Haaland's runs yesterday just required a simple ball played over into the space in front of him for him to be in one on one with the keeper. He makes the runs regularly and we have been ignoring them. We'll get it right eventually, Kevin puts those balls through on a break, we need our other midfielders and defenders to be more aware of his movement.Phil is no slouch and remember seeing Villa at home against us pre-Covid (I asumme) and Grealish was causing us all sorts of problems on the break with his pace.
If we're going to box teams into their own penalty area, it needs the 1-2s and ball inside the fullback that we haven't really seen since Silva left.
Part of the frustration yesterday was a few times Cancelo had the ball at you'd see Haaland make the run between the centre halves only for Laporte to turn and play it square to Ake. It didn't need to even be a great ball over the top, just something through and let Haaland race the defenders and keeper to it. Even if it didn't work the defence would drop deeper and deeper, giving room for our midfiled to play in and to take shots from distance, sorry, I meant for our midfield to pass sidewise and then back to Ederson.
Maybe the champions league as that’s a knockout competition and as you rightly point out anything can happen, but will need a lot to change to win the premier league after watching this first half away at Tottenham. Pep always says the best team wins the league and atm arsenal are the best teamI don't believe we need to sacrifice this season at all, that's the thing.
We can win the Prem and Champions League if we can just hang tough and luck also comes our way.
Only have to look at Chelsea against us in Champs League.
It's all still there for us and even with our struggles, no other outstanding team in our league to take proper advantage of it.
Haaland is not great in the air either despite his height and arhleticismYesterday was a good example for me. Shaw was playing at Centre Back and Malacia at Left back, surely a decent ball to the back post aganst these two you would fance Haaland's chances in the air against them. I can't remember any decent crosses for him to attack.
He's been making them since August, it's nearly half way through the season and the only goal like that I can recall is the one at home where he muscled (pushed) the centre half off it.Haaland's runs yesterday just required a simple ball played over into the space in front of him for him to be in one on one with the keeper. He makes the runs regularly and we have been ignoring them. We'll get it right eventually, Kevin puts those balls through on a break, we need our other midfielders and defenders to be more aware of his movement.
Agreed...how many times did people say something along the lines of...if only we had a number 9 in the middle to finish those chances....now we have we arent creating themHe's been making them since August, it's nearly half way through the season and the only goal like that I can recall is the one at home where he muscled (pushed) the centre half off it.
Last couple of seasons we were flashing loads of balls across the 6yd box and pumping long balls into the box when we ran out of ideas. Now we just pass it backwards. It's like Pep is taking ideas from Southgate
Or our very own teamCan you imagine him playing for this Arsenal team ? Immense.
Yep but when they win the ball back..countering if you likenah counter attacking is what rashford did. dortmund play one touch fast passing football like brighton. those two are not the same. if you move the ball fast in one touch through the middle you will always find space before the opponent organize themself.
I am a totally broken record on this subject, and bored of myself. Pep definitely needs a strong number two. I was watching the game today and Arteta had someone right in his face. Not sure who it was, but questioning and discussing the game there and then. Pep said Lillo was so calm even in the darkest moments, but provided great advice. Pep needs a strong number two right now. Just to be able bounce ideas off and get soundings during the game. Pep just seems to have none of that input and support right now.Pep needs someone next to him to tell him a few home truths, I suspect losing Arteta and Lillo has also had an impact.
Borrell is happy to be a part of the furniture after being everything under the sun since Pep came, Maresca is probably just grateful because he fucked off and then we brought him back.
A combination of circumstances are now having a negative impact, but the league is still there for this season and yesterday's injustice could create the siege mentality we need to fuck off the coasting approach.
The World Cup and sheer intensity of the the last couple of years have already been eluded to by Pep.
However, we have to adapt to Haaland, not the other way around. That's what happens when you buy an elite player off the top shelf.
Our football approach has been sussed, just a surprise it took so long.
We need to be more willing to give up more possession to teams by taking more risks, getting the ball into Haaland far quicker and also hitting the spaces. Let us use more his sheer physicality and pace.
Pep isn't going to do that, but that's what it is going to take. Teams are now able to stay in games.
Whereas before we used to get one and then go for the jugular, we now try to manage the game and we get results like yesterday and against Everton.