BIG NIGHT PREVIEW + BREEZING STRATEGY

Shhhhh… I’m at a football conference and it’s pretty decent. I heard this line yesterday.

‘If you let the breeze move you off strategy, you are screwed’

This was the comment of someone that owned 6 football clubs.

I think that’s a thought Arsenal need to hold in their heads this summer. The summer execution of our strategy was widely ridiculed and lambasted.

Gary Neville wasn’t sure what we were doing.

Thierry Henry said he couldn’t see it.

The Athletic polled agents and the majority said Arsenal had the worst transfer window and Ben White was the most baffling signing.

Where are we today?

The United fans who crowed about how amazing their summer was are all saying things like ‘we need to get an approach that focuses on youth and a sharp philosophy’ after getting beaten by a poor Atleti last night.

What is the lesson here?

Taking a bold a approach is hard work and the noisy masses won’t always understand.

What is the second lesson here?

United breezed off their strategy last summer when they invested in Ronaldo. They had a pretty decent idea going before. Cristiano butchered it. He kicked the young players down, rattled the senior player pecking order, and ruined the culture. That misstep will lead to a 3rd manager at the helm inside a year… and maybe losing out on CL.

Arsenal should not be tempted to do anything stupid this summer. We don’t need 34 year olds, so let’s hard pass on Cavani. We don’t need to sign mega egos on £400k a week. We should not breeze off strategy for a short term gain.

Patience is the key. Our moment is coming. We just need to stick to the plan and avoid the breeze.

Also, for the record, I listened to a very senior person at Manchester City talk about the ELEVEN clubs they own and how they operate.

Firstly, I didn’t realize they owned so many clubs. They are very smart. They share best practice, all clubs play the same way, they filter players around their network, and sustainability and success sit at the core of what they do.

The big thing? They like continuity and consistency. Manchester City is the blueprint. When Pep leaves, make no mistake about it, Mikel Arteta will be in their top 3 candidates to replace him (as I said two years ago). He knows the players, he has cut his teeth at Arsenal, he represents the sort of continuity the exact same execs implemented at Barcelona.

Let’s hope when Arsenal sign Arteta up, they put a big, big buyout clause in his deal. Like… £50m.

Tonight, we need to stick to the plan. Whatever that might be.

We don’t need to control possession. We can’t play like we do against other sides. Everyone needs to show up.

Last time, Liverpool nullified Lacazette and that was that. I’m sure Arteta knows what is coming from them tactically. So he’ll have to plan for that.

Do not be shocked to see him load up with pace in the front line. This isn’t a game we can win by working 30 passes through the middle. West Ham and Inter showed the way. Let Liverpool have the ball, counter at speed, break their backline with diagonal balls, and ask questions.

If you rattle Liverpool early, they lose their discipline. They are still the best though. The fact Inter and West Ham are best case examples… and they still lost, tells you how hard this will be.

… but we are at home. We are in great form. Our fans will make it spicy.

So let’s enjoy the game, see where the kids are at, and hope that whatever happens… we exit the night feeling proud.

Right, last chance on our pod. New one happening later.