Arsenal Thread - 2022/23

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BlueAnorak said:
The big problem for Arsenal at the end was they only had one plan for defence, the press. If that fails they are in trouble.
Very good though their press is - it is probably better than ours, but if broken, it is disastrous.
The press also requires an intensity that is very difficult to maintain - especially at the business end of the season. Liverpool have suffered from this problem as well and injuries have badly damaged it's function.
You need plans B and C as well And to transit from one plan to another in the same game.
City brutally exposed Arsenal's press twice in this respect.
At the Emerates City were under the cosh from the superb Arsenal press and City resorted to the targeted long ball up the field to Haaland to knock down to a midfielder OR long raking diaganal passes up field to wide players. The exposed rearguard resulted in Arsenal crumbling. Other teams have recently caused Arsenal problems with a more agricultural version of the long ball. The lesson is there though - the press can be broken.
At the Etihad, City played deeper than usual and simply passed round the press using withdrawn wide players with balls eventually down the channels to Haaland and KDB in the centre. Arsenal were enhilated.
The press is great but you need other plans that are less mentally tough to maintain.
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Think this is a very observant post. I think we are a team still in transition ultimately to the way Arteta wants to play. We want to press well, and have been signing players that allow is to do that, but we are still a bit immobile in midfield. Xhaka had a very good season but you wouldn't say he's a natural presser / ball winner, and Partey for some reason lost all form the last couple of months and looked very leggy at times.

I think that's why we have so much interest in Rice and / or Caceido. These offer slightly better ball winning, more athleticism, and can offer a bit of flexibility tactical wise as well.

Also, losing Saliba made us more vulnerable playing the high line, as the alternatives didn't have any of his recovery pace or composure when having to defend 1 on 1.
 
BlueAnorak said:
The big problem for Arsenal at the end was they only had one plan for defence, the press. If that fails they are in trouble.
Very good though their press is - it is probably better than ours, but if broken, it is disastrous.
The press also requires an intensity that is very difficult to maintain - especially at the business end of the season. Liverpool have suffered from this problem in tgmhe past as well and injuries have badly damaged it's function.
You need plans B and C as well And to transit from one plan to another in the same game.
City brutally exposed Arsenal's press twice in this respect.
At the Emerates City were under the cosh from the superb Arsenal press and City resorted to the targeted long ball up the field to Haaland to knock down to a midfielder OR long raking diaganal passes up field to wide players. The exposed rearguard resulted in Arsenal crumbling. Other teams have recently caused Arsenal problems with a more agricultural version of the long ball. The lesson is there though - the press can be broken.
At the Etihad, City played deeper than usual and simply passed round the press using withdrawn wide players with balls eventually down the channels to Haaland and KDB in the centre. Arsenal were enhilated.
The press is great but you need other plans that are less mentally tough to maintain.
Click to expand...

Agreed. But you said so yourself, you went long because our press was really good. You also surrendered possession in that game, something you would never cede to another team. I think we had 65% possession. When was the last time a Pep team had 35% of the ball?

These anecdotal events are cause for optimism among Arsenal ranks. We know we are still very wet behind the ears. Our key playing personnel are all still quite young and our manager is only into his 4th year as a manager.

We are still cutting our teeth and between another big window and the organic growth from Saka, Martinelli, Odegaard and Saliba, we can be better next season.

This notion that this season was make or break is such a fallacy. Ive read comments on this forum about how Odegaard would be the perfect KDB replacement. Well he is going to be at Arsenal next season too. As will Saka, Martinelli, Saliba & they will be a year older.
 
Wigan_Citizen said:
bitterarse-jpg.79293

Some quite bitter
Click to expand...
My absolute favourite part of that post is the “SuperArsenal1886 | Formerly: ArsenalRDABest” at the top of the post.

Lead with the headline, finish with the prose.
 
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