Morning all.
When a striker misses what for him is a sitter, it’s human nature to think someone else would have taken the chance to open the scoring. If Eddie missed one, Pepe would have scored it, had Pepe missed a sitter, Lacazette would have buried it and if Lacazette missed his, of course, Aubameyang would have scored because he’s our main man. Well, he missed it, in fact had he have packed his shooting boots, he’d have walked off the pitch in Rome with another ball to take home to his kids.
Benfica’s goal was gifted to them. Firstly, we should have cleared the ball instead of faffing around which resulted in losing possession. In cam the cross, ESR hand balled it and the rest of that little sequence of events ended with us going a goal down. A totally undeserved lead for Benfica. A great response though and in quick time when Ceballos played a quick long ball into the path of Saka. He in turn found Ødegaard who passed through the defence to Cedric. The ball into the box from our makeshift left back was perfect for Saka to make no mistake. 1-1 and that’s how it remained.
Honestly, we should have won the game with ease but I think that’s this Arsenal team all over. There’s something lacking and it’s not in our defending. The attacking unit doesn’t seem to be clicking yet we have super players in Saka, ESR and I would add Ødegaard because when he’s on the ball, he looks to do something positive with it. All three do but others around them just don’t seem to be on the same wavelength. Speed seems to seldom be of the essence and of course, hesitation allows an opposing defence to regroup. Benfica dealt with most of what we tried with ease. When we did get through, up went the offside flag. Or we couldn’t finish.
I’d imagine Mikel Arteta and his players feel disappointed this morning as we all do because we had the opportunity to come back to London with two or three away goals in the bank but instead we have just one. Still, unless Jesus was playing a tactical game last night knowing that in Athens, his team will be much more adventurous, the chance of us progressing is far from over. Benfica need an away goal to cancel out ours so all Arsenal need to do is keep a clean sheet and it’ll be job done. Kieran Tierney should start and with a bit of luck, Thomas Partey will be fit too because he makes a huge difference to our midfield.
To end. What a moment of madness and utter stupidity from Granit Xhaka just before halftime. What he was thinking I don’t know. But, what a great tackle he made in the penalty box too to deny Benfica. A sliding tackle, perfectly time and perfectly executed.
Man City next, a nice easy one.
See you in the comments.
Morning Rico and all.
Yes, we are definitely more solid at the back, generally speaking, and we seem to be creating our share of chances so hopefully that continues, our strikers find their range and we can finish off the season in good shape, all things considered
That’s the Arsenal for you. One step forward and another backwards . As supporters we don’t have a clue what will happen next and I suspect neither do the team or the manager . We must be difficult to set up against . Or are we ?
If I were playing against us I would make sure that we get forced to play a narrow game meaning that Xhaka sees most of the ball and I would play tp push as into the middle and compress our space so that we are forced to keep possession by playing short passes and make sure that they are sideways or back.
Achieve that and we are nullified going forward , Xhaka will never take a player on if there is a pass available and consequently it goes short . If we get a player making a forward run , by the time it arrives he is usually just offside .
Last night it happened to ESR a few times , he laid it off ran for a return and it went sideways. It gets so compact that when we do try to release forward it’s either a hopeful punt over the top from Luiz or else a needle threading exercise when the defence is back and organised.
To sum up , we need to move the ball quicker from back to front . There is no point in fullbacks charging over the halfway line if they stop and play it inside because the momentum is lost and so is the danger.
Morning Scott, Potter, all.
Staying onside would help.
Seriously though, Mikel Arteta could do with ramping up the transition speed and movement. When Arsenal were at their best under AW, it was the speed in which we changed defence to attack which undid sides. Possibly much of the reason Leicester won the league too. Speed.
All the time we are slow in the build off, we’re easy to defend. Imo of course.
Absolutely agree re ESR last night Potter, Saka does the same but others aren’t spotting their move or are simply ignoring them. Bellerin was often in acres of space yesterday but there we were, faffing around in the middle with the ball and missed the opportunity.
Also, how long it take for the Arsenal player to realise Ødegaard was playing?
Has Lacazette done something wrong I wonder?
I still maintain that we are a more balanced attack with Lacazette than Aubameyang . We all appreciate the need for other players to score goals and it’s my belief that they are more likely to do that with Laca than Auba.
I am sure that Martinelli ( if he ever gets on ) Pepe , Tierney and ESR play better when he is there ,as he distributes the ball to their runs . he may not be as potent a focal spearhead but I see the team progressing more with him than relying on Auba to pop up with goals on his own.
Which brings us to Saka , we should enjoy him whilst we can because one day and I don’t think it will be too long before an offer that they wont refuse lands on our doorstep.
Hi Rico.. I’m glad we came away with an away goal, as at one point I didn’t think we were ever going to score!! Auba’s performance was so unexpected after Sunday ☹
Starboy Saka did it again – is it possible to love him even more than we do already?!
I won’t lie, I’m really disappointed, I thought we’d win.. but as you say, it all comes down to next week now – I don’t like it when the pressure’s on 🙈 At least we won’t be wearing that horrible blue kit. I almost dislike it as much as that ghastly green kit a few seasons ago – we were always crap in it!!
I was very impressed with Dani and Martin and if there’s a chance of making either of them permanent, we should be all over it!!
Love ESR, he was everywhere!! Still can’t stand Vertonghen 😆
Looking forward to Sunday… yes really 😂
Agree re Lacazette. He and the younger guys are a much better unit than when Auba plays.
Wasn’t he a big part of our improved run after Boxing Day? Strange how quickly he seems to have been cast aside.
Hi Sue. Auba was a massive disappointment yet again. I’m looking forward to the City game too. I reckon we’ll win 😉😉
Steady on, Rico 🤣 I do think we’ll score though..
At least we got the away goal. A 0-0 draw next week will see us through, thanks to the bizarre and outdated away goals rule. A high risk strategy though, knowing Arsenal we will concede in the first 5 minutes.
It will be interesting to see Sunday’s team, Tierney, Holding, Lacazette, Pepe will make the team stronger anyway.
Can’t think Luiz will start three in a row at his age. Lol So yep, hopefully Holding will be back Limey.
Any news on Partey going around?
I’m a glass half full kinda girl Sue. 😝
https://fernandoamaralfc.blogspot.com/2021/02/o-dia-em-que-o-pequeno-luton-town.html
For those who want to remember some Arsenal players and a disappointment ..
How tall is Balogun?
play well in aerial game?
With these super-closed teams, without a player playing head on, impose themselves in the area, which allows for several solutions in the sense of playing at both ends, crossing in various ways, playing in the middle to be able to “unbalance” and relocate the defense, it becomes very difficult. As an alternative, just playing on short and fast tables, turns out to be a solution with little success.
5’ 10” at the last look Jm
Afternoon Rico and the House
I posted a comment on yesterdays post.
something like this.
The u232s are at home this evening to the high and mighty ManCs
They are top of league and scoring plenty of goals.
they are exoected to win.
Hope Bouldy has a strong team.
Afternoon Rick, should be a good test. Is it being shown anywhere?
Nelson in the side tonight.
No Balogun
1,78 m …. Get him to play!
H/T one down.
Score Delap son of the long throw merchant.
The goal came from a bad Arsenal throw
Nelson is playind and having a good game,pity other forwards are not very good .
Where’s Balogun?
Wonder if he’s in the squad on Sunday.
Finished 2-0 Both goals Delap.
City very dominate 2nd half and the final score could have been much more.
Our G/K Okwanko was outstanding made some fantastic saves.
This guy is going to be good.
Rico I have just read Jeorge Birds report of the game.
I think it is one of his best and backs my comments on Okonkwo .
He even spelt his name right.
Well writen Jeorge.
I hope I have too Rick. Lol
Hi Rick, what’s the background of Okwanko?
I’ve only recently heard of him…
Morning all.
New post up.
https://highbury-house.com/2021/02/20/big-arsenal-talking-point/
Google playing games again, stupid idiots, thanks for the link Rico, I didn’t need it yesterday but today it’s having another moment… ☹️