Arsenal Post Match Thread.

[JULES]

I thought it was a brilliant game to watch both sides going for it only poor finishing and bad defending stopped us having a great victory .could watch football like that every day

me too, thoroughly enjoyed the game, cant see what people are complaining about, we were the better side and should have won

 

[blue ranger]

I see there's A LOT of criticism of Pep doing the rounds again this morning. Seems thoroughly misplaced to me. Yesterday was simply more of the same from a collection of players who going back a long way now have found it difficult to impose themselves and play when faced with any resistance. Arsenal didn't even need strong resistance, all they had to do was get hold of the ball for a minute after our 1st goal and we collectively disappeared into our shell. It's such a baffling thing to see. Not one player in the 2nd half played like they had any need to go on and win the match. The pedestrian nature of the passing and movement made the game feel like an exhibition game at times. Like I said, baffling.

One thing though which really stood out for me whilst watching Navas flail and Toure lumber though was this. Compare and contrast. Thiago, Vidal, Xavi Alonso, Philip Lahm, Javi Martinez, Renato Sanches, David Alaba, Josh Kimmich. These are all the midfield options Bayern have to wrestle control of a football match. It's safe to say that putting Toure, Fernandinho, KDB, and Silva next to that list more or less tells it's own story. For all the talent of the latter two, they are beginning to show serious signs that they actually aren't good enough to play as number 8's because they simply can't do the work going back towards their own goal and can't impose themselves on games where they're faced with physical midfielders like the ones Arsenal fielded yesterday or Monaco did the other week.

More open heart surgery on this squad this summer. Lets hope that they finally implant a backbone into the squad whilst they're at it.

Agree to some extent mate. Fernandinho was poor again yesterday, Yaya never got out of first gear when he lumbered onto the pitch and despite an amazing assist KDB again continues to look a shadow of the player he was pre Xmas. But don't agree on the silva front. I thought his work rate was great and he has been right up there this season with our best players. Didn't agree with substitution of Sterling, very strange, and would like to see Aleix Garcia getting some minutes now over Yaya who refused to run yesterday and looked a bit heavy.

 

[slicky202]

I keep reminding myself that we were always going to be treading water this season. Still a lot of old players that need to be moved on eventually. Squad needs 5 or 6 new player between the midfield and defence before we can move forward.

 

[hammocity]

I, like many, am disappointed at the 2nd half and feel deflated by a draw but i'm amazed at the abuse City have got from the first 50 pages of this thread, i dont think we quite warrant that?? have our fans really become that acrimonious?

Agree entirely, I have worked at three companies that were failing and needed attention even though the frailties and weaknesses were obvious it still takes time to time to halt the decline. A lot of posts on here are just plain nasty and unnecessary, slagging Navas off for his performance yesterday is ridiculous, he did his best, put in a shift, he may lack certain attributes but how can anyone slag him off? Penalty against Monreal was warranted, score that and we are in the mix with an outside chance and we are all happy, myself, I'm happy we are fourth, semi of the cup and looking forward to summer!!

 

[City_Sean]

me too, thoroughly enjoyed the game, cant see what people are complaining about, we were the better side and should have won

But we didn't win, and we've slipped up in yet another big game from a winning position. The players didn't look arsed, and to compound it the manager showed a refusal to change it when it was evidence it wasn't working.

It's a poor result, Arsenal were in terrible form, and we've gifted them the slight chance of a top four finish when we should be slamming the door shut on them.

 

[willipp]

me too, thoroughly enjoyed the game, cant see what people are complaining about, we were the better side and should have won

We were the better side and at the same time for me were dreadful for long periods. That's a sign of just how bad Arsenal were and we still didn't win. The worst Arsenal side we will probably ever play in the prem and we threw 2 points away. We were extremely lazy on the ball and the defending for their 2 goals was bloomin awful.

If we'd played even remotely well we'd of hammered that Arsenal side. Play like that against Chelsea and we will lose comfortably.

 

[Bluemanc100]

You clearly don't know anything about Pep with respect to players having opinions He want leaders, intelligent footballers who can recognise situations during the game and adjust things Do you think that for example Phillip Larn wasn't a leader for him? He lauds 4 or 5 of his Munich players for their leadership and intelligence I dont see any leaders of the ability of them in the current squad. Absolute nonsense without any knowledge that you are spouting, you sound like a spoiled child that has had his sweets taken away. Calling Pep an idiot, good grief you need to look in the mirror. With respect to Joe it's clear to a blind man that Joe wasn't a leader shouting "come-on" doesn't make a leader.

He is totally missing leaders because they perhaps don't follow his doctrine... I am starting to believe we will go nowhere under Pep as he thinks that his philosophy is the only one...

He is being found out because our league is totally unlike the ones he is used to

 

[Lovebitesandeveryfing]

What we learnt was what we already know, and have seen umpteen times this season. Virtually the whole defence is absolutely not of the quality that has you challenging for the league,still less the CL. Stones will improve and become a world-class defender for us. The rest must go. Nothing wrong in a major way with either that attack or midfield, especially with the likes of Gundogan and Jesus to come back, and perhaps an addition or two this summer. Defence to be sorted .We know it. Txixi knows it. Pep knows it. The world and his dog know it. Vital for us to get CL qualification to atract the proper players. We're on track.
Given that we didn't play well for long periods of that game, I'll take that point.

 

[flb]

4 transitional seasons on the bounce- is it some sort of premier league record ?

 

[City_Sean]

I see there's A LOT of criticism of Pep doing the rounds again this morning. Seems thoroughly misplaced to me. Yesterday was simply more of the same from a collection of players who going back a long way now have found it difficult to impose themselves and play when faced with any resistance. Arsenal didn't even need strong resistance, all they had to do was get hold of the ball for a minute after our 1st goal and we collectively disappeared into our shell. It's such a baffling thing to see. Not one player in the 2nd half played like they had any need to go on and win the match. The pedestrian nature of the passing and movement made the game feel like an exhibition game at times. Like I said, baffling.

One thing though which really stood out for me whilst watching Navas flail and Toure lumber though was this. Compare and contrast. Thiago, Vidal, Xavi Alonso, Philip Lahm, Javi Martinez, Renato Sanches, David Alaba, Josh Kimmich. These are all the midfield options Bayern have to wrestle control of a football match. It's safe to say that putting Toure, Fernandinho, KDB, and Silva next to that list more or less tells it's own story. For all the talent of the latter two, they are beginning to show serious signs that they actually aren't good enough to play as number 8's because they simply can't do the work going back towards their own goal and can't impose themselves on games where they're faced with physical midfielders like the ones Arsenal fielded yesterday or Monaco did the other week.

More open heart surgery on this squad this summer. Lets hope that they finally implant a backbone into the squad whilst they're at it.

There's been a few things that have irked me with Pep. Firstly it's our lack of any actual style or ideas, we play out from the back, but we don't move or rotate, everything is sideways.

Also, this pressing system that Pep has famously used, where is it? It's absolutely none existent, and if people say we can't utilise it, then improve the players physical attributes so they can. If Yaya can't run, then employ someone who can.

Also, his lack of flexibility during games staggers me. At Bayern he bested us by changing his formation three times during a game, Boateng scored the winner to make it 1-0. At City we've not seen it, it's all very Pellegrini esq.

 

[Lovebitesandeveryfing]

Just a question. I seem to have mis-seen that shout on Monreal on telly. Did the ball hit his arm from the front or the back? Because what I saw was the latter. And if that's the case, then I know that the rules allow for a penalty (by God we've suffered from it ourselves), I still think the rule is daft, and I will never, ever defend it, whether it's in our favour or not. If it hit him from the front, on a rebound, that changes things quite a lot. I havne't been able to see it again, in slo-mo or anything else.

 

[bobmcfc]

I still cannot understand why Navas is playing in defence. Forget aging defenders, forget injuries. Wtf was Navas doing at right back ? Yes he's a grafter but that's about it, he's not a defender.

For me this was an experiment gone too far.

 

[m7mcfc]

Didn't watch the game I was pissed. Are we really that bad? Sometimes I have to give myself a shake and realise we are a top team now. Oh for the days of mediocrity and "We never win at home and we never win away,"

 

[blueinsa]

I still cannot understand why Navas is playing in defence. Forget aging defenders, forget injuries. Wtf was Navas doing at right back ? Yes he's a grafter but that's about it, he's not a defender.

For me this was an experiment gone too far.

He played there because Pep is absolutely desperate as his full backs are a joke right now.

 

[Saddleworth2]

Funny game. We started really well and looked like we were going to blow them away. After the incident when Kev hit the post we seemed to go into our shells. After a good start Kev's radar shut down again and some of his distribution was woeful. He really is an enigma, supremely talented but at times looks worse than ordinary. Clichy let the team down again but let's face it, there are not many options in that area. David looked a bit off colour and when he has a relatively quiet game, we often struggle. Maybe Raheem was still carrying an injury from the internationals because Yaya could have replaced Navas in the second half with Fern moving to fullback. I thought that might have given us more balance although fair play to Jesus he kept Sanchez relatively quiet and could have finished the game with at least one assist. Both teams looked leggy as the match wore on and the last 20 minutes or so were pretty flat. There is no doubt in my mind that Arsenal were there for the taking yesterday and we have to see it as an opportunity missed. What it demonstrated is thT we don't have a squad just now that is good enough to win the Premier League or the Champions league and there is much to be done in the summer which will mean a period of next season bedding in a new defence. I hope Pep extends his contract sooner rather than later as clearly 3 years will not be anywhere near sufficient for him to achieve his stated aims.

 

[Tugay One Cup]

The first half looked like a league game and the second looked like a friendly. Some of the worst passing I have season all season from our guys and some toothless performances from some of the players.

In the context of us drawing with Arsenal, it's not a poor result. However, given the actual quality of that Arsenal team and the way we gave away the lead twice, I was pretty fucking frustrated at how insipid the whole thing was.

 

[Gray]

I don't think Pep is the Messiah he was made out to be but he can not be blamed for the lack of basics the players display when crossing the white line.

Look at Yaya for example, he trotted on never broke a sweat and spent the first ten minutes passing to Arsenal. De Bruyne has been dreadful this season and, apart from the odd world class pass, he goes walk about for large portions of the game. Stirling has forgotten how to take his man on and always bottles a 50/50. Silva was innocuous yesterday and his shooting is abysmal - why doesn't he work on it in training?

You need 10 outfield players who put 100% effort in, something we do not have.

The neutral supporters must love our team though as you always get goalmouth action at both ends and 0-0 draws are few and far between.

 

[Marvin]

I don't think Pep is the Messiah he was made out to be but he can not be blamed for the lack of basics the players display when crossing the white line.

Look at Yaya for example, he trotted on never broke a sweat and spent the first ten minutes passing to Arsenal. De Bruyne has been dreadful this season and, apart from the odd world class pass, he goes walk about for large portions of the game. Stirling has forgotten how to take his man on and always bottles a 50/50. Silva was innocuous yesterday and his shooting is abysmal - why doesn't he work on it in training?

You need 10 outfield players who put 100% effort in, something we do not have.

The neutral supporters must love our team though as you always get goalmouth action at both ends and 0-0 draws are few and far between.

That game was not typical effort wise of City this season. But what I found so disappointing was the motivation to win the game away at Arsenal. Arsenal scrapped and fought whereas we approached it like an end of season game. Had we won that, we could have gone to Chelsea with a small chance of winning the title, but they didn;t seem interested. That's hard to accept. I am hoping that what we saw as laziness was just players off their game.

 

[Gordyola]

He is totally missing leaders because they perhaps don't follow his doctrine... I am starting to believe we will go nowhere under Pep as he thinks that his philosophy is the only one...

He is being found out because our league is totally unlike the ones he is used to

Found out? Please explain! With a squad that has under performed for a number of seasons he has over achieved with it this season, do you really believe that with any other manager we would be in a better place? With the previous manager we would be in serious trouble and not looking forward to a FAC semi

 

[BillyShears]

There's been a few things that have irked me with Pep. Firstly it's our lack of any actual style or ideas, we play out from the back, but we don't move or rotate, everything is sideways.

Also, this pressing system that Pep has famously used, where is it? It's absolutely none existent, and if people say we can't utilise it, then improve the players physical attributes so they can. If Yaya can't run, then employ someone who can.

Also, his lack of flexibility during games staggers me. At Bayern he bested us by changing his formation three times during a game, Boateng scored the winner to make it 1-0. At City we've not seen it, it's all very Pellegrini esq.

I think everything you allude to flows back to the lack of key components in terms of playing staff. You can't have a high pressing system with four of your back five being slow, old, and a bit shit. You can't have a high pressing midfield with two of the three regularly being over 30 year's old. You can't have tactical flexibility when your options from the bench are Fernando, Delph, Kompany, etc.

It's hard not to feel like yesterday was entirely down to the players. They came up against a brittle Arsenal team, played at high level for fifteen minutes and scored a goal, then literally just stopped playing.