Arsenal (H) | Pre-Match Thread

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Scottish Cityzen said:
Don’t think anyone is saying Rodri is better than Fernandinho, but I would argue strongly against the suggestion that Rodri is ‘regressing’ this season. I thought he was a motm contender along with Eddie against Leeds, and had a good game at Burnley.

He isn’t at Fern’s level yet and might not reach that but as a team last season we weren’t at the same levels of the previous two seasons - that isn’t solely down to Rodri being DM.

Fern did his best at CB back wasn’t as good/effective as he is at DM. No Laporte and Stones/Otters being a shadow of themselves along with LB being a. Instant issue meant that being DM last season was a thankless task.

It’s been a slow start to the season but I’m confident that post international break our squad will be much stronger.

Eddy

Walker
Dias
Laporte
Ake / Mendy

Rodri / Fern
KDB
Bernardo / Gundogan

Sterling
Jesus
Torres / Foden

is a strong side that will have Arsenal worried.

All of a sudden we will back to the good old days of struggling to pick the line-up as there’s so many options.
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Sorry, Rodri is definitely better than Fernandihno.
 
Dax777 said:
Sorry, Rodri is definitely better than Fernandihno.
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Sorry, it was meant as a comparison - Rodri gets grief at the moment as he is not perceived to be as good as Ferny was during the course of 17/18 & 18/19 (big boots to fill obviously).

I think with a bit of patience and the settling of the back 4 his influence will continue to increase.

In the meantime I’m not opposed to Fern and Rodri playing in matches as Fern looks like he has a new lease of life in midfield if he is used sparingly.
 
Dax777 said:
1. Your analysis of last year is incomplete. We gave up the title for many reasons. Rodri probably wasn't a significant one of them.

But even if you think or believe he is not it. The question is still is he better than anyone else we've got at the position? The answer is yes. He is

2. As for the simplistic history of why we capitulated against Wolves. This narrative that we lost the middle after Dihno left is laughable. They were countering us constantly while we held possession all through.

And of our players, Dihno gave up possession often.

On their play that led up to their first penalty, we were running an early press to force them into error. Dihno was the weak link in that press as Mendy dispossed of him with ease and started the attack pushing it to Barnes.

Prior to that attack and penalty. They had gotten behind us 2 in the prior 10 minutes on counters. One from the right and the other from the left.

Dihno's presence or absence had zero effect on their abilities to counter us.

Unfortunately, that didn't stop their counter attacking opportunities. As we at the time were trying to go get a 2nd.
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1. The fact is that Ive never said Rodri isnt relly good enough - he is a good player - I think he is being short sold by the system he is playing in - but Pep aint going to change that so maybe we need someone who fits into the system better - unless Pep keeps going with his double pivot

2. It was the leicester game we fell apart in after Fern was removed

3. Ive never said that Rodri is the main problem - he is PART of the problem at the moment (and as i said its not his fault)

4. Dihno does effect the counter - why do you think countless managers were calling him out ofr tactical fouling 18 months ago - he stops the counter one way or another - Rodri doesnt do that as well

Agree on the press part - but again Rodri is part of that - the first penalty also resulted in a very poor attempt at a tackle by Mahrez - Ive said in other posts our press seems to have disappeared - whether thats deliberate or not I dont know. If we aint pressing then rodir and/or Ferna need to be both more disciplined - Rodri simply cant recver once teams have gone past him - Ferna used to be able to but Im not sure he can at the moment.
Hence the clammer for a midfielder this summer but we are now where we are at and that aint going to change - the problem will get worse if Gundongan gets into that midfield - out of possession at least
 
This game is so fucking far away still ... stupid international break, is always the most boring two weeks!
 
mag said:
Three internationals within next two weeks and then our players return as late as Thursday given some teams playing on Wednesday (including England and Belgium) so we’d have one full day (Friday) to train before playing Arsenal on Saturday ...

I think we’d be the one sending most of our players on international duties if compared to any other squad in the PL and certainly Arsenal.

Someone on Twitter suggested neat timing for “some” key players of other teams that have contracted COVID to rest for two weeks now just in time for international break. Might not be factually correct but how come we never hold any key players back or pull them out of international duty. Every other big club does it so blatantly ... last break that came before season started actually gave injuries to Bernardo Silva and Zinchenko and possibly COVID to Gundogan as well ...

Arsenal game would be the make or break for the season ... drop points there and we’d be double digits away from teams at the top (albeit game in hand but still) ... or it’s a chance to kickstart the season properly and that’s where we get going and these three games have been our kind of an expensive (points wise) pre-season ...

What won’t help though is CL would be starting that very mid-week post Arsenal ... so Pep and players might be slightly distracted by that as well and hope don’t focus too much on that.
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It’s ridiculous international games are still going ahead with everything going on but to be fair we have quite a few players not involved, Laporte Stones, Mendy, Gundagon, Fernandinho, Foded, Sterling, Aguero who will all hopefully be rested & fit for Arsenal & the coming games. Hopefully the internationals give Cancelo, Bernado & Zinicheko the opportunity to get fit as well with them missing most of the games we have already played. Really hoping our season starts properly vs Arsenal & we can start turning the good periods we have shown so far into full 90 minute games.
 
lasereyes said:
See that's a complete non-sequitur. Firstly it supposes Rodri replacing Fernandinho is the only change we've made. Conveniently ignoring injury then departure of Sane; David Silva ageing then departing: Kompany leaving; Stones and Otamendi falling of a cliff; Delph having the season of his life in 2017/18; Bernando's decline last year - jeez that's more than half the team! But secondly, it assumes Fernandinho 2017 was shacked up in Shangri La and is still available to us. Not sure why this is so difficult for some people to grasp.
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No, I haven’t ignored that at all. Just didn’t state it in that post, but I’ve been banging on the ‘bad recruitment’ drum for a month. I realise that Rodri shouldn’t be compared to Fern as they’re completely different types of player, but in our system Fernandinho is more effective at winning the ball and starting attacking moves. It’s just a fact.
 
mancity1 said:
I hope we bring in a quality DM in the summer if not sooner so that Rodri can learn from him and become a better contributor for us when Ferny moves on.
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Douglas Luiz should return when Dihno and Gundo leave at seasons end.

But Rodri is just fine
 
simon23 said:
1. The fact is that Ive never said Rodri isnt relly good enough - he is a good player - I think he is being short sold by the system he is playing in - but Pep aint going to change that so maybe we need someone who fits into the system better - unless Pep keeps going with his double pivot
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Rodri is fine in the system. He is not the issue.
simon23 said:
2. It was the leicester game we fell apart in after Fern was removed
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No we didn't. We were getting countered both when Fern was in and after he left. They just got more penalties after he left and scored more. They could have scored 3 before he sis. And he had Zero effect on those 3. Garcia stopped 2 and Leceiter messed up on their own on the 3rd.

The 4th led to their penalty. On that counter it was Dihno's failure at the press (he got dribbled easily) that started that move.

So Dihno's presence or absence was incidental NOT causal. To the brain farts by individual defenders.
simon23 said:
3. Ive never said that Rodri is the main problem - he is PART of the problem at the moment (and as i said its not his fault)

4. Dihno does effect the counter - why do you think countless managers were calling him out ofr tactical fouling 18 months ago - he stops the counter one way or another - Rodri doesnt do that as well
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Again, I don't know why we are discussing historical Dihno in a discussion about the present season. I'm confused :? He did not have an effect on the counter against Leceiter. That's the point.
simon23 said:
Agree on the press part - but again Rodri is part of that - the first penalty also resulted in a very poor attempt at a tackle by Mahrez - Ive said in other posts our press seems to have disappeared - whether thats deliberate or not I dont know. If we aint pressing then rodir and/or Ferna need to be both more disciplined - Rodri simply cant recver once teams have gone past him - Ferna used to be able to but Im not sure he can at the moment.
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Finally, you are now discussinf present Dihno. I don't think either is fast today. And both have shown a tendency to tire late. Dihno sooner if seems
simon23 said:
Hence the clammer for a midfielder this summer but we are now where we are at and that aint going to change - the problem will get worse if Gundongan gets into that midfield - out of possession at least
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Douglas Luis should return once Ferna and Gunso leave next summer.
 
We need KdB to withdraw really, the only one who has played all the games for us so far and now got 3 internationals coming this week.
 
Dax777 said:
Rodri is fine in the system. He is not the issue.

No we didn't. We were getting countered both when Fern was in and after he left. They just got more penalties after he left and scored more. They could have scored 3 before he sis. And he had Zero effect on those 3. Garcia stopped 2 and Leceiter messed up on their own on the 3rd.

The 4th led to their penalty. On that counter it was Dihno's failure at the press (he got dribbled easily) that started that move.

So Dihno's presence or absence was incidental NOT causal. To the brain farts by individual defenders.

Again, I don't know why we are discussing historical Dihno in a discussion about the present season. I'm confused :? He did not have an effect on the counter against Leceiter. That's the point.

Finally, you are now discussinf present Dihno. I don't think either is fast today. And both have shown a tendency to tire late. Dihno sooner if seems

Douglas Luis should return once Ferna and Gunso leave next summer.
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The reason why we are discussing historical Dihno is because there is very little evidence to say that he couldnt do the job better than Rodri even now. I know the theory is that his legs have gone but Ive not seen evidence of that....not int his seasons games or last season. All Pep has said is that he cant play every 3 games - which is fine and I get - but it deosnt mean in games where he is fit to play that he cant play that number 6 role better than Rodri - certainly the defensive side of the game. He is certainly sharper to the break down than Rodri is and is more mobile than Rodri is even now.

Im sorry but i disagree with you...Rodri (who is a decent player) is part of the issue. His performance levels have dropped below what he was (which maybe can be excused without a preseason) - but he is going to have to pick them back up. I watched him give one terrible crossifeld pass that was easily cut out and he stood with his head in his hands as the opposition countered on us and then couldnt recover......he was also beaten numerous times in the centre of the park and once anyone is passed him (and this has been happening since he arrived) he doesnt recover (a lot like Gundogan)..some of this isnt just recent
 
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