Arsenal Thread - 2022/23

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HumbledGooner said:
Fair enough. We really didnt handle the run in well. Injuries to Saliba and Tomiyasu were terminal. Arteta was a little late recognising Kiwior is a vast improvement on Holding. We oculdnt handle the pressure in the end

Just need to be aggressive again in the transfer window. Plenty of organic growth from Saliba, Saka, Martinelli and Odegaard. We will be banging on the door next season too
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We have had injuries this season to Dias and Stones and Foden. Our best defender Ake too during the run in.
They happen, you have to deal with them.
 
The big problem for Arsenal at the end was they only had one plan for defence, the press. If that fails they are in trouble.
Very good though their press is - it is probably better than ours, but if broken, it is disastrous.
The press also requires an intensity that is very difficult to maintain - especially at the business end of the season when the pressure is on.. Liverpool have suffered from this problem in the past as well and injuries badly damage it's function. We suffered from it in Peps first season and it has blighted our CL campaigns till this season.
You have to be more flexible and need plans B and C as well and the ability to transit from one plan to another in the same game. City brutally exposed Arsenal's press twice in this respect.
At the Emerates City were under the cosh from the superb Arsenal press and City resorted to the targeted long ball up the field to Haaland to knock down to a midfielder OR long raking diaganal passes up field to wide players. The exposed rearguard resulted in Arsenal crumbling. Other teams have recently caused Arsenal problems with a more agricultural version of the long ball. The lesson is there though - the press can be broken.
At the Etihad, City played deeper than usual and simply passed round the press using withdrawn wide players with balls eventually down the channels to Haaland and KDB in the centre. Arsenal were enhilated.
The press is great but you need other plans that are less mentally tough to maintain.
 
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I see Zin is getting the blame for Arsenal collapse.

Let’s get it right. We stalked the shit out of them, winning relentlessly. No team can withstand that pursuit. It takes a near inhumane effort to stop This City team in this Era. Liverpool can attest to this with a better squad than Arsenal. Everyone knew that deep down you would not go the distance. Keep building and go again.

No shame coming second to the best team England has ever produced.

Didn’t have enough good players nor the right mentality to withstand an assault.

Certainly not Zins fault. Emotions is what drives the sport. He is a twat tho -:)
 
HumbledGooner said:
Fair enough. We really didnt handle the run in well. Injuries to Saliba and Tomiyasu were terminal. Arteta was a little late recognising Kiwior is a vast improvement on Holding. We oculdnt handle the pressure in the end

Just need to be aggressive again in the transfer window. Plenty of organic growth from Saliba, Saka, Martinelli and Odegaard. We will be banging on the door next season too
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You can bang on the door, but your not coming in.
 
wolviedinho said:
I see Zin is getting the blame for Arsenal collapse.

Let’s get it right. We stalked the shit out of them, winning relentlessly. No team can withstand that pursuit. It takes a near inhumane effort to stop This City team in this Era. Liverpool can attest to this with a better squad than Arsenal. Everyone knew that deep down you would not go the distance. Keep building and go again.

No shame coming second to the best team England has ever produced.

Didn’t have enough good players nor the right mentality to withstand an assault.

Certainly not Zins fault. Emotions is what drives the sport. He is a twat tho -:)
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It is always easier to chase than to lead.
That is why the 14 wins on the spin to deny Liverpool was probably Peps greatest Premier League win.
 
BlueAnorak said:
The big problem for Arsenal at the end was they only had one plan for defence, the press. If that fails they are in trouble.
Very good though their press is - it is probably better than ours, but if broken, it is disastrous.
The press also requires an intensity that is very difficult to maintain - especially at the business end of the season. Liverpool have suffered from this problem as well and injuries have badly damaged it's function.
You need plans B and C as well And to transit from one plan to another in the same game.
City brutally exposed Arsenal's press twice in this respect.
At the Emerates City were under the cosh from the superb Arsenal press and City resorted to the targeted long ball up the field to Haaland to knock down to a midfielder OR long raking diaganal passes up field to wide players. The exposed rearguard resulted in Arsenal crumbling. Other teams have recently caused Arsenal problems with a more agricultural version of the long ball. The lesson is there though - the press can be broken.
At the Etihad, City played deeper than usual and simply passed round the press using withdrawn wide players with balls eventually down the channels to Haaland and KDB in the centre. Arsenal were enhilated.
The press is great but you need other plans that are less mentally tough to maintain.
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Think this is a very observant post. I think we are a team still in transition ultimately to the way Arteta wants to play. We want to press well, and have been signing players that allow is to do that, but we are still a bit immobile in midfield. Xhaka had a very good season but you wouldn't say he's a natural presser / ball winner, and Partey for some reason lost all form the last couple of months and looked very leggy at times.

I think that's why we have so much interest in Rice and / or Caceido. These offer slightly better ball winning, more athleticism, and can offer a bit of flexibility tactical wise as well.

Also, losing Saliba made us more vulnerable playing the high line, as the alternatives didn't have any of his recovery pace or composure when having to defend 1 on 1.
 
BlueAnorak said:
The big problem for Arsenal at the end was they only had one plan for defence, the press. If that fails they are in trouble.
Very good though their press is - it is probably better than ours, but if broken, it is disastrous.
The press also requires an intensity that is very difficult to maintain - especially at the business end of the season. Liverpool have suffered from this problem in tgmhe past as well and injuries have badly damaged it's function.
You need plans B and C as well And to transit from one plan to another in the same game.
City brutally exposed Arsenal's press twice in this respect.
At the Emerates City were under the cosh from the superb Arsenal press and City resorted to the targeted long ball up the field to Haaland to knock down to a midfielder OR long raking diaganal passes up field to wide players. The exposed rearguard resulted in Arsenal crumbling. Other teams have recently caused Arsenal problems with a more agricultural version of the long ball. The lesson is there though - the press can be broken.
At the Etihad, City played deeper than usual and simply passed round the press using withdrawn wide players with balls eventually down the channels to Haaland and KDB in the centre. Arsenal were enhilated.
The press is great but you need other plans that are less mentally tough to maintain.
Click to expand...

Agreed. But you said so yourself, you went long because our press was really good. You also surrendered possession in that game, something you would never cede to another team. I think we had 65% possession. When was the last time a Pep team had 35% of the ball?

These anecdotal events are cause for optimism among Arsenal ranks. We know we are still very wet behind the ears. Our key playing personnel are all still quite young and our manager is only into his 4th year as a manager.

We are still cutting our teeth and between another big window and the organic growth from Saka, Martinelli, Odegaard and Saliba, we can be better next season.

This notion that this season was make or break is such a fallacy. Ive read comments on this forum about how Odegaard would be the perfect KDB replacement. Well he is going to be at Arsenal next season too. As will Saka, Martinelli, Saliba & they will be a year older.
 
Wigan_Citizen said:
bitterarse-jpg.79293

Some quite bitter
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My absolute favourite part of that post is the “SuperArsenal1886 | Formerly: ArsenalRDABest” at the top of the post.

Lead with the headline, finish with the prose.
 
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