As we're unlikely to see terraces again at football, this is the virtual equivalent where you can chat to your hearts content about all football matters and, obviously, Arsenal in particular. This forum encourages all Gooners to visit and contribute so please keep it respectful, clean and topical.
The goal from Martinelli was very well taken, the speed he runs with the ball and the chasing defender could not get near him....quality
big question i have had for years is why he dont play Martinelli in the middle...or even try it???
Yes, I was suggesting playing him through the middle last night and Trossard on the left. It’s certainly possible in the 1st leg of the semi with Partey out and merino having to play alongside Rice. Can’t see Arteta doing it.
Trossard has been so shit of late, I'm not sure I would even give him a game against ipswich
Some reason Arteta totally dismisses the idea of Martinelli through the middle...remember his reply over 2 years ago
Trossard dont look in any form to play against PSG
Oh what a night...So fucking happy...Rice was immense, as was Timber snd MLS...But honourable mentions for Kiwior and Merino...Partey was solid, but fucking ridiculous yellow card. Two great goals...One gripe, there was three uncharacteristic mistakes from Saliba, one led to the goal...However we will forgive him that.
On we go.....
Don't want to get negative, but thought the same thing about Saliba. Shaky at times tonight and not been on his best form recently. Still, no harm tonight.
on his best form lately did you miss the first leg and the Brentford game ?
For the record, I'm not excusing saliba for their goal last night (cos he was poor for it), but raya should never have thrown the ball to him imo - we had just scored and the last thing you do then is invite pressure on yourself, so put the ball down the far end of the pitch and as far away from our goals as possible
For the record, I'm not excusing saliba for their goal last night (cos he was poor for it), but raya should never have thrown the ball to him imo - we had just scored and the last thing you do then is invite pressure on yourself, so put the ball down the far end of the pitch and as far away from our goals as possible
Agree 100%... But Raya has done that before this and last season... he doesn't read the whole situation and then just rolls it to a defender... Remember his Blunder that let the Scum back into the game when we were 3 - nil up and coasting at theirs......He's a very good keeper, but he does have that Rick in him.
The goal from Martinelli was very well taken, the speed he runs with the ball and the chasing defender could not get near him....quality
big question i have had for years is why he dont play Martinelli in the middle...or even try it???
The endn of the season is coming and of course another transfer window not far behind it for the cone boy to show yet again why he is NOT the man to take this team forward - I have zero doubts that one of the priorities on cone boys target list is another winger to take the left wing spot from martinelli, but anyone who has watched this team can see that martinelli has done more in the last month even, than odeargod has done all season. I dont give a shit if you are talking about a sunday league team or a champions league team because in every team set up your number 10 attacking midfielder is supposed to be THE main creator and to chip in with regular goals - our captain has done neither but instead of focusing on him, the spotlight will be on the attackers who he is meant to be supplying. Last nights goal was a prime example of what martinelli can be if the supply line is better - if it was casper the disappearing captain that received the ball (instead of merino) he would likely have twisted and turned on the ball before losing it or passing sidewards or backwards. Merino gets the ball and looks up and see's the run martinelli is making and releases it early for him to use his speed to run onto it and the rest is history Now I know the fact that madrid had to push forward at that stage left big gaps to run in behind that probably wouldnt be there playing against a team with low blocks, BUT the principle remains that forward players thrive on early fast ball, and instead of looking to upgrade martinelli we should be shining the spotlight on the problem we have with our disappearing captain
agree with most of that Augie.....but Rice is Captain in all but name
Oh what a night...So fucking happy...Rice was immense, as was Timber snd MLS...But honourable mentions for Kiwior and Merino...Partey was solid, but fucking ridiculous yellow card. Two great goals...One gripe, there was three uncharacteristic mistakes from Saliba, one led to the goal...However we will forgive him that.
On we go.....
Don't want to get negative, but thought the same thing about Saliba. Shaky at times tonight and not been on his best form recently. Still, no harm tonight.
on his best form lately did you miss the first leg and the Brentford game ?
No I didn’t. Opinions I guess.
so you formed an opinion without seeing him play !
Oh what a night...So fucking happy...Rice was immense, as was Timber snd MLS...But honourable mentions for Kiwior and Merino...Partey was solid, but fucking ridiculous yellow card. Two great goals...One gripe, there was three uncharacteristic mistakes from Saliba, one led to the goal...However we will forgive him that.
On we go.....
Don't want to get negative, but thought the same thing about Saliba. Shaky at times tonight and not been on his best form recently. Still, no harm tonight.
on his best form lately did you miss the first leg and the Brentford game ?
No I didn’t. Opinions I guess.
so you formed an opinion without seeing him play !
No, I meant I didn’t miss the games.
Look, he’s top quality, but that doesn’t mean he can’t have a period where his form drops a little. You don’t think it has, I think he’s made a few unusual slip ups during games recently. Maybe it’s adjusting to Gabriel not playing.
Anyway, no drama (other than the other night, which luckily had no consequence), just my opinion that he’s had one or two shaky moments. It happens.
Saliba just dwelt on the ball he must have know he was going to be pressed
he could have just passed it back to Raya
Yes, that’s exactly what he should have done. It wasn’t a great idea from Raya to give Saliba the ball in that position, but he was slow with the ball at his feet. I actually don’t think he knew that Vinicius was closing him down until it was too late.
The goal from Martinelli was very well taken, the speed he runs with the ball and the chasing defender could not get near him....quality
big question i have had for years is why he dont play Martinelli in the middle...or even try it???
The endn of the season is coming and of course another transfer window not far behind it for the cone boy to show yet again why he is NOT the man to take this team forward - I have zero doubts that one of the priorities on cone boys target list is another winger to take the left wing spot from martinelli, but anyone who has watched this team can see that martinelli has done more in the last month even, than odeargod has done all season. I dont give a shit if you are talking about a sunday league team or a champions league team because in every team set up your number 10 attacking midfielder is supposed to be THE main creator and to chip in with regular goals - our captain has done neither but instead of focusing on him, the spotlight will be on the attackers who he is meant to be supplying. Last nights goal was a prime example of what martinelli can be if the supply line is better - if it was casper the disappearing captain that received the ball (instead of merino) he would likely have twisted and turned on the ball before losing it or passing sidewards or backwards. Merino gets the ball and looks up and see's the run martinelli is making and releases it early for him to use his speed to run onto it and the rest is history Now I know the fact that madrid had to push forward at that stage left big gaps to run in behind that probably wouldnt be there playing against a team with low blocks, BUT the principle remains that forward players thrive on early fast ball, and instead of looking to upgrade martinelli we should be shining the spotlight on the problem we have with our disappearing captain
agree with most of that Augie.....but Rice is Captain in all but name
1,000%
Odegaard just comes across as too Wimpy and Soft to be Our Captain, he always appears to be too Polite and not assertive enough either when talking to the Ref or disagreeing with the opposition; especially when they have just scythed down of our players. Rice may not get physical in an argument; though something tells me he could if he wanted, but for certain he wouldn't be bossed or let the Ref or the opposition get away with the same shit that Odegaard does.
Saliba just dwelt on the ball he must have know he was going to be pressed
he could have just passed it back to Raya
But raya didnt drop back into a position to receive the ball - watch it again and you will see that raya threw the ball to saliba and stood still (basically beside the real attacker who closed him down) instead droping back to the 6 yard line at an angle that would allow saliba to roll it back to him to hoof down the pitch, but like I said previously, that is what raya should have done in the first place
Don't want to get negative, but thought the same thing about Saliba. Shaky at times tonight and not been on his best form recently. Still, no harm tonight.
on his best form lately did you miss the first leg and the Brentford game ?
No I didn’t. Opinions I guess.
so you formed an opinion without seeing him play !
No, I meant I didn’t miss the games.
Look, he’s top quality, but that doesn’t mean he can’t have a period where his form drops a little. You don’t think it has, I think he’s made a few unusual slip ups during games recently. Maybe it’s adjusting to Gabriel not playing.
Anyway, no drama (other than the other night, which luckily had no consequence), just my opinion that he’s had one or two shaky moments. It happens.
sorry I misunderstand and thought that you made your opinion without seeming him play
he was immense against Brentford but all defenders make a mistake that usually costs a goal
Last edited by gazzatt2 on Fri Apr 18, 2025 8:28 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Saliba just dwelt on the ball he must have know he was going to be pressed
he could have just passed it back to Raya
But raya didnt drop back into a position to receive the ball - watch it again and you will see that raya threw the ball to saliba and stood still (basically beside the real attacker who closed him down) instead droping back to the 6 yard line at an angle that would allow saliba to roll it back to him to hoof down the pitch, but like I said previously, that is what raya should have done in the first place
I have only seen it from one angle
I hate this we must always play out from the back it slows everything down
on two occasions he has thrown it out long and we have scored
need to mix this up
Saliba just dwelt on the ball he must have know he was going to be pressed
he could have just passed it back to Raya
But raya didnt drop back into a position to receive the ball - watch it again and you will see that raya threw the ball to saliba and stood still (basically beside the real attacker who closed him down) instead droping back to the 6 yard line at an angle that would allow saliba to roll it back to him to hoof down the pitch, but like I said previously, that is what raya should have done in the first place
I have only seen it from one angle I hate this we must always play out from the back it slows everything down
on two occasions he has thrown it out long and we have scored
need to mix this up
Dead right Augie that was the first thing I noticed, at the time I said Raya was partly to blame; okay, maybe Saliba might have been more alert, also usually Gabriel would have been near by and perhaps spotted the danger, not that it matters on this occasion Thank-fully.
That's the thing about Possession based tactics, by playing it out from the back, if you watch when Raya starts it, the rest of the team all move forward as a unit in their separate units (midfield, L flank, R flank and the player/s most forward. But as you say the times we've scored (usually via Martinelli ) via a sudden quick break.
I was really pleased for Martinelli to see him take the ball and finish the move, hopefully it will give his confidence a Boost; especially as he hasn't had a Good Season. His goal reminded me of theione he scored away to the chavs from a corner when he ran the full length (more or less) of the pitch to score in the late stages of the game!
Now I know the fact that madrid had to push forward at that stage left big gaps to run in behind that probably wouldnt be there playing against a team with low blocks, BUT the principle remains that forward players thrive on early fast ball, and instead of looking to upgrade martinelli we should be shining the spotlight on the problem we have with our disappearing captain
