Arsenal (A) - Sun 21st Sept, 16:30 | PL | Pre-Match Thread

[Gray]

I am sticking to voting loss as it seems to be working at present.

 

[noseve]

I'm not saying dont try it, but I would bet my house on neither of their big center backs being the ones to stay back. They drill set pieces all day long, its their go to. Us putting Haaland on the half way would encourage them

They couldn't be any more encouraged then they already are now, surely?

Imagine if the ball should drop to us - you honestly don't think that they'd feel really vulnerable?

I notice that you didn't answer my question, though.

It's academic, though, as Pep feels the same way you do. We'll continue to lay out the red carpet and employ the fingers-crossed approach.

 

[super_city_si]

They couldn't be any more encouraged then they already are now, surely?

Imagine if the ball should drop to us - you honestly don't think that they'd feel really vulnerable?

I notice that you didn't answer my question, though.

It's academic, though, as Pep feels the same way you do. We'll continue to lay out the red carpet and employ the fingers-crossed approach.

Its like saying lets keep Haaland back on corners because Gyorkes is fast. You dont nullify your own threat to counter an unlikely outcome.

Anyway, theyve got Timber whos quick who could stay back. It wont be Saliba or Gabriel.

 

[Zenmanc]

Nico G I feel is undervalued here.

I'd like to see us start with a bit more D minded spine in midfield

Dony
Khus
Dias
Gvad
Ake
Rod
NicoG
Phil
Bern
Doku
Erl

 

[Newman Noggs]

Its like saying lets keep Haaland back on corners because Gyorkes is fast. You dont nullify your own threat to counter an unlikely outcome.

Anyway, theyve got Timber whos quick who could stay back. It wont be Saliba or Gabriel.

It's an academic discussion, but no way would they leave just one defender back to cope with a possible counter from a corner. Personally, I'd always leave someone quick up there but Pep knows better than me.

 

[mancityscot]

will take a very very good performance to come away with a result. they seem to have our number in recent seasons, especially at home. Great side defensively and clinical going forward. Need Haaland to step up and bully those bastard centre halves!

 

[super_city_si]

It's an academic discussion, but no way would they leave just one defender back to cope with a possible counter from a corner. Personally, I'd always leave someone quick up there but Pep knows better than me.

I agree - teams pretty much always leave at least 2 back to cover both halves of the pitch.. I think the discussion was that the poster thought Saliba or Gabriel would be one of the players held back and I dont agree.

 

[paulchapo]

I am sticking to voting loss as it seems to be working at present.

Good idea me too lol.

 

[paulchapo]

will take a very very good performance to come away with a result. they seem to have our number in recent seasons, especially at home. Great side defensively and clinical going forward. Need Haaland to step up and bully those bastard centre halves!

Last season was a freak result, mainly due to our injuries and the season before I think they won with a late deflection?
Traditionally though it's always a hard place for us to get a result.

 

[noseve]

Its like saying lets keep Haaland back on corners because Gyorkes is fast. You dont nullify your own threat to counter an unlikely outcome.

Unlikely? What, that the ball might fall to a member of the team defending? Happens all the time in matches that I watch.

No, because Haaland is a striker and Saliba and Gabriel are defenders, so it isn't really like saying that.

As it happens, you are actually quoting the very reason that I want to try something different. I want us to go onto the front foot - if all it does is to drag at least one serious threat out of the box, then sure, there's a decision to be made, but I can see it being pretty profitable.

As for your second sentence above, that describes our mindset last year - blind faith in trying to maximise our position, despite week-on-week falling victim to the counter-attack. Did you applaud the lack of trying anything different then, as well?

I'll respect your opinion, if not your reasoning, but we'll never agree on this one.

 

[willipp]

Last season was a freak result, mainly due to our injuries and the season before I think they won with a late deflection?
Traditionally though it's always a hard place for us to get a result.

Last season we only had ourselves to blame. Remember after them going 1-0 up early we played quite well and got it back to 1-1. Then we just self destructed. Foden i think it was who started it all by playing a blind ball across the edge of the box and they scored literally minutes after we got it back to 1-1 and then literally everyone on the pitch just went into self destruct mode.

It was 5-1 and for 50 minutes we played really well.

 

[Eaststander1]

Am not expecting us to get owt .. the chances are we'll get nowt!

 

[paulchapo]

Last season we only had ourselves to blame. Remember after them going 1-0 up early we played quite well and got it back to 1-1. Then we just self destructed. Foden i think it was who started it all by playing a blind ball across the edge of the box and they scored literally minutes after we got it back to 1-1 and then literally everyone on the pitch just went into self destruct mode.

It was 5-1 and for 50 minutes we played really well.

Yes ludicrous pass.

 

[Withnail]

I think Arsenal probably have the best squad in the League at present, not saying we can't get a result but it will take a very good performance to come away with anything. Sounds like Rodders may not be risked which is probably a sensible decision, we certainly don't want him breaking down again.

 

[alexmcity]

He played 60 mins.

He played the full game.

 

[Gorbachev]

Nico G I feel is undervalued here.

I'd like to see us start with a bit more D minded spine in midfield

Dony
Khus
Dias
Gvad
Ake
Rod
NicoG
Phil
Bern
Doku
Erl

I still don't think Pep fully trusts Nico G.

Against United when he came on he was the worst player on the pitch for us, got skinned a few times and was bordering on being a walking red card.

His role at the moment is to come on for Rodri at 60 mins if all is well and maybe get a start next week against a Burnley at home.

 

[robbieh]

He played the full game.

He did. And I think he'll be benched. Which is good, because I think along with Reinjders he has been our weakest player over the last few games.

 

[chickaroon]

He played the full game.

You are right, sorry thinking of Rodri.

 

[JoshuaJDuckworth]

I have found the corner debate interesting and has reminded me of a couple of things I have read about this.

The first was probably 15 years ago and was about the tactical shift from leaving a player up top from a corner to bringing them all back to defend. The argument was that this only helps a very small bit with defending but mainly makes the counter attack more unpredictable. It being claimed that when you leave a player up it is obvious what you are going to do so easier to stop whereas when you don't know who is breaking or from where it is more difficult.

Then about 3 years ago I read one suggesting teams needed to change their tactics as corners were becoming more and more effective (don't know about the stats to back this up but seems to hold up, even more so now). The claim being that you should play a game of corner chicken and start leaving more, perhaps 3 players, put of the box and close to the opponents half to make them send less into the box or hit them on the counter. I guess the issue is that it would take a very brave manager to do this as when it inevitably goes wrong you look like an idiot.

I personally have been wondering whether teams would benefit from starting the defenders really deep, just in front of the goal line, from corners and then charging out to the ball to clear it. This would protect the keeper, stop the attackers doing their set movements and give them a running jump to get the header in. I imagine there are many people more versed in tactics who can point out why it is a bad idea though.

I will be wearing my Le Coq Sportif Thomas Cook shirt again on Sunday as have worn it the last two games so it must be working!

 

[super_city_si]

Unlikely? What, that the ball might fall to a member of the team defending? Happens all the time in matches that I watch.

No, because Haaland is a striker and Saliba and Gabriel are defenders, so it isn't really like saying that.

As it happens, you are actually quoting the very reason that I want to try something different. I want us to go onto the front foot - if all it does is to drag at least one serious threat out of the box, then sure, there's a decision to be made, but I can see it being pretty profitable.

As for your second sentence above, that describes our mindset last year - blind faith in trying to maximise our position, despite week-on-week falling victim to the counter-attack. Did you applaud the lack of trying anything different then, as well?

I'll respect your opinion, if not your reasoning, but we'll never agree on this one.

Fair points and we're good to disagree :)

I dont actually disagree with leaving Haaland up when we're defending corners, it has merits, i just disagree that it will remove an Arsenal threat on their corners. They will leave their main threats up there and cover Haaland with other players.