Unpredictable, or costly?

Morning all.

After the 2-2 draw at home to Fulham, Mikel Arteta said:

Well, obviously within the first minute you made the mistake that we made and you just give a goal to the opponent, the game becomes much more difficult. The reaction straight after that even in the first half with the amount of situations and chances we created, we didn’t give anything away, we controlled the game for full periods but we didn’t score the goal and in the second half we made some changes. The dynamic changed and we had better relationships, I think the subs made a huge difference and great impact and I loved their determination and the confidence that they brought to the team. We went 2-1 up and then you have to defend the box with your life and you cannot concede that goal after that we’ve done because we should have scored five, six, seven, I don’t know.

Last season, certainly between August and December, our defending was very very good. White, Saliba, Gabriel and Zinchenko. Admittedly, Zinchenko is only just returning to full fitness but the club has just let our best out and out left back leave on loan, knowing full well Timber has been ruled out for much of the season and both Zinchenko and Tomiyasu have fitness issues. White at right back was superb for most of last season as was his on field relationship with Saka. Xhaka had the season of his life and whilst I know he’s made the right move, what he was able to do on the left has gone with him to Germany. Perhaps in time, Martinelli and Havertz will work as well together but for now, they look a bit muddled.

I’ve made no secret of the fact that good or bad as you or I might think Partey is at right back, he’s a better midfielder. Like Havertz and Martinelli, Saka and Partey are yet to gel in a way the two Englishman did.

We could have scored five, six or seven goals Mikel said but the reality is, we didn’t and seldom do despite the opportunities he, or even we, think we’ve created. Is Mikel really saying that those players who these vast number of opportunities fall too, are not playing well right now? The most natural goal scorer in the squad didn’t even start. Rotation rotation, of course we all wanted to see more of that this season but in week 3?

Personally, I think too many changes at once has been made and it’s not quite working. I know any change needs time to settle but at what cost might this come. I know it’s only two points dropped but we were at home against Fulham. Fulham who we not only allowed to score within a minute but allowed their ten men to equalise towards the end of the game whereas last weekend, we defended so so well with ten men to ensure we kept hold of the three points against Palace.

I know it sounds like I’m moaning etc but I’m not, not really, I’m just making an observation and trying to understand why, when team looked so good pre injuries last season, has Mikel Arteta made so many changes.

Catch up in the comments.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

54 thoughts on “Unpredictable, or costly?

  1. JGF says:

    Kind of agree. But because of the partial rebuild and revolution in tactics, Arteta has to experiment a bit. Were the goals because of the new formation or down to individual errors. I think the latter. Anyway we need to get behind the team and not scapegoat individuals like Havertz. They all need our support.

  2. Cicero says:

    I hope you don’t mind Rico, but I’ve cut and pasted my comment from a few minutes ago on the previous post. I think it fits in with your own thoughts.

    I’ve just watched the Sky highlights from yesterday’s game.

    Two things are instantly obvious, Arteta’s pick-and-mix approach to our defence is causing total confusion in the back four? five? three? He should revert to playing what was our strongest and most effective combination last season. White, Saliba, Gabriel and, when fit, Zinchenko. The other problem is “over passing”, the more passes our side make the more chance there is for the opposition to intercept them or for them to go astray, witness Saka’s gift for Fulham’s first goal, the further forward we are when passing opens up acres of space for the opposition to run into when they snatch the ball. It seems to be a tradition for Arsenal teams, regardless of manager/coach, to be caught out by break-away goals.

    NB, Trossard is not a number nine! Nor is Havertz. Nor is Martinelli. Nor is Jesus. The latter was only on the pitch for a very short time, he did not appear in any of the highlights and, as far as I can make out, his only contribution was to be caught off-side.

    Arteta needs to sort out his thinking before United rock up at The Emirates next Sunday or we will go into the International break in disarray.

  3. Aussie Geoff says:

    Afternoon Rico and all.
    If Arteta listen to his own words, we could have scored 4-5-6 or more goals then he must recognize that we need a true goal scorer, also he needs to speak to Ramsdale about wondering too far from the goals.

  4. rico says:

    Jgf, I too see little point in blaming individuals because ultimately, there’s only one man who picks the team. Havertz has been disappointing though..

  5. Joaquim Moreira says:

    Arteta does not justify why, winning 2-1, playing at home, on top of the game on the scoreboard and emotionally, with substitutions to be made, near the end of the game, the team retreated so much and made the opponent bigger.
    The team doesn’t work. Both wingers have little support; Odgaard can only play with Saka, the defense trembles on all sides. Partney, of course, flees to the center of the field. Teams like Villa, neighbors and others are outplaying Arsenal.
    For me, it was 2 points dropeed. But Fulham deserved them.

  6. potter says:

    Ramsdale is requested to be so far out because of the pattern of our play . Effectively he is required to be the sweeper as the team is asked to press high up the pitch.
    I agree with Cicero in regard to the passing , we do over do it and often seem to prefer to go square rather than get past the back line. We seem to break fast and then when the elastic gets taut we stop and go inside
    Last season we played with White overlapping Saka and Zinchenko supporting Martinelli , Yesterday neither Partey or Kiwior were capable of doing that so we became very predictable until the subs when Vieira bless him ran past them first for the penalty and then crossed the ball for Nketiah.
    Another bug bear of mine is the number of times that Saka , Odegaard and Martinelli do the cut in from wide and go for the bend into the far post top corner instead of looking for a player in space in the box.

  7. rico says:

    “Another bug bear of mine is the number of times that Saka , Odegaard and Martinelli do the cut in from wide and go for the bend into the far post top corner instead of looking for a player in space in the box.”

    Wholeheartedly agree, for a team aiming for unpredictability, our attacking play is somewhat predictable.

  8. Cicero says:

    I’ve just been watching Sheffield United / City. The only excitement was seeing Haarland hit the post with a penalty The rest is just endless City passing in and around the Sheffield defenders. Probably even more boring than the Dutch Grand Prix in which Red Bull and Verstappen are so far ahead of the rest of the teams that the only prize left is to get third on the podium.

  9. rico says:

    City bore me to tears, how I miss the early years of AW’s exciting, quick and powerful football.

    I’m watching the 💯 finals..

  10. Cicero says:

    In the last two games Martinelli has shown his frustration with just what you are saying Rico unfortunately, he is just as guilty as the other two. Because we don’t have a true number nine there’s no point in putting high crosses in, so they either have to put in low crosses or take on dodgy shots.

  11. potter says:

    According to Arteta’s interview with the BBC, “we have improved dramatically since last season..and were ten times better than last year . Watching a different game to me. So far this season I have seen no improvement , rather the opposite.

  12. rico says:

    Agree Cicero. Saka the same to a degree. I don’t understand not having a focal point striker. It’s the best plan b surely. Not a bad plan a either.

  13. rico says:

    Thought the same when I read his comment Potter. I’ve seen zero improvement on last season, unless he’s talking about the post Saliba injury form.

  14. Cicero says:

    Newcastle/Liverpool is tasty Van Dyke off straight red. Alexander Arnold lucky to get only one yellow, it should be two. 44 mins 1 – 0

  15. Joaquim Moreira says:

    And Newcastle play more than Arsenal.
    Nobody agrees with the change of full backs, with the changes in the team and with Harvartz.

  16. potter says:

    Kieran Tierney has joined LaLiga side Real Sociedad on loan for the 2023/24 season.
    That’s one alternative gone.

  17. Cicero says:

    We have the least goals for (5) in the top six and we are bottom of the top five on goal difference (2).

  18. Joaquim Moreira says:

    A clinical finisher, a rigth full back, and a left full back?
    Xhaka is missed..
    Real Sociedad is in the Champions League

  19. Cicero says:

    Good morning all.

    There’s a distinct lack of understanding on the left of our attack. In three matches we have started with three different left backs. Timber, who got injured, Tomiyasu who was sent off and Kiwior who was subbed. Because of this Martinelli is not getting the sort of service that Tierney used to provide and Havertz has yet to link effectively with our Brazilian winger and, truth be told Havertz in no Xhaka….yet.

    Maybe when Zinchenko reaches full fitness, and I’m not holding my breath, the link between him, Havertz and Martinelli can be established. At that time, hopefully, White can return to right back, giving Saka the back-up he needs, Saliba to the right side of the back row alongside Gabriel and Partey can return to midfield…or the bench.

    Arteta has a decision to make prior to Sunday, does he play Kiwior on the left and stick with Partey on the right or take a chance with Zinchenko.

  20. Marinello says:

    Good post Rico. Hope you are keeping well.
    Playing Partey at right back does not work. It’s a waste of his talent. Havertz seems low on self confidence. The long pass from Rice to him was straight away returned back instead of going fotmrwards. Need Gabriel back in defence against United and Partey back in midfield. I know it’s only 3 games in, but it’s important not to lose momentum.

  21. Aussie Geoff says:

    I would like to see ESR given a chance sometime as he likes attacking the goal more than running the other way

  22. Cicero says:

    Guendouzi to join Lazio for £15.5 million, due to a sell on clause Arsenal should receive £2.3 million. Arsenal have already banked £2 million for he same reason when Mavropanus left Stuttgart for West Ham.

  23. potter says:

    And finally Chelsea are coming in for Smith-Rowe and I have to that I would not blame him . It would break me if he left though as I have followed him from a kid and always thought that he was the best of all our Hale End prospects.

  24. Aussie Geoff says:

    Potter I agree, loosing ESR would be a shame but if I was in his shoe’s and Chelsea come running I would take the offer if it meant playing more games.
    Hopefully we can move on some players like Pepe and Lakonga,

  25. rico says:

    Morning all.

    I’ll be really disappointed if ESR is sold. Saying that, if I was left out for a terrible Havertz right now, I’d think about leaving too. But not for Chelsea.

    I did Geoff but unfortunately, came back the following morning. All I’ll say is the place we booked, wasn’t what it said on the tin…

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