Arsenal (H) - Post Game Thread

[ChicagoBlue]

I’m well aware of our goalkeepers pros and con thanks. I was talking about the back 4 getting their heads up and trying it occasionally instead of playing it along the line and back again.

Quite.

In fact, yesterday Ortega put us under far too much undue pressure at times, esp in the first half, by playing it BACK to Kovacic in the deep LB position with nowhere to go.

As a general rule, if you can’t pass it FORWARD to a player, because everyone is marked, then the long ball to feet, or over the top, to your 6’3” striker seems like a reasonable third, fourth or fifth option!

Arteta was having them set traps, whereby you leave a man “open” but only to the extent that he’s going to be open for a split second and then shutdown. We played into it far too often.

In short, teams know Pep is about finding the spare man and shuffling to create overloads. Knowing this allows a good opposition manager with a good opposition team to create the open man and funnel the ball where THEY want it…which too often was by our corner flag!

 

[Gogootz]

I don't know if it's been said but what pissed me off most was the ref..same at Liverpool couple of seasons ago..he's decided to not referee the game as every other game and decided to not card anybody?? Which leads to letting them off for pulling back ,blatant yellow card. Once he decides he's not doing it then it's open season..
The referees a wanker!!!..

Did the same last season v dippers but changed his mind on how he was reffing the game halfway through after we scored

 

[Chi-town blues]

I’m well aware of our goalkeepers pros and con thanks. I was talking about the back 4 getting their heads up and trying it occasionally instead of playing it along the line and back again.

If you want to play ball and have an impact , it has to come quickly and directly from the keeper and not from the back four. When their back line was pushed higher up the pitch , our back four were occupied , so how can you expect them to kick a long ball to have any positive outcome?

 

[Brightwell Bros.]

Curious what Pep wants for next season.

Buy real fullbacks and continue this 4231 with them overlapping?

He seems to do this to get the most out of Kovacic and Rodri partnership currently. I also think the wingers probably like coming into the half spaces as well for more freedom.

Or go back to last seasons success of Stones into midfield?

With us hardly ever doing this bc Stones is made of Glass.

But Gvardiol is probably our most competent on the ball defender that if he can train to live in a 360 vision environment, he would be class like Stones.

Personally, I dont think im a fan of the fullbacks high and wide approach as they are just their to hold the width, and dont actually offer a threat.

Atleast when we have wingers do it they can still link with the midfielder to form attacking patterns.

The 4231 also only offers 4 true attacking players.

And if Stones isnt fit, I dont see why right now Rodri cant start there and push up next to Kovacic in the interim.

Thats my thoughts on the 2 options, we have control with 4231 but the width is kind of "fake", teams dont fear the CBs in those spots, less attacking players, and its not hard to go back to last seasons approach even if Stones is injured.

The whole story of this season is Pep not quite getting the balance between attack and defence quite right with the injuries and squad he has. Like you say, we spent an attacking player for Kova to come in and looked very comfortable defence wise against a very good attack, but missed that extra body in the final third. I don't think we have the right players for the proper wingback system, and Stones is the only player who can really bridge the midfield and defence.

 

[Keepingthefaithsince1976]

I think some are forgetting that the other big clubs in the league have improved and invested a lot of money. It's not over by a long shot and I'm disappointed we drew yesterday. But I'll keep believing until we can't win it. Arsenal parked the bus for long periods and we were not able to unlock their defence this time. We lacked a little quality with the final ball. Top teams don't become crap overnight.

 

[Big_Alan]

For me when teams defend with all men behind the ball there is no advantage with inverted wingers..get a right footer on the right and a left footer on the left and go at them....I'm not pep by the way so wtf do I know.

 

[eyalluvitt]

But at least he's not a ginger

 

[Fordyboy46]

Can see Wednesday night being exactly the same tbqh if Villa are missing Watkins. They will play it safe and will defend in numbers. We will have to be a whole lot smarter

 

[Grassland Blue]

Stalemate was not only a description of the score but also the best description of the game. It was an absolute snorefest, and I can not see us retaining the title from here. It's just a real lack of quality. Doku was to replace Mahrez, but never in a month of matchdays could he muster or bag a goal like Mahrez did.

Kovacic was to replace Gundogan and frankly offers nothing. I look at Palmer's creativity at Chelsea and shake my head.

Foden is either 9/10 or 5/10, and how you possibly put on Grealish before Bobb! Exactly what does Grealish offer?

Haaland offered nothing and KDB is clearly ageing.

I thought our defence worked well and Rodri and Rico did well too.

I can remember Mahrez getting some stick a few years ago. Too one footed, predictable etc. he even got the nickname ffs, ffs!
Gundogan also got some stick too. The weak link and so on.
Doku will be fine as will Kovacic, in fact Kovacic is settling in very well already imo.
Grealish retains the ball and draws fouls as a result. He's a tough lad and a battler.
Next season I think Foden will play more centrally more of the time, getting ready to take over the reins from Kevin.
Bobb is a tricky player and difficult to dispossess, but he does need to bulk up a bit. He will be a regular starter in a season or two.
As for the P/L title - yes City are the outsider at the moment but spuds and villa will have a say in where it ends up.
It may now be the dippers to lose, but we have to MAKE them win it.
It ain't over 'til it's over....

 

[Franny 1234]

The 1 booking other than that one was also for time wasting. He didn’t book anyone for fouls which was bizarre. We also got away with a blatant booking for similar. Very odd.

He was consistent
Totally shite for either side.