Jayives wrote: ↑Mon Sep 13, 2021 12:43 pm
GoonerMuzz wrote: ↑Mon Sep 13, 2021 10:05 am
I agree I think he has done well so far however what worries me is he was replaced by Partey. I hate Xhaka and I'm no fan of AMN but it seems to me Arteta is going to rotate Lakonga/Partey and potentially Xhaka with AMN. I would much rather he tried a partnership of Lakonga and Partey than have either of the other two near the team, but then what do I know
There’s been a lot of coverage yesterday that Arteta actually intends to play a 433 with ESR & Ødegaard both playing as a midfield attacking pivot with 1 from Partey/lokonga/Xhaka (please god not him) as a defensive midfield player.
This would explain how we finished the game in formation, the extended conversation Arteta was having with Ødegaard when we scored and also some of the weird experiments where Xhaka seemed to be our only midfielder. It won’t work with Xhaka because he’s dog shit but with a player like Partey who is strong and mobile it might.
That tactical change will be catastrophic for the team. We need to build strength from the back. I'd drop Odegaard back alongside Partey/ Lokonga with ESR in the front of the midfield three. Liverpool, Chelski and Man City all play with two DM's and let the wing back's attack. The three up front need to be closer together in my opinion. They play too far apart and that's why we end with less players in the box and more players out wide. Meaning it's so easy to defend against us. Just look at the goals scored column since Arteta came in. Too often when the ball drops in the opposing penalty area, there are no Arsenal players to capitalise on it, because they are not in the area where goals are scored from, basically the area 10-18 yards out, in front of the goal.
For example, when Pepe cuts in from the right onto his left on the edge of the box, we should have 1-2 players available for him to square too so they can take a shot at the full goal area in front of them, rather than Pepe attempt a shot at 1/4 of the goal's area. But Arteta doesn't set the team up to do this, and its bloody frustrating. Auba is around the 6 yard box with 2-3 defenders around him, and no one else in the area were it is easier to score a goal from.
Look at City, Chelski and Liverpool. When they score a goal, how often do you see a spare player nearer the corner flag in open play. They don't because the players come inside towards the goal, where they can have an opportunity to score. It's much easier to score a goal, when you're in front of the goal, than on the side of it. It sounds simple, because it is simple.
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