Up the Arse! Goons Thread
- Thread starter bok_party
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- Aug 31, 2008
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Just lol at this season. What a complete failure. At least it's over now halfway through it, nice and early like usual, so I don't have to force myself to watch any more games.
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- #6,404
I think it just shows that having possession isn’t what it used to be. Liverpool are flying because they more or less hit on the break fast whereas teams just sit off against us and we just don’t have the firepower to break it down.
Yeah, unfortunately we have a very lethargic attack. None of our forwards (besides Martinelli) are particularly fast, including Saka. This, plus our posession style of football, allows teams to get back and defend en-mass.
The possession style works IF the players take the chances that are being created. The glaring problem is that they are not at the moment, which makes us look even worse.
I'd like us to look at a different profile of winger/foward, forget the technical side, focus more on pace and athletic ability.
Leg speed is not the issue. Our slow play is a function of the players in possession holding the ball too long, rather than taking a chance with a quick pass. Arteta's obsession with control slows the transition and allows the opposition to get back and into shape. We could have a front three of Overmars, Anelka and Walcott and it would not change our play one bit.
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Yes that’s my gut feeling too, this is coaching and instruction more so than lack of leg speed. When Martinelli burst through from the halfway line against Newcastle a few days ago from that quick transition, it stood out so much to me because how rarely we see that from Arsenal. That’s progressively becoming less and less frequent as Arteta’s desire for control has increased in recent years.
This stems largely from that 15 minute period where we had Bayern on toast in the first leg last season. That’s where I think this has come from; and the signing of Merino was informed by that. We lost our shit for that small period over the 180 minute tie and he has now overcorrected since.
Increasingly I see the natural flair and instincts of the players being dialled down and instead possession, tempo, control etc being prioritised. Not necessarily saying that’s a bad thing, if Arsenal finished even half of the ~9 xG created this last week then we’re having a very different conversation right now.
But overall I do see elements like this that I question how far is it going to go. Almost every throw in there’s a glance over to the bench to see if any instruction from Arteta, Jover or Stuivernberg. For me it’s getting too highly choreographed, the football is being stifled and when I start to see that horseshoe of death time and again around the box, it’s too predictable and easy for the opposition to keep us out.
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- #6,409
It’s no surprise Martinelli isn’t what he used to be. He rarely gets it in situations where he can run into space behind or beat someone and burst into the open space.
I’m all for possession but perhaps we need to try a plan B and invite the presses more in our box and hit on the break fast. As you said, Saka and Kai probably aren’t fast enough so the whole forward line is disjointed.
- Feb 13, 2018
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- wombats
Play him as central striker
Like we did with anelka
Couldn't be any worse than what we are doing now
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- #6,411
That changes things again. He’s going to look to run in behind and have to handle two central defenders most of the time. His hold up play probably isn’t there.
I have been curious to see that over the last few years. However it’s in the similar category as the while Zinchenko in midfield thing. If Arteta was going to do it, he would’ve done so by now.
****ing hell. Poor bloke. Having done my acl as well I absolutely winced when it happened and haven’t been able to rewarch it or look at the images since. Awful news.
Signings are irrelevant at this point. The decision to go into the season with a thin squad has ridden those remaining uninjured into the ground. A striker signing doesn’t provide cover for Odegaard who is completely cooked or a right back option in the event Timber is again injured. Martinelli and Havertz continue to start and Trossard remains the only alternative despite their poor form. One addition did little to rectify that.
At this point, they are better off writing off this season and keeping their powder dry for the summer. Overpaying for a band aid at this point is pointless if it impacts a more sensible summer strategy.
At this point, they are better off writing off this season and keeping their powder dry for the summer. Overpaying for a band aid at this point is pointless if it impacts a more sensible summer strategy.
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- #6,416
Looks like we are signing Zubamendi but at the end of the season.
