So it's Gdansk or bust for Arteta as the fans have their say

 

Arsenal 0 Everton 1
Premier League
Friday 23rd April 2021 8pm

So the most encouraging aspect of last night was the demonstration of the depth of feeling about the club’s owners that took place in the hours before the game. Apparently the Everton team coach had to take a different route to the stadium to ensure they were not prevented from getting in, which I am guessing meant lowering the safety bollards on the Clock End bridge and the players entering through one of the doors on the east or south side of the stadium. I have no idea if the Arsenal players arrived by car, as they have been doing, or if a coach was organized due to the circumstances and they entered the same way as Everton.

It is tempting to say the crowd outside was greater than some Europa League group game attendances over the years, although in truth, there were probably two or three thousand at its height, and fair play to them. What effect this will have remains to be seen. The Kroenkes will sell up if they can see no more money can be made from their asset, or if government legislation forces them to do so. Much as I would love it to work, I don’t see fan protests that have no economic implications making any difference. However, the idea of hitting them where it hurts, on the balance sheet, is somewhere that people can get creative.

Nevertheless it was good to see the depth of feeling expressed as it was, although as it was against the owners, it can’t be regarded as any kind of contribution to the shambles we saw on the pitch after 8 o’clock. It was the same line-up that triumphed eight days earlier in Prague, with the exception of Eddie Nketiah starting in place of the injured Lacazette. Hindsight, and for many foresight, suggests Gabriel Martinelli should have begun instead, although granted, he is less of an obvious centre forward. 

There isn’t a lot to say about this game except that Everton had the best chances, and although Arsenal did fashion a little danger, there was nothing gilt-edged, and this was not a good warm up for the visit to Villarreal next week. Yes, they were unfortunate with an offside after being awarded a penalty, and I think we are all a bit fed up of VAR now. Hope of making a Europa League spot through a Premier League finishing position pretty much evaporated with the two results at home to Fulham and last night, in which five potential points were passed up. So it’s very much all or nothing for Arteta now. We will have Champions League football next season, or a complete break from involvement in UEFA’s midweek matches. But look on the bright side – surely more Saturday games, and with the team’s status on the wane, maybe even a few three o’clock kick-offs. 

The match last night was lost due to an individual error, as so often has been the case this season. Sure, Granit Xhaka didn’t cover himself in glory with his impersonation of a full back as Richarlison waltzed past him, but the howler committed by Bernd Leno should be the final nail in the coffin of his Arsenal career. He makes errors way too often, and you have to say the club would have more points this season if they’d have offloaded Leno instead of Emi Martinez after he helped the team win the Community Shield at the start of the current campaign.  

Doktor Scheide messaged me his take on our number 1... 
Ladiessss and gentlemen, roll up, roll up and witness the Great Leno!  Be amazed at his incredible suicidal passes out to unwitting defenders! Gasp in disbelief at how he deflects innocuous passes into his own goal! Swoon at the Premiership points that vanish into thin air!

There is certainly a circus element to some of Arsenal's displays this season.

So five Premier League matches left – all meaningless now. It’s a blessing in disguise that fans are not able to attend, as the no-shows would tell a very sorry picture for the home games against West Brom and Brighton. Sure, there will be 10,000 at the latter, but you have to wonder if everyone was allowed to attend whether it would be even half-full, such is the current disappointment with the domestic performances. 

We wait to see if the players can raise their game for the necessary three European matches that – surely – can be the only way Mikel Arteta remains in a job after the end of May. Because this isn’t good enough. One upside of the European Super League not going ahead is definitely the avoidance of greater humiliation for this once great club. New impetus is needed and that, of course, starts from the very top. We might as well all give up then, eh? #KroenkeOut

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