Afternoon all.
A game of two halves it seemed but thanks to goals from Eddie Nketiah and Bukayo Saka, we finished off with three points which is what matters most. The first half was good, the second, not so much but we’ll get better I’m sure.
Thomas Partey, instrumental in everything which had been good about Arsenal’s football last season was moved to right back. In my opinion, a bonkers decision and one which was unnecessary. When he’s fit and firing, he’s one of the best in the game but not as a right back. I thought the days of moving players around just so another could be accommodated were over.
I don’t understand why Gabriel didn’t start with Ben White and Jurrien Timber either side of he and William Saliba. I know many of us want to see more rotation from Mikel Arteta this season but game one?
This summer was about adding squad depth so that Arteta could turn to his bench and see real options. Not just a player making up the numbers or someone he clearly does have much faith in but proper options. Those options yesterday were Jorginho, Trossard, ESR, Tomiyasu, Gabriel, Nelson, Kiwior and Vieira. He used three, one of which was forced because of the injury to Timber yet when things got tricky in the second half, would an experienced and street wise Jorginho not have helped steady the ship? Gabriel replaced Martinelli on 86 minutes, Trossard replaced Nketiah on 72. The only positive change, or perhaps proactive is a better word, I think was Trossard coming on, in fact I don’t understand why he’s not starting games because he’s been so good for Arsenal.
Just because a new signing has cost £60 odd million or £100 odd million, it doesn’t mean their place in the starting eleven is guaranteed surely? I bet Ramsdale is glad Raya wasn’t signed in time for yesterday’s game as he too might have found himself benched.
I know it’s easy to be critical after a game just as it’s easy to sit behind a keyboard and made one suggestion after another but it we didn’t, there’d be little to talk about. Yes, we won the game but I think we, or rather Arteta and the players are more than capable of winning in a better way. When we’re on top of an opposition as we were yesterday, as a team, we have to be putting the game and result out of reach. Nottingham Forest we’re given an opening and in my opinion, had they scored a second goal, Arteta and his players would have only themselves to blame.
But, it was game one and as said, we ended up with all three points. Players should get sharper over the next few weeks and we’ll start taking more of the scoring opportunities we create as well as tightening up in other areas of the pitch. Hopefully we’ll move the ball around a bit quicker too because dawdling on the ball will only slow our game down and/or allow the opposition time to regroup.
Crystal Palace next at Selhurst Park.
Afternoon Rico and all.
It’s going to be interesting to see what changes Arteta makes for Crystal Palace, I reckon he is still working out we’re the best position is for the new players. Still have a few concerns we’re our goals are going to come from.
Afternoon Geoff, I think goals will come when/if our creativity improves. Speed is of the essence I think, quicken up our play..
I still can’t understand Arteta’s selection criteria. Last season he made very few unforced changes to the starting eleven and for much of the time he was quite successful, only when Saliba got injured did he tinker a little. Yesterday, for no apparent reason, he broke up his strongest back four, dropping Gabriel and moving White into his place and putting Partey at right back add to this Timber was asked to play at left back so we had a very unfamiliar defensive line-up which was horribly exposed for Forest’s goal.
Can anyone see the logic in that?
Rico, from your last post. I appreciate your humor, “offense taken.” That’s good.
Not me Cicero, not at all.
Glad you spotted it Obi. Lol
Maybe Arteta is not sure were to play the new signings.
Looks like Caicedo is heading to Chelsea for up to £115m,at least it means Declan Rice’s British Record didn’t last long.
With regards to Saturdays game,it felt like Arteta was determined to fit Havertz in.
Not only did it mean Partey at right back(ludicrous) it also meant Ben White was moved to centre back – he has been outstanding at right back for most of the past 2 years.
Noticeable that they scored from our corner where most of our defence was in their penalty area , we have fallen foul of the breakaway goal for a long time , it’s where you miss a dedicated defender like Tierney or Gabriel who might of been more aware of the scorer crossing over on his blind side.
Same old when we lose possession in the opposition box…..
New post up now.