Category Archives: Arsenal

How have Arsenal’s new boys settled in?

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With us in the middle of the most boring time in football – a pointless international break filled with glorified friendlies, it is perhaps a chance to reflect on the start of the season, and see how the new boys have bedded in.

Bernd Leno

To many peoples frustration, Petr Cech start began the season as first choice keeper.

Unai Emery’s philosophy is that new players have to force their way in, to prove that they are better than the incumbent first team players. This led to Cech starting the season as number 1.

Leno’s opening came when Cech limped off injured against Watford in the league. Prior to that he had only played in the Europa League and League Cup – where he conceded goals but did not have much to do.

Against Watford he looked a little shaky, coming off the bench. However he made some smart stops and distribution was excellent.

Fulham was a vastly improved performance, with some sharp saves. He could have done little with their goal.

It will take a while for him to get used to the physical side of the Premier League – with the bumping and barging at corners. His shot stopping and distribution are certainly up to standard.

With Cech set to miss the next 3 or 4 games, Leno will have plenty of time to establish himself as first choice.

Stephan Lichtsteiner

The experienced Swiss right back has not had much of a chance this season.

Beyond a substitute appearance at left back versus Manchester City, his 3 starts have been limited to the Europa League and League Cup.

His influence on the pitch may well be happening at the training ground, however.

Lichtsteiner has bought some leadership to the playing squad, and you have to feel that he has bought his winners mentality to the training ground.

We have also seen improvements in Hector Bellerin as the season has gone on. The presence of Lichtsteiner must surely be helping to push the Spaniards performances to the next level.

It would not overly surprise me if Lichtsteiner’s one-year deal was extended by a further 12 months.

Sokratis

Greek centre back Sokratis (I can not be bothered to Google his surname) has split opinion.

Some have labelled him clumsy, slow and uncultured, whilst others have praised him for being aggressive, and focusing on defending and clearing the ball.

I fall into the later camp.

We focus too much on ball playing centre backs. “Rolls Royce defenders” like Rio Ferdinand. Players like the now retired Englishman who looked classy but could also defend are few and fair between.

Sokratis is a defender. He defends. That is what he is paid for.

What he creates is a rock at the back that others can play around. A reliable defender that will let Arsenal go out and get a ball playing partner, knowing they have a solid option next to him.

He is more Vidic than Ferdinand, and is exactly what Arsenal have needed for a decade.

Lucas Torreira

Uruguayan central midfielder Lucas Torreira has been a revolution since he broke into the team. He is exactly the player we have been missing for some years.

Like Sokratis, he understands his role within a balanced XI. He is there to defend, to shield the back 4, to provide them cover. His influence on the entire team is obvious to all.

Torreira not only defends, however. He can also play. Comfortable with the ball at his feet, he has given the side another passing option alongside Xhaka.

The sign of a top player is they make those around them look better, Torreira has done this with Xhaka. It is a partnership that we can look forward to developing as the years role on.

It is incredible to think that Torreira is just 22-years old. He will deveop into one of the best central midfields in the world.

Whilst Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool went big on Fred, Jorginho, Fabinho and Kieta, Arsenal secured Torreira for just £22m – we clearly got the best player.

Onwards and upwards for the lad!

Mattéo Guendouzi

The greatest compliment you can give Matteo Guendouzi is that people are now wondering why we did not cash in on Aaron Ramsey in the summer.

Football is easy in hindsight, and no one could have guessed when we signed the 19-year old Sideshow Bob impersonator from the French Division 2 for just £7million that he would be pushing senior team mates down the pecking order.

The fear for the club over the summer with Ramsey is that we only had 2 senior midfielders – Xhaka and Elneny. Torreira was a new signing and Guendouzi was coming in to be on the fringes of the first team squad. He was pencilled in for the Europa League and League Cup.

Due to players returning from the World Cup, Guendouzi got some game time. And he has proved the old age correct. If you are good enough, you are old enough.

People already actually forget that he is just 19. He is younger than Mason Mount, who was called up for the England squad after some impressive displays in the Championship.

He has not been perfect this season. He is a little bit slow on the ball when passing, and doesn’t easily make space for himself to receive the ball off the defenders. But he is 19-years old, and will improve.

Guendouzi has moved ahead of Elneny in the pecking order and is first choice back up for Xhaka and Torreira. His performances are going to save Arsenal a lot of money when it comes to Ramsey leaving.

The Frenchman will have a bad patch. All young players do. But with the squad depth around him, Emery will be able to take him out when he is performing poorly.

This lad has a bright future.

In summary, the first full transfer window for Sven Mislintat has been a success. He has added some experienced leaders to the squad, and signed some very talented young players.

He seems to have bought pro-active planning to Arsenal’s transfers for the first time in years.

Keenos

Unai Emery’s Red and White Army

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There is not much to moan about down The Arsenal at the moment.

9 wins in a row, 2 points off top, the place is brimming with positivity. However, there is something that has done me head in since the arrival of Unai Emery.

The backing the manager has got since he joined has been tremendous. We are now singing about him once more and his army. But this is what is annoying it.

It is not “Unai Emery’s red army”.

It is “Unai Emery’s red and white army”.

https://twitter.com/KeenosAFC/status/1051916025363648512

It was “Georgie Graham and his red and white army”. It was “Arsene Wenger’s red and white army”. But at Fulham, it was “Unai Emery’s red army”.

Has it been that long since we sang about the manager that we have forgotten the words? Or does it just sum up society, that we are now lazy, looking for short cuts through life. That dropping off the “and white” is systematic of society.

Well let’s stop being lazy, lets get it right.

We became “Herbert Chapman’s red and white army” back in 1933 when he introduced white sleeves to the shirt. Despite kit manufactures meddling in away kits, it has remained that way for 85 years.

We might sing “red army” at times, but it will always be the managers “red and white army”.

Let’s start getting it right please.

It is “Unai Emery’s red and white army”.

Keenos

Q&A with Theo Foley

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What was your thoughts at your 1st game and sitting on the bench at Highbury ?

I genuinely could not believe it as I’d never have believed in my wildest dreams that I’d make it at Arsenal all the way from Inchicore, Dublin. It was the top level possible, like the home of football, the tradition, the history, the Marble Halls, the heated floors, just the sheer class of the place. I was dreaming. We had Manchester United too for the first game another huge club with a new manager in Alex Ferguson. We won 1-0 at Highbury with a Charlie Nicholas goal, that’s as much as I remember from the game. I remember having better Adidas training gear, a lovely glass dugout and plenty of Wrigley’s chewing gum to chew on. Not forgetting some top top players that were a cut above the lads we’d been working with for the previous four seasons at The Den.

 Every ex-player at The Arsenal talks so highly of you and says they could goto you but couldn’t always goto George Graham, was this set up planned between you both ?

It just happened that way because we were both very different characters, even if we had very similar football beliefs. It worked very well at the club as players felt at ease with me whereas George was a disciplinarian so the mixture combined well. The players could always approach me for my views and I’d never hold back so they appreciated the honesty. I’d never betray George though and I was always his closest ally otherwise it would never have worked.

 Who was the best and worst in training ?

Tony Adams and David Rocastle were both great trainers, never moaned, just got on with it. They had great attitudes which made them what they were, great players

The worst? Quinny. Forwards are generally a bit moanier, a bit lazier (it’s all in the book) and Quinny was no different, he moaned like hell when he wasn’t happy with what we were doing. Then he’d start moping along the big old Dub lump. He was a great lad all the same.

 Was you as confident as George Graham on that Friday night heading upto Merseyside in 1989 ?

Believe it or not, I was yes. You have to really believe you can win or there’s no point turning up. Maybe a couple of the lad’s needed convincing but with players like Tony, Lee Dixon, Bouldy, Nigel, Mickey, Richo + David Rocastle on the pitch, they will all fight to the end and so it proved. Then we had George acting so calm and convinced that the ones that were unsure took to the field full of confidence. He adjusted the routine, adjusted the formation and pulled of a couple of masterstrokes. He was a wonderfully shrewd man, he still is. My job was to cajole, to support, to rally round and keep the energy levels high.

 Anfield 89 aside, what gives you the greatest feeling of pride from your time at The Arsenal ?

Literally just being there, I never took it for granted and pinched myself most weeks. I loved the place. Everything about it. Once an Arsenal man, always an Arsenal man.

 Which up and coming youth player really suprised you ?

Tony Adams again and Michael Thomas, both real talents that took that next step up no bother. We had Tony + Martin Keown coming through together but there was never any hesitation, Tony was the key player coming through. Michael could be as good as he wanted to be he was so talented and he was one lovely boy. David (Rocastle) came through a little slower maybe but just got better and better and never looked back. Everyone knows that I loved David like a son.

 Did you ever go out with The Tuesday club ?

No – I couldn’t become too close with the players and that was their thing so I stayed well away.

 Have you been to the Emirates ? If so what’s your feelings on the new ground ?

Yes it’s a wonderful stadium and a great place to watch a game – but nothing beats the atmosphere and tradition of Highbury, for me. The Emirates is the next best thing I guess and I understand why the club moved.

 What are your initial thoughts on Emery ?

Early days still but he looks promising and some welcome organisation and pragmatism as well as the flair. Let’s hope he follows in the footsteps of George and Arsene to bring success back to the club.

Theo Foley has been involved in professional football for over six decades as a player, coach and manager. During the early days of his playing career, whilst captain of Northampton Town, Theo ran a pie and chip shop to supplement his income from football, a far cry from the riches enjoyed by footballers today.

In his autobiography, Theo Give Us a Ball: A Life in Football, co-authored with his son, Paul, Theo details the highs and lows of professional football in a bygone age. From kicking a ball about on the streets of 1950s’ Dublin to captaining a First Division team during the 1960s and becoming assistant manager at Millwall and Arsenal, this book provides a fascinating insight into football in the days when a love of the game came before wealth and fame.

During his time at Highbury, Theo became a local legend and fans would chant ‘Theo, give us a ball,’ to which he duly obliged. In this honest account, Theo reveals the highs and lows of his life in football and shares his memories of working with some of the football greats of the past.

She Wore