Wem-ber-ley! Wem-ber-ley!

And so the FA Cup's most successful team reached its 30th semi final; joint with Mancheester United, who are also through. United also hold the joint record for most number of Final appearances with 20, but Arsenal's 2-1 win over Chelsea in 2017 puts them one FA Cup ahead, with 13 against United's 12.

Both teams will be underdogs in their semi final ties, with United drawn against Chelsea and Arsenal getting the 'plum' draw, Manchester City. Arsenal fans are already drawing comparisons - mostly in hope rather than expectation - with 2017, when a late Monreal semi final winner saw them through 2-1 against City, and Aaron Ramsey's late winner gave them victory over Chelsea in the Final for Arsene Wenger's last trophy as Arsenal Manager.

But enough of statstics - let's look at the action from the win at Bramall Lane:

Mikel Arteta rotated his squad - only he knows why - with 5 changes to the starting XI. However there was no place in the squad for Matteo Guendouzi (internal discipline) or Mesut Ozil (alleged slight back injury). Rob Holding was rested - replaced by David Luiz, along with Hector Bellerin (Maitland-Niles coming in) and Kolasinac also got a start. Dani Ceballos and Eddie Nketiah were given the day off, along with top scorer and talisman Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Willock and Lacazette started. Sheffield United were at full strength.

We obviously do worry about the quality of this Arsenal squad, but even with these changes the team were good enough to mostly keep Sheffield United well at bay. The hosts looked dangerous at set pieces, but at hardly any other time, and Arsenal generally dominated possession. Unfortunately, they didn't often look comfortable in possession, with a lot of passing (quite a bit of it under pressure) between keeper and back line and very little going forwards. The players are clearly still lacking in confidence, but hopefully each win will help build that. Although it's worth pointing out that after their next Premier League game, at home to Norwich, they have something of a nightmare run of games - Wolves, Leicester, Tottenham, Liverpool and then the semi final, before ending with rather easier opposition in the shape of Aston Villa and Watford, both of whom have come back from the break in truly terrible form.

Arsenal took the lead half way through the first half with a Nicolas Pepe penalty, after Lacazette had been tackled/fouled from behind by Basham (apt name) on the edge of the area. He dispatched the kick with consummate ease. Prior to that, Sheffield had a goal disallowed for offside (from a corner) - and had another chalked off in the second half after a free kick. But, as I say, apart from set pieces Sheffield didn't have too much to offer, and Granit Xhaka's sensible positioning had a lot to do with that.

From half time, however, the lack of confidence within the Arsenal ranks showed, as they backed off to allow Sheffield a little too much of the ball, and we were waiting for the inevitable. Which duly arrived in the 87th minute when a smashed clearance from Kolasinac (from a long throw; I think we're starting to see a theme) cannoned back off Holding - on for Luiz, who was off with an ankle injury - into the path of McGoldrick. The latter is hardly prolific, but he could hardly miss.

And so the spectre of extra time loomed. At which we would surely have finally seen Aubameyang, who had spent a lot of the second half warming up vigorously; Arteta ignored him for the most part, much to the former's chagrin. But fortunately, following further Sheffield pressure which featured a decent save from Martinez from Sharp's low shot, a quick breakaway led by Saka and Neketiah led to an oportunity for Pepe which rebounded into the path of Dani Ceballos, who finished well from a tight angle.

And so Arsenal were through. Much tougher tests than a Sheffield United side - who haven't come back in the same form as they were in before - now await, and it remains to be seen how Arsenal are going to cope with that. Norwich should be straighforward, but it's going to really warm up after that.

I'm still to be convinced that Arteta knows his best side, and he appears to be continuing to experiment with his line-up. I feel that the most we can hope for over the next few weeks is to come through the league games fairly unscathed - I'd envisage a maximum of 15 points out of the 24 available, which might lead to a Europa League spot but will leave Arsenal well short of a Champions League place) and to avoid a semi final thrashing. I am being realistic here - it's impossible to be optimistic at the moment. And then we'll see what business is done between seasons.

In the meantime we have seen some contracts renewed in the interim, with offers being made to Mari and Cedric (not sure where he'll fit in) and Luiz surprisingly being retained for his option year - but apparently at considerably lower wages than he is currently being paid. However, it's squad churn that is required, and a stronger general mentality. Plus I'm sure we'd all be most grateful for Saka to 'sign da ting'. And of course Aubameyang's continuing presence must be in the lap of the gods.

Norwich in two days - see you after that. Stay safe.

Thankful For Small Mercies

This was a day inevitably dominated by Liverpool finally winning the title - and many congratulations to them; they're a very fine side from front to back, and well-deserving of the trophy (yet despite Arsenal concerns all the way into January they are not Invincible) - Small Mercy Number One.

However Arsenal fans were more concerned about what might befall them at a ground where they have often struggled over the years. Fortunately, Southampton are a) not very good and b) were in a very generous mood - Small Mercy Number Two.

There was as much happening off the pitch as on it, and I'll cover that a bit later on, but a quick recap of the game would probably read:

• Both teams created early chances. Arsenal's were considerably better than Southampton's and Nketiah had already had the ball in the net (disallowed for Saka straying offside before his assist) and Aubameyang had missed a very good opportunity cutting in from the left - I'll come back to that too - before Nketiah took advantage of goalkeeper McCarthy's howler to give Arsenal the lead
• From then on Arsenal sat back and looked to hit Southampton on the break. A dangerous 'tactic' that was almost punished on two or three occasions; and frankly there was no need for it as Arsenal had looked the better side prior to the opening goal. Inviting pressure can lead to problems, and I'm afraid that as Arsenal fans we were all waiting for the really not-very-funny punchline
• And so we had the best part of an hour of attack vs defence - and with Holding in excellent form and with an interesting 3-5-2 formation in use (with Tierney tucked in alongside the centre-backs and Saka pushing forward as wing-back) Arsenal did often look dangerous on the break. Aubameyang again wreaked havoc (when given the opportunity, anyway) from his starting point wide on the left flank. Somewhere in there, Ings created a good chance for Armstrong, Redmond shot into the side-netting and Martinez (solid throughout) saved well from Long
• And finally the punchline, featuring a slightly unfortunate red card for Stephens as he tried to deal with a stray pass from midfield, and the subsequent free kick leading to substitute Willock's first Premier League goal

So a very forgettable game ended in a routine 2-0 win. If there is such a thing as a routine win for Arsenal these days - this was incredibly just their third away victory this season and culminated in a return to the top half of the table. Oh how we celebrated...

And so to matters around and off the pitch:

• I'd give high marks for their performance to Martinez, Holding, Saka and Nketiah. Mustafi and Tierney were both solid enough (let's hope that the latter's late departure was merely down to a minor muscle issue and nothing worse), but I'm still to be convinced that Bellerin will ever get back to his previous form - he has lost a deal of pace, and his positional sense was again lacking
• In midfield, Xhaka returned and gave some much-needed structure to the side. Ceballos, I'm afraid, can go. He has not adapted to the Premier League and again looked slow. What Real Madrid are going to do with him next season I cannot imagine
• And of course Guendouzi was dropped - for 'squad management' reasons was Arteta's line, but it was quite clearly disciplinary following his reported taunting of Brighton players in the previous game. Perhaps that's the final straw at Arsenal for the young man; he's clearly talented, but needs coaching in his in-match thought processes, and more importantly needs to grow up quickly as he does not appear to have learnt from previous misdemeanours
• Further forward Saka was once again influential - amazing for an 18-year-old, and he is Arsenal's brightest teen prospect since Jack Wilshere (he is today's Small Mercy Number Three, but I wish he'd put pen to paper!). Nketiah did a good job, and of course opportunistically scored his 5th goal in his last 7 games - an excellent return - as he was preferred to Lacazette (surely on his way in the summer)
• What Nketiah's inclusion means is that Aubameyang, the side's main source of goals, was once again carted out onto the left hand side. And look, he created some good chances and was unlucky not to score himself, but one does get the feeling that he is wasted (and frustrated) out there. Would Ian Wright have been happy with such treatment? - I don't think so. Should he also leave then that would make Arteta's rebuilding job (with the need to replace a 30-goal a season man) all the tougher
• And finally, whither Arsenal's top wage-earner, Mesut Ozil? The answer is below. I'm  not sure that he moved from his seat for the entire game, and it is clear there once more that that are issues between him and his Coach. Such a wasted talent - I would love to see Ozil at 10, pulling the strings for Aubameyang at number 9!                                                                                                   
  

Arsenal now move on to their FA Cup quarter final tie at Bramall Lane on Sunday. Sheffield United suddenly look strangely vulnerable compared to how they looked prior to the enforced break, but whether Arsenal can take advantage is another matter. Gone - at least for the moment - are the days of expectation. Instead it's merely hope, but a win is a win - that's the most important Small Mercy.

Sh*tshow By The Sea

Whatever the opposite of 'superlative' is, I'm running out of the right words to use to describe how the 2019-20 season has gone for Arsenal.

The latest instalment saw another abject display, against what journalists and ex-professionals might call an 'honest and hard-working' Brighton side ('honest' is not a word that I'd use) that led to late and ignominious defeat. And I pick out the word honest for two reasons.

Firstly, the continual fouling performed by Bissouma in midfield for which referee Atkinson - now very close to Mike Dean at the bottom of my list of favourite referees - allowed him to get away with merely a late telling-off (and let's not lose sight of the forearm block he performed on Saka in the second half). 

And secondly the late, unncessary challenge by Maupay on Leno that led to the latter's quite obviously serious knee ligament injury. This reminded me very much of the challenge perpetrated by Arnautovic (the Poundland Ibrahimovic) on Debuchy all those years ago, which ruined the full back's Arsenal career before it had started. If you challenge a player who has both feet off the ground, then you risk perpetrating a serious injury; it's not rocket science. That Maupay should score the winner in injury time merely added insult to injury.

However... this must not detract from a number of serious issues that very much came to the surface during the game:

• Defeat to Manchester City can easily be put down to coming up against a highly technical and well-drilled side of better players, but it now very much looks like our analysis of that game was wrong. Arsenal were really poor in that game, and against vastly inferior opposition looked little better. The cracks that were papered over after the City game were blown wide open against Brighton
• The reaction to Leno's injury was tepid. Arsenal sides with bigger characters would have responded entirely differently. Remember Old Trafford 2003? This lot simply lack the fight and team spirit to respond correctly
• There is something seriously lacking in the Arsenal midfield, and wholesale improvements must be made in the close season. Ceballos looked slow not just of feet but also of thought; whilst Guendouzi, nominally the 'defensive' midfielder, went though the entire game without making a single tackle (cue comparisons to Bissouma). That Saka, playing in his third different position in two games, should have outshone them is really poor
• There is also clearly something clearly lacking in the dressing-room itself. I said this about Emery, but it bears repeating about Arteta; he cannot seem to motivate these players. So, in fairness to Emery who additionally had a language barrier to overcome, it's quite clear what the common denominator is - the players themselves. At this level, they're supposed to be self-starters, but as a group they do not show this at all. The body language of many of them is poor, and the defence once more looked all over the place and desperate for an Adams/Campbell type to knock them literally into shape
• If I want to criticise Arteta, it will be on his substitutions. We haven't seen Martinelli at all, and I'd love to know why. As for not bringing on Ozil, there's not much to say that hasn't been said before
• The season is clearly a write-off at this point, and we should be grateful to already have the mythical 40 points on the board. Unfortunately, lack of European football is not going to help as far as the transfer market is concerned, but in order to protect his investment Kroenke must act. For me, this is also Sanllehi's last chance or he's gone

So what of this squad? Many fans are already doing a Keep or Bin exercise on them, and for me if it were at all practical I'd get shot of 75% of them. Although that's too much churn. But there is clearly something very wrong in the dressing-room if even a man like Arteta (who has been schooled in Management by two of the Greats) cannot get into their heads.

Either way, personnel need to change in a wholesale manner; and very soon. It is clear to me that the current talented cohort of youngsters need a number of seasoned and highly motivated professionals to help bring out the best in them. But this current Arsenal squad possesses very few of those.

And so to Southampton away; a match of which I have little or no expectation or hope. This fixture is a bogey for Arsenal in any case, although it should be one of the more winnable of the remaining games. Lest we forget that we still have Liverpool, Spurs, Leicester and Wolves to come, along with the FA Cup tie against Sheffield United. I can literally barely watch any more.

Anyway, I'm a glutton for punishment so I'll be back in a few days. Stay safe and keep alert.

We're back - with a Thud!

Premier League football is back! And for all that has changed in the world over the past three months or so, some things never do change; Arsenal are still the Arsenal we knew and 'loved' before, and David Luiz is still the same David Luiz.

So after a hiatus of 100 days, commencing the day that Mikel Arteta fell ill and tested positive for COVID-19, the manager made his first return visit to the Etihad; and with a team selection full of surprises.

I'm not going to dwell too much on what's been going on in the world in the interim, as it dominates our every waking minute, but here's a summary of what has been in particular touching the hearts and minds of Arsenal fans in that time:

• When can fans come back to the grounds?
• Will Aubameyang stay (based on last night, why would he)? And what news on a contract for Saka?
• How much will the Board support the Head Coach in the transfer window?
• How much is Arteta prepared to put his faith in the very talented current cohort of youngsters?
• How much has the extra time Arteta had with the players on the training ground made a difference?
• What the hell is going on with Mesut Ozil?
• #BLM (and #FPP)

And so to the match. And once more team selection was a great surprise to all. No Luiz, Pepe or Lacazette in the side. A start for Mari alongside Mustafi. Saka on the right wing and Willock at 10 - and Ozil nowhere to be seen.

There are rumours that Arteta called the entire first team squad to an important Zoom meeting a week ago, and that two players had said that they couldn't make it... what else they could have been doing I just can't imagine!?! I'm not going to speculate on who those two were - I'll leave that to your imagination. Whether that had an impact on team selection is pure conjecture, but I have my suspicions...

I'm also advised (unofficially) that the squad is not at all united. It's splintered along stars/youngsters lines, several players want to leave for numerous reasons - including not having been able to settle in London - and for all the talk of unity things are rather less rosy in the camp than is being portrayed. But I'd imagine that things will be a lot clearer by the time next season commences, and we may see a lot of 'churn'.

I'd been reading on social media that Arsenal fans were optimistic going into this run in, and specifically into the City game: 'It's a good time to play them.' ' I'm hearing that we're fitter than them.' 'They'll be more interested in the Champions League.' 'Arteta has had extra time with them on the training pitch, and that's going to help.' 'Arteta knows City well, so he'll know how to counteract them.' 'We can make a real run for the Champions League places. Especially with City's impending ban opening up 5th place.'

This was all, I was sure, a load of over-optimistic claptrap... and when I read Arsenal fans predictions of victory at the Etihad I had to chip in in order to sound notes of caution. I was in the minority, but I wasn't afraid to throw in a good dose of realism to the conversation.

'Be realistic', I posted. 'Do you genuinely believe that we can go there and win? They're miles ahead of us - much better players and with an acknowledged style of play.' And I wasn't the least surprised to be - along with a few other 'grounded' supporters - proved correct.

Early on, Arsenal held their own, and even created the odd half-chance or two. There was a plan, and it looked promising for a short while. But the early injury to Xhaka disrupted the side - Ceballos brings something else to the party - and Mari's calf/ankle problem in the 24th minute proved to be the turning point.

In truth, by midway through the first half the tide was already beginning to turn, as City began to pin Arsenal back. Much as I suspected would happen... And it was only a matter of time before the breakthrough occurred. That it should be as a result of a mistake by an Arsenal centre-back can of course be no surprise to us, with Luiz having come on to replace Mari and partner Mustafi. As it was, Luiz's half-hearted attempt to clear a De Bruyne through ball led to the ball skipping up off his thigh and into the path of Sterling, who hammered the ball past Leno from close range. The goalkeeper had made three decent saves in the previous 5 minutes, but he had no chance with Sterling's effort. The annoying thing was that this was in first half stoppage time - of course a psychologically difficult time to concede.

Early in the second half, as City expanded further on their dominance with even Ederson playing defence-splitting long balls from his own area, Luiz was caught out again. Mahrez got on his wrong side and instead of merely shadowing him into the area as best he could, Luiz put his hand on the Algerian's shoulder and dragged him back. Penalty (the 4th conceded by Luiz this season and remarkably similar to his attempt to haul Salah back at Anfield in August), inevitable red card, and ball buried in the back of the net by De Bruyne.

(Luiz's contract is up in 12 days. He is banned for three matches, and that takes him past the option date. He has cost the club a fortune. For all the current centre-back injuries and woes, I'd tell him that it's time up now. He can go.)

At this point, thankfully, City declared. The match was over as a contest and they treated the remaining 40 minutes as a fitness/training session. Thank goodness for that! But there was still time - after Ederson had collided sickeningly with young left back Garcia to force the latter off on a stretcher (and thus, with both sides down to 10 men and thus perhaps giving Arsenal a slim chance of getting back into the game - I never really believed it possible to be honest) - for future England star Phil Foden to score the third after a stunning interchange between Sterling and substitute Aguero had cut Arsenal apart.

Thus the scoreline better represented the way the game had gone. And illustrated the gulf between the sides. City march on, and Arsenal's heirachy have an awful lot of work to do.

Afterwards, there were cryptic references from both Arteta and Luiz (brave enough to come out and do an interview) to what's going on behind the scenes. We're unlikely to ever find out the truth, but it's clear that a new broom needs to be taken to the Arsenal squad and that the road back is long.

I hold out little hope for the rest of the season. We need to start again. For me, the priority must be to tie Saka down and give more kids a run in the side. Auba is surely off to greener pastures - I know that I would be.

I'll be back on Sunday with a post-Brighton post. In the meantime, stay safe; it's all we Arsenal fans have got.