10 Jan 2020 08:12:13
Looking forward to tomorrow's match v Palace. Interesting to see the team selection. I was concerned at the appointment of Arteta due to his lack of any management experience, but I have been extremely impressed to date.
The next tests are how he copes with future defeats and his ability to influence signings that improve the squad. I like the fact young players are lined up to go out on loan to gain first team playing time. That is probably a joint decision involving Arteta, Edu, etc. I also like the increase in training intensity, which was clearly necessary.
10 Jan 2020 10:52:15
Looking forward to it, but slightly nervous. Palace always seem to draw a couple of penalties out of us and make life difficult.
What I find interesting about the comments about training intensity and fitness is that Emery's Arsenal in his first few months were topping the league for distance run in games. Then everything dropped off, not sure when, but surely around end of last season at the latest. Now the squad are barely fit. As I said, inexplicable.
10 Jan 2020 13:16:44
It's baffling how our players are struggling fitness wise but the response has to new methods has been very encouraging.
Obviously the players want to be fit and competitive you've only got to look at and listen to them since Arteta arrived but they just haven't had the leadership and direction over recent years where the value of such attributes as graft effort determination has been appreciated and tippy tappy football was much more the order of the day.
10 Jan 2020 19:42:59
I've always said our players weren't fit enough if you compare to other top sides. Fitness will take time as obviously under the old regime they weren't worked hard enough in training. Effort > ability.