Another week has passed us by, so I thought it might be an idea to try and find the best and worst things in Arsenal’s world this week.
What’s hot
Bukayo Saka
He put in a quite splendid performance against Standard midweek, as much as anyone did, and Arsenal didn’t concede another goal after he came on in place of Sead Kolasinac against Manchester City.
Just saying…
Bernd Leno
Where would we be without him? He’s made 73 saves this season, no other keeper has made more.
As Arsenal sit just seven points above the relegation zone, just imagine…actually, don’t, it’s depressing enough as it is.
He also thinks he knows what Arsenal need to change to sort all this out and it’s hard to disagree with him.
The possibility of a new manager
Told that news about the next manager is ‘imminent’.
I don’t know any more than that, who it might be, or what that news is.
Whether it’s the new man, or Freddie till the end of the season.
— arseblog (@arseblog) December 15, 2019
What’s not
Arsenal’s deference to China
Mesut Ozil tweeted to raise awareness of the Uighurs’ plight in China and Arsenal jumped quickly to disassociate themselves with the message.
I go into more detail here why Arsenal’s response was a stain on the club.
Arsenal injuries
Arsenal picked up another injury in the game against Manchester City with Sead Kolasinac having to be replaced.
He now joins Kieran Tierney, who is facing a number of months on the sidelines after he dislocated his shoulder, Rob Holding who has a bruised knee and Dani Ceballos who is hoping to come back on Boxing Day.
Granit Xhaka is also sidelined with a concussion while Hector Bellerin’s hamstring is giving him a bit of grief.
Arsenal not letting Freddie have any coaches
I’m not sure how they expect Freddie Ljungberg, a man with no first-team management experience, to steady anything at Arsenal if they won’t let him have his own coaches.
No wonder he told the Arsenal board it’s time to pull their finger out.
Mesut Ozil’s week
Mesut Ozil was taken off and replaced by Emile Smith Rowe with Arsenal not even close to being in the game against City. As he dandered off the pitch, some fans booed him, no doubt appreciating how well that went against Granit Xhaka the last time.
You can say it’s about the players not running off all you want but as I pointed out when Lacazette did the same thing and nobody muttered a word, it’s not.
Regardless, it’s perhaps not surprising after his week that Ozil reacted as he did by kicking his gloves away.
What an absolute monster.