First up, congrats to Arsenal Girls who demolished Hacken 4-0 final evening within the second leg of the Champions League qualifier. Having misplaced the primary leg 1-0, there was some actual strain going into this one, however the staff got here up with the products and go into the draw which takes place at midday as we speak. You’ll be able to see the objectives within the match report, and skim Jonas Eidevall’s response over on Arseblog Information.

Right this moment, Mikel Arteta will meet the press forward of our recreation towards Leicester tomorrow, and I actually hope there aren’t extra questions concerning the ‘darkish arts’. As I mentioned earlier within the week, we must always take it as a form of praise that individuals are making such a fuss out of it, however it’s all very boring now. Certain, make it your speaking level after an enormous recreation with Man Metropolis so you may wring each click on out of it together with your engagement-bait protection, however can we come again right down to earth now please?

Each staff does it, each supervisor does it, each participant does it. Attempting to gaslight folks into considering that is one thing distinctive to Arsenal is each tedious and patronising. Everybody is aware of higher. There have been a lot of folks in glass homes this week throwing a lot of stones. The absurdity of some ex-pros sticking the knife into our second half show on Sunday when you think about among the stuff they bought as much as of their enjoying days is off the charts.

I really assume it’s one thing Mikel Arteta will quietly take pleasure in as a method of additional fostering an ‘us towards them’ mentality inside his squad. He’s a person who retains receipts, as we all know. Ivan Toney’s ‘good kick about with the boys’ Tweet festered with him till we subsequent performed Brentford, at which level he used as motivation for his staff. I’m positive there are numerous different examples which have by no means been made public, and this might properly be one in every of them.

He would possibly fear about how these things being relentlessly regurgitated within the media means we play underneath a form of highlight which isn’t all the time useful, however these things tends to fade away as soon as there’s one thing else for them to get their enamel into. Additionally, it’s exhausting to not assume a number of that is linked to the schedule. Three actually robust away video games in every week, and by the top of the final one we have been digging in with 10 males towards one in every of most troublesome sides to play towards in world soccer, attempting to carry them out with every thing we had left within the tank. Each staff would have carried out precisely the identical as we did.

I believe the supervisor might be hoping {that a} comparatively kinder schedule within the weeks forward will enable us to simply play video games, rating objectives, and take factors, with out all of the fuss. Which is to take nothing without any consideration, however some intervals of the season are tougher than others, and we’ve come by means of a very tough one. We’ve three residence video games earlier than the subsequent Interlull, two within the Premier League (Leicester and Southampton) and one within the Champions League (PSG). Domestically, at the very least, you must assume these are very winnable fixtures, and whereas PSG will definitely be a problem, that residence benefit could possibly be crucial on an enormous European evening.

I’m additionally positive {that a} matter of dialog on the coaching floor this week might be about self-discipline. I don’t must say once more how ridiculous I feel it’s that Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard have been despatched off and suspended for one thing as trivial as ‘delaying the restart’, however Arteta might be ensuring his gamers perceive they will’t give referees even a sniff of an opportunity to do what they appear to like doing most – making themselves the centre of consideration. Up to now this season there have been 263 yellow playing cards and 6 pink playing cards within the opening 5 video games. I don’t understand how that stacks up towards final season, or earlier seasons, however it looks as if rather a lot, and all we will management is what we do – which is a message I feel Arteta might be eager to impress upon his gamers.

For some further studying this morning, Tim’s column takes a have a look at how Arteta would possibly tweak issues now that the three robust away video games are carried out. There’s a brand new Arsecast for you beneath, chatting concerning the Bolton win should you haven’t had an opportunity to hear already, and you may be a part of us a bit in a while Patreon as we look forward to Leicester tomorrow.

Bye for now.