Morning all.
Arsenal were mugged. Two counter attacks which both came from a misplaced pass in Toots half. Son with a wonderful strike, Kane with a powerful strike to beat Leno at his near post.
The stats will show we bossed the game as far as possession goes, that apart from their two goals we dealt with their attack with ease and we did but that’s about it. But that was probably Mourinho’s plan. His two forwards are clinical in front of goal, when they break they did so at pace and were drilled in defence.
Enough praise. Our football lacked speed, imagination and accuracy with our passing, certainly in and around the box. Clear cut chances were few and far between but when they came, lines and fluffed spring to mind.
For all the prematch talk from Aubameyang, he was yet again poor. Bellerin, Xhaka, Willian were pretty poor too. Lacazette, Tierney, Holding, Saka, Gabriel and Holding at least tried to make something happen, as did Ceballos after replacing Partey but the reality is, no one in the box made the most of any crosses which fell their way. Not that many did. Aubameyang’s pathetic header which flew over the bar, summed his current form up. Summed up Arsenal’s league form too.
Rivalry between the two clubs aside, losing yesterday wouldn’t have been such big deal if it wasn’t another bad day after so many previously. I keep asking myself whether I truly believe a different manager, a more experienced manager would be able to do much better with the players Mikel Arteta has at his disposal. Honestly, I’ve no idea but, what he might do is make different decisions. Not playing Xhaka and Willian for starters, not against a team with pacy forwards who play counter attacking football. Would a different manager opt for injecting pace into his team by selecting different players, younger players? Another question I ask is how long will Mikel Arteta keep faith in the guys who let him down week after week? Is he strong enough to drop his so called big names?
It was no surprise to read ‘Arteta Out’ after the loss, not really, after all, it’s always the manager’s fault. He either plays the wrong team, the wrong tactics or he’s lost the players. Sometimes all three which seems to be the theme right now. But, if one was to read back the comments made here on HH, Bellerin has often been criticised, Xhaka has always been too slow, Willian was a waste of money, Lacazette isn’t good enough and Aubameyang seldom turns up in the big games. Even so, Mikel Arteta, like Unai Emery before him, was/is expected to turn them into something different than many of us have oft suggested they are.
I’ve said before that I couldn’t care less who manages Arsenal, as long as he’s the best for the job but I still maintain that until those mentioned above, plus a few others are long gone, whoever the manager is will struggle. Unless he takes the bull by the horns and drops them for younger and more energetic players. Or in Bellerin’s case, someone older in Cedric.
Yeah, it hurts a lot,” Arteta told Arsenal.com. “Obviously we know what the derby means to all of us, including our fans. We had a great opportunity to put some momentum in. I think the performance overall shows the character that this team has at the moment, the personality that we showed, the way we’ve played, all the situations that we generated. But as well, who we are at the moment – we concede two shots on target and we lost the game.
“I think we had 53 crosses into the box. It’s an incredible number. The situations that we generated were very clear. It was missing that final link, that final touch, that one v one with Auba, that header – I have a lot in my memory. At the end, in the opponents’ box we are not ruthless enough when we had the chances and then we conceded two goals.”
Mikel makes its sound like we played well but I don’t think we did. Yes we had crosses into the box but most were either easily cut out, misplaced or without purpose. Or fell to Aubameyang who looks seriously out of form. Our attacking play in general is slow and lacks imagination. There’s zero cutting edge to Arsenal’s first team.
Aubameyang is taking a lot of stick right now and rightly so but let’s be honest, he’s feeding off scraps. He’s a classy striker who needs the ball played in front of him. He can do what Son did yesterday in the right setup I’m sure. He’s all about pace and finish, not jinking his way through a crowed penalty area. Our counter attacking football isn’t quick enough. Our football in general isn’t quick enough and all the time we fanny around passing, passing and passing, things simply won’t improve.
Mikel Arteta has options. AMN in midfield, Nelson on the wing and even Willock in midfield too. All quicker players who won’t dawdle on the ball. His choice is to use them or not. Yes, the opposition in the Premier League is stronger than in Europa, or should I say, more clever, but these younger guys might just be the ones to save Mikel from the sack.
I’ve moaned enough….
Morning all.
Rico, back to yesterday’s post….
We play fast flowing, energetic football a few days back and when it relay counts, with our most highly paid stars, we are stagnant.
The group trains together, Arteta coaches them the same way so the only difference can be the attitude.
One group is full of kids who love the club and want to represent the Arsenal where the other is happy to check their bank account each month.
Blaming the manager is pretty easy but Auba has scored one goal this season:
He’s had plenty of chances so it’s not fair to blame the strategy.
His jobs is to do one thing and he’s failing dismally.
Play the kids.
Show these upstarts and salary chasers up ffs.
If they can’t handle the hard work and responsibility, then let them go.
Hi Rico and all Rico I would of played the same starting team that we had against rapid we looked more settled and quicker, I just think by dropping Auba it may be the kick start he needs.
how ever I did read that his Manager is blaming Arteta for Auba’s non scoring.
some times I wonder if it the players manager are saying it because that’s what the believe or is he saying on behalf of the player but the player does not get blamed over his comment about the coach.
Morning Campers, we’re all doomed…
Wenger, Emery, Ljungberg and Arteta all share one thing in common, a lot of the present playing staff…
4 managers with 4 different philosophies all getting by and large the same results…
There is a pattern emerging and it’s our footballers and their inability or unwillingness to do what they should be doing viz a viz game management.
Maybe they just aren’t very good?
That’s what I’m saying though Scott, the players Arteta has, those he is selecting just can’t play quick football. Honestly, I think he should ditch one or two for the younger players.
Easy to say though, the Ozil affair still hasn’t gone away.
At least half of that first team aren’t Kev. Not imo.
Kev, too many chase the pay check and that’s all.
Rico, I reckon he should ditch 4-5 :)!
Hi Geoff, certainly one or two of them.
The answer to the question of whether the players are playing for Arteta is quite simple . Some are and some are not. The problem is rooting out the ones that are not , identifying them and subsequently replacing them .
Of the eleven that started on Suday I would suggest that there is a 50/50 split with the jury out on Leno , who I just don’t think is good enough and then there are the squad players that seems to me is split on an age basis.
Did Willian join us for anything other than money ? maybe he came for Edu but I don’t believe his heart is with Arteta . I have doubts on Aubameyang too , Arteta bowed to his desire to play central but it hasn’t worked and now it’s suddenly becoming the managers fault that the tactics don’t suit him.
80 minutes in yesterday 2 nought down and Lacazette ran past Xhaka to put in a tackle saving a shot for a third , you can criticise him for not scoring enough but not his commitment . Xhaka however is somewhat tarred with the same brush as Ozil without the talent , he wants to be the fulcrum but doesn’t want to run back too much and although I don’t often agree or listen too much to the pundits one said that he gets his stupid bookings because he is trying to make it look like he is trying . If that’s the case , he is failing.
Bellerin needs to go , his saving grace was that when he arrived he was quicker than Walcott over 40 yards and that was rapid . His recovery was his best ability. That speed has now gone and he lives on his ability as a normal player which positionally is poor and with Xhaka on a go slow there is the reason why we are so open down our right . If we can find someone to give us a decent fee then he should go whilst he is still in the Spanish squad.
Back up players the kids want it but we need to start respecting their abilities , AMN , Nelson etc are either the future or they are not , we need to find out . Pepe plays better with the reserves than the first team , why is that ? Is something about the first team squad affecting him mentally , is he brow beaten by more experienced players ? Why does he play with freedom on Thursday and then play so badly on Sunday ?
Of the team yesterday I would not weep if 4 of them never played again but I understand that the back up to them is little more or no improvement .
Soares for Bellerin , Runarsson for Leno , Nketiah for Aubameyang , I would put Nelson and AMN in front of Willian and Xhaka.
It couldn’t be worse surely.
Imo, Arteta has to get AMN, Nelson and ESR into the first team. Willock too.
Partey is going to be missing now for a few weeks. Play AMN in midfield with Elneny and or Ceballos. Give him a job and he’ll do it, just like he did with Mahrez a few months ago.
Willock or ESR instead of Willian? In a flash for me. Yes they might make a few errors, but they’ll give more because they are Arsenal boys.
Nelson? Why on earth is he not in the squad?? The Europa League is sorted, he doesn’t need saving for Thursday.
Play Bellerin on Thursday so he can practice his throwins, play Cedric against Burnley.
Stick Auba in against Dundalk. If he can’t score against them, it’ll say everything about his attitude towards Arsenal.
A kind of ‘ditto’ there Potter. Again.
Imo, Auba would also play better with the younger players. The entire approach seems to be different. Their energy, enthusiasm and utter enjoyment playing the game is clear to see.
Good day Rico and all. I must say I am sad.Thomas Partey imo was excellent in the few minutes he played before his injury but big mistake from him limping off the pitch to open up space for their second counter. He should have just lay down on the ground. Falling down because of his injury would have probably call for referee’s attention to stop the play but no! The BIG HEAD limped off!
Bit unkind Twinsy , There is no guarantee that Atkinson would have whistles and stopped it . Probably he would have let the move finish before he looked at Partey as it was not a head injury
Hi Twinsy. Not sure why Partey deserves to be called a big head. We moan when players go over, moan now when they don’t?
Atkinson would probably have played on as he’s not obligated to stop the game.
Morning Rico and All
I must be the only one that thought we played alright,yer we made a couple of mistakes for the goals which were down to leadership,can’t tell you how many times I’ve repeated that on here the last few years.
Micky is now trying to produce goals and forgetting the defense side of the game Micky wants everyone to see him as a Top Coach most explayers are like that,most learn shape and defend first up,Jamie Redknap mentioned the spud flair players are hating this style of play but have bought into Maureen’s vision because of the results.
I don’t remember many wanting Maureen in fact I don’t know many spuds that wanted Maureen.
Auba last season was rated the best striker in the premiership by nearly everyone.now it’s Arry this Arry that.
We put in 53 crosses is that bad coaching?
I’m baffled if that’s bad coaching.
I watched Chavs/Spuds the other week 0-0 nothing happened in the game till the last couple of minutes both scared of losing the Chavs keep 5 at the back Spuds 11 at the back,Micky has played like that and got abuse from our own so called fans who know FA about football history and just instant success.
Going back to the game when will the penny drop with Bellerine,never as I see it,his first choice right back wing back in the years he has been here I can’t remember ever seeing him look behind before going on a mission .
Those spud goals were created by us bombing forward not by any intricate passing from the Spuds.
I’m sure had we had players with leadership instead of chasing the game at 0-0 we would have at very least got a point.
Do we need to blame the ref’s or the referee advisers for players falling over, after all if you stay on your feet you never seem to get paid a free so the player has no option other than go to ground.
Morning Fred. I get the number of crosses into the box is a huge positive but the quality of them weren’t particularly good imo. That’s not down to Arteta, that’s down to the quality of player either delivering it or on the end of it. Toots dealt with everything easily.
There were a few times we had a chance to break fast but we didn’t because again, we were too slow. I don’t think that’s Arteta’s fault either but, the players he’s picking can’t play his way. Or at least that’s how I see it.
Rico The reason I brought up the Chavs/Spuds game was the Spuds Parked the Bus and even with the Chavs huge outlay could not produce nowhere near the amount of attack’s and crosses we had.
Can anyone name a player that was bossy for us yesterday,all I could hear was the Spuds congratulating each other.
That’s like playing against 12 believe me I’ve been there.
Hi Rico,
Hope all well. It’s been a while…
Great Post Rico, with some sound feedback from Potter and Kev which I totally agree with.
I do not understand why Arteta plays Xhaka, he is too cumbersome and gives away silly fouls. Elnenny offers more in terms of energy and positional sense. I would play Maitland Niles too and drop Belerin for Cedric.
As you rightly said, we were mugged off by Maureen.
Good point made Fred.
Hi Marinello, long time indeed. All good thanks, you?
I’m really surprised Atkinson let Xhaka get away with so much yesterday. He really was poor, his ‘tackles’ were dreadful.
All good Rico. I thought Rob Holding did an okay job overall against the Spuds. A good utility player to have I suppose. The matches leading up to Christmas, throws up some interesting encounters, Burnley, Southampton, Everton and Chelsea. All teams,
need the points for their own reasons.
G’day all and thanks for the post Rico.
Xhaka’s tackles were not the best , nor were they in the right places but at least he actually tackled someone. If Bellerin had been in his appointed position he may have got a chance to tackle Son before he could get his shot away, it would probably have resulted in a caution but would have been worth it in the game’s context.
Arteta needs to introduce our fullbacks to the seesaw concept, when one side goes up the other goes down, If the left fullback goes forward the right one drops back and vice versa.
a) Can someone explain to me why Partney played yesterday if he was not fit and why Luiz stayed on the pitch until the break in the game against the Wolves? We played 10.5 half players in both games.
b) 53 crosses … and it could even be 150! When it is not possible to go down a path, the error does not persist (I suppose).
I’ve posted before and write: we don’t have players either tall or physically sized for aerial play in the area. it is the most comfortable situation for the opponent: they are tall, strong and still play facing the ball.
What’s more, they start building the counter attack because they have a chance to prepare the game right away.
Again: Auba and everyone else are in a “cage” with this crossing system on both sides.
The solution is to play in the middle, in depth, on the grass, trying to reposition the defense. There we can have an advantage if we are actually better technically (here I put my doubt if we have players …). And don’t be afraid to shoot!
c) In the Europa League, the teams are different, the defensive attitude is different, the players and the characteristics of the players are different. For example: there is no Bellerin and Thierney and Cedrid and kolasinac do not have the same activity to cross.
Therefore, the game is more “worked” in the center of the field because players like Willock, Smith Rowe, etc. play in depth in the middle.
I see Holding as being Gabriel’s best defensive partner Marinello, certainly until we see what Saliba is about if he stays.
Was it not Bellerin playing the stray pass to begin with though Cicero? He can’t be in two places at one time. Surely it’s up to our midfield players to cover the space he left.
It’s Kane we should have stopped with the ball around the halfway line. No pass to Son, no goal.
Having given the ball away Bellerin should have been “busting a gut” to get back in position not ambling back admiring the view.
JM, what you say makes a great deal of sense.
Jm, Arteta and or the medics must have believed Partey was fit. Hindsight suggests he wasn’t but that can happen. Santi and Bellerin spring to mind.
He was though Cicero.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dY5pFEIf9AQ
Like the Dad’s Army reference Kev, funny enough Aubameyang and Willian remind me of some of them, and Xhaka moves about as fast as private Godfrey.
Seriously we need to get Maitland – Niles and Nelson into the first team ASAP.
I reckon we need to Aubameyang back scoring,he was the reason for Artetas early successes. I’m not sure what’s wrong with him though,I like the idea of playing him against Dundalk, hopefully the kickstart he needs.
We are on course to lose more than 20 games, unthinkable.One thing is for sure, Burnley will be targeting next week’s game.
I read a NN headline which says lose against Burnley and it could be the end of Mikel.
I think that headline is rubbish Rico and we’re going to beat Burnley anyway…
And if, there is any chance that Arteta could be sacked if we did lose to Burnley then I think that Edu should be straight out of the door with him…
As do I Kev, re both.
I watched Burnley play this weekend. They play well from the back good control and quick passing transitions through the midfield.
Their final 3rd is where they seem to get stuck and clearly the reason for their low goal tally.
If they allow us the space on the wings like they did Everton, we can win this one if we can put balls in behind and low crosses and a bit of calm mind in front of goal.
I would drop Xhaka and Bellarin, both are garbage and play anyone else would be an marked improvement.
I would also take the captaincy at the game away from Abu and say he needs to concentrate on scoring goals only, no other distractions. He can stay Club captain but give it to someone that can speak up in the game, I’m leaning towards a Luiz, Elneny or even Lacazette.
I’d drop Bellerin too Brad, play him on Thursday along with a few other underperforming players. Willian and Xhaka that’s for sure.
New post up now