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.
A lot of blame is being aimed at individuals and arguably rightly so BUT.....
Arteta has completely changed the way we play, totally. We were superb in the second half of last season, another winger so we can give Saka a rest and a good striker and we were set. But no, Arteta changes the WHOLE system, we now play a possession/control game, it makes us slow, predictable and boring, He's lost the crowd at the Emirates, the last 2 home games have been like a morgue apart from the away fans, because everyone sees what is going to happen, a whole lot of boring nothing!
When Arsenal attack we often have just 3 players in forward positions, watch Liverpool, they usually have 6 minimum in open play. It's no wonder Ode is struggling, there's no movement, no runs, no attacker, no Saka!! We're now a static team who allows the opposition to sit back and block us out, game after game. Fans see it, that's why there's no atmosphere. This system will fall, badly because there is no way on earth it can work.
Sign a new CDM? Why? We have the second best no.6 in the world, only he's being asked to play as an 8.
Buy Mogodon Merino for what? He wins duels....oh, you mean like Declan Rice, who we paid 105m for does? We play a midfielder as a striker and a misfiring striker as a winger, we often play three defensive midfielders...... This is a mix of Wenger and Graham ..... The bad bits!
It's so clear to see, I seriously wonder if senior management at Arsenal have decided not to risk giving him more money to waste!? Last summer was a fucking disaster. We will not win either of our next 2 games, I think we'll lose one draw one.
He did the same start of last season then abandoned it as it wasn't working. This season he's double downed. And refused to abandon. Said it the other day. Maybe get away with it with a gun striker but we have havertz...
Havertz had the flu and was out against Brentford from memory. Think we are playing players that are not really back up to speed and he’s got into a habit of missing sitters.
The five for Limerick mask reappears, despite the other posts attempt to cover his tracks and pretend to be anything but an akb.
Odegaard epitomises the lack of cutting edge that has been on show for the past few games. His flatters to deceive especially against a packed defence and his game is far too reliant on movement ahead of him. He tried to go off before half time and the coaches convinced him to stay on because of the short added time. Surprised he came out for the second half and as soon as he picked up the ball to take the penalty, I was convinced he was going to miss. He saw his glory moment and hit it with no real convinction. I'm sure Jorginho is our second designated penalty taker after Saka and I would've given it to him. There was only going to be one winner as soon as this went to penalties.
Let me also add that the referee couldn't erase the impression that he was under instructions from some higher power to hand us the game - almost all 50/50 given to us, red card for opposition, dodgy penalty etc yet we failed miserably. I'm starting to think bad decisions are often given against because we are easy money. We fumble the bag anytime it looks like the referee is on our side.
I'm certainly not trying to make an excuse for Odegaard, he has been piss poor since he came back from injury apart from his first game back against Chelsea. I'm looking at why things may be happening. Some people just hate Odegaard, that's their opinion, but he is Arsenal's only creative outlet other than Saka and when he (Ode) was out, even Saka looked a lot less dangerous, they have a great 'relationship' on the right hand side.
Because of the way we play now, there is so little movement up front, so is it a surprise that Ode hangs on to the ball too long sometimes, waiting for movement? That's just a question, I'm not defending him. Ode played 96 mins in his first game back after over 2 months out and I think he's played pretty much every game/some of every game since which is fucking crazy, all because Arteta let 3 attacking players leave in the summer and only bought in Raheem handbag Sterling!
Since we changed our system we have/have had, virtually every player in the team looking off form, almost all at the same time, again, that suggests the system is not working and does not suit our players.
United are shit. That was the equivalent of a boxing match where they were battered for 12 rounds without being knocked out despite several clear opportunities and then won a game of rock, paper, scissors. Criminal that we let it get to extra time, let alone pens.
There is clearly something amiss in the squad. Pressure is my bet. They know we need to win something and that is precisely why we won’t.
Makes me wonder whether players are starting to privately question the tactics and style of play. They've seen the dippers have a huge resurgence this season, Chavs doing better and ourselves going backwards. Our the players on board with the fucking boring tactics, the shit signings and the lack of end product? I agree that the best way to get players on board is by winning things and I wonder whether the players have started to lose faith in the manager and his decisions as they've won nothing? It might explain a few things.
By and large the same players do their jobs well. Raya (in the main), Saliba, Gabriel, Saka, Odegaard (despite the tears on here), Rice, Timber. The same players let us down. Martinelli. Trossard. Havertz. Jesus. It’s like being at work. You work your arse off but some prat costs the team as they are crap. I think a few players are getting fed up of it. Without Saka we are toothless. People can have a go at Odegaard but I agree with Tee Cee. He can only play someone in if they have made space or made a run. Some of these players are reverting to type. Havertz was shipped out by Chelsea. Trossard was at Brighton. Martinelli was in the Brazilian 4th division. Jesus never scored more than 15 in a side that was dominant. It’s all in the recruitment. Poor.
So you’re finding about half a dozen in the match day squad who are generally reliable and of the requisite quality. After 5 years and £800 million spent, that’s tells you where the problem lies.
TeeCee buddy I have to take issue with two of your points there -
1. You say that we were superb in the second half of last season but I dont remember it that way a all
Augie - Seriously? From 1st Jan we played 18 PL games, won 16, drew 1 and lost 1 and scored 54 goals in those games. You don't call that superb??? I'm genuinely amazed at that. Maybe I'm alone in thinking it, but as someone who followed Arsenal through GG's time when we were truly awful at times and even when we won a lot of games we didn't necessarily play well in doing so, lots of 1-0"s! Those last 18 games were awesome at times!
TeeCee the results in the second half of last season were excellent, BUT I am talking about the free flowing football from the season before wasnt there much last season at all. Go back to the amount of times Steve O brought up the dull boring football style we were using last season - compared to this season it was a thrill a minute I agree, but compare it to the season before and you will see a more cautious controlled style of football built around not conceding
United are shit. That was the equivalent of a boxing match where they were battered for 12 rounds without being knocked out despite several clear opportunities and then won a game of rock, paper, scissors. Criminal that we let it get to extra time, let alone pens.
There is clearly something amiss in the squad. Pressure is my bet. They know we need to win something and that is precisely why we won’t.
Makes me wonder whether players are starting to privately question the tactics and style of play. They've seen the dippers have a huge resurgence this season, Chavs doing better and ourselves going backwards. Our the players on board with the fucking boring tactics, the shit signings and the lack of end product? I agree that the best way to get players on board is by winning things and I wonder whether the players have started to lose faith in the manager and his decisions as they've won nothing? It might explain a few things.
By and large the same players do their jobs well. Raya (in the main), Saliba, Gabriel, Saka, Odegaard (despite the tears on here), Rice, Timber. The same players let us down. Martinelli. Trossard. Havertz. Jesus. It’s like being at work. You work your arse off but some prat costs the team as they are crap. I think a few players are getting fed up of it. Without Saka we are toothless. People can have a go at Odegaard but I agree with Tee Cee. He can only play someone in if they have made space or made a run. Some of these players are reverting to type. Havertz was shipped out by Chelsea. Trossard was at Brighton. Martinelli was in the Brazilian 4th division. Jesus never scored more than 15 in a side that was dominant. It’s all in the recruitment. Poor.
So you’re finding about half a dozen in the match day squad who are generally reliable and of the requisite quality. After 5 years and £800 million spent, that’s tells you where the problem lies.
Exactly, some of the same people defending odeargod's lack of assists and goals this season are blaming the strikers/forward players ahead of him, but at the same time defending and bigging up the guy that signed those forwards and I'm like "make your mind up here"
United are shit. That was the equivalent of a boxing match where they were battered for 12 rounds without being knocked out despite several clear opportunities and then won a game of rock, paper, scissors. Criminal that we let it get to extra time, let alone pens.
There is clearly something amiss in the squad. Pressure is my bet. They know we need to win something and that is precisely why we won’t.
Makes me wonder whether players are starting to privately question the tactics and style of play. They've seen the dippers have a huge resurgence this season, Chavs doing better and ourselves going backwards. Our the players on board with the fucking boring tactics, the shit signings and the lack of end product? I agree that the best way to get players on board is by winning things and I wonder whether the players have started to lose faith in the manager and his decisions as they've won nothing? It might explain a few things.
By and large the same players do their jobs well. Raya (in the main), Saliba, Gabriel, Saka, Odegaard (despite the tears on here), Rice, Timber. The same players let us down. Martinelli. Trossard. Havertz. Jesus. It’s like being at work. You work your arse off but some prat costs the team as they are crap. I think a few players are getting fed up of it. Without Saka we are toothless. People can have a go at Odegaard but I agree with Tee Cee. He can only play someone in if they have made space or made a run. Some of these players are reverting to type. Havertz was shipped out by Chelsea. Trossard was at Brighton. Martinelli was in the Brazilian 4th division. Jesus never scored more than 15 in a side that was dominant. It’s all in the recruitment. Poor.
So you’re finding about half a dozen in the match day squad who are generally reliable and of the requisite quality. After 5 years and £800 million spent, that’s tells you where the problem lies.
Exactly, some of the same people defending odeargod's lack of assists and goals this season are blaming the strikers/forward players ahead of him, but at the same time defending and bigging up the guy that signed those forwards and I'm like "make your mind up here"
Odegaard is not our problem. Our problem is finishing. Has been for two seasons. Who is defending Havertz and Jesus on here?
Where did I say anyone is defending havertz and jesus ??
We are short up front and even those we have are either not prolific or makeshift strikers. Our front line is criminal for a side trying to win the League. Put Auba in there. We win the League. Ian Wright. We win the League. Alexis Sanchez. League. Lacazette. Possible. Giroud. A better player than Havertz finishing wise. It’s a fucked up strategy to have that front line. When we finish our chances the whole team flows as it takes pressure off it. Something needs to change but it won’t happen in January.
Our usually reliable defence has gone to pot and Saliba/Gabriel have been poor in the last few games.
I think Jorginho's injury was caused by Saliba losing a simple duel with Zirkzee in the middle of the pitch and clumsily taking him out.
Miles Lewis Skelly continues to impress and is the only player to emerge from this game with any credit.
The players look shattered, mentally and physically, and we are in dire need of fresh legs.
Where did I say anyone is defending havertz and jesus ??
We are short up front and even those we have are either not prolific or makeshift strikers. Our front line is criminal for a side trying to win the League. Put Auba in there. We win the League. Ian Wright. We win the League. Alexis Sanchez. League. Lacazette. Possible. Giroud. A better player than Havertz finishing wise. It’s a fucked up strategy to have that front line. When we finish our chances the whole team flows as it takes pressure off it. Something needs to change but it won’t happen in January.
Like I said above, after 5 years and almost £800 million spent, those bits in red tell you where the problem lies. This was the process we were supposed to trust.
Yesterday's result was embarrassing, but the abuse posted on social media towards Havertz, his missus and unborn child were nothing short of disgraceful, I thought that was behaviour reserved for chavs and scousers!
I hope they can be traced and shamed in the courts.
Yesterday's result was embarrassing, but the abuse posted on social media towards Havertz, his missus and unborn child were nothing short of disgraceful, I thought that was behaviour reserved for chavs and scousers!
I hope they can be traced and shamed in the courts.
Agreed. Only scum post shit like that about the man's wife and unborn kid. Unfortunately we live in the age of the cowardly interweb keyboard warrior.
