I watched back our goals for the season so far. Nketiah’s movement is really the next rotation option we have to try to get the team going again. Laca just isn’t dynamic enough in the box, he’s too easy to mark out of a game. Also, Pepe really does have a knack of goal involvements with his elements of crazy. If he won’t trust Nuno back at LB then Saka going back wouldn’t be the worst idea. Cedric could be more conservative and provide counter balance to Saka & the LM causing havoc.
Eish, it’s hard to recognise this team at the moment. Like how were they blowing teams off the park and defensively so sound only a while ago. Now look like they are just meeting each other. Good idea to start Eddie. But he hasn’t made it work yet.
We had a rich run of form where everything was coming up roses, now it's the opposite. In our last 3 matches so many of the goals we're conceded are lumped 3rd/4th phase crosses "back in the mixer" which we've been unlucky to clear and players like Bednarek hit the finish of their career, and of course keepers like Forster having their best performance of the season.
Not to say we're not at fault, it's just the nature of the game some times.
Glad Nuno got a start and thought he did well, but man do we need to be faster with our interplay in the final third if we want to break down these low blocks set for us.
to be fair we havent really had a goalscorer this entire season. When ESR is your leading goal scorer and he's coming off the bench as an impact player questions have to be asked. We need to goalscoring front men minimum over summer. At this rate we'll be lucky to manage 4th.
Yeah we definitely need two strikers. Wouldn’t mind getting someone like Ivan Toney with PL experience and hustle, and young and upcoming talent like Isak.
4th is gone but what league placings get the other European slots again? Europa at least must be in doubt by now too. 4th was always going to be a tough ask especially without a centre forward but dropping out of the top 6 from the position we were in would have to be seen as a major disaster.
I’ve been thinking about the non-signing in January and I reckon it was still the right move. The club appears to be taking a bold approach, spending within their limits and building a long term squad. The chance to have a crack at the CL places was on, but theyve shown real commitment to the long term but not pushing for it. As fans it’s a tough pill to swallow, but if the result is a more comprehensive and well put together squad next season and some form of European mid week action I think we’re still better off than if we had spent outside our means and got players who didn’t fit the plans at inflated prices.
Hopefully we see Mikel try re-energise the team a bit, maybe the Pepe or Martinelli at 9 experiment needs a crack, or reverting to a 3-4-3.
I like Ivan Toney. Wouldn't be the worst signing for next season if we didn't get champs league and so couldn't attract the bigger names. Our attacking play comes not from the front man, he's just a cog in the wheel, we don't need a Lewandoski up there, a Firmino type would work just fine. It's a pity Laca hasn't been better. He does seem to fit the bill, but just doesn't deliver in the critical moments we really need him. I don't think keeping Aubameyang would have done us any favours though, he doesn't offer enough in the rest of his game. I'm happy to see him do well at Barca and am very thankful for all his goals during a tough period for our club, but he wasn't the one for us to move forward with under Arteta.
For all the shade Xhaka gets I hoped that dribble past Lukaku and nutmeg on Alonso in his own box is immortalised as a gif searchable only as "madness".
Huge result and so unexpected given recent form. Brilliant performance from Nketiah, by far his best for Arsenal. What a difference it makes having a centre forward who wants to get in the box and hassle defenders into mistakes. Actually, just what a difference it makes playing with a centre forward. Thought Holding was very solid too. He's played well when he's had a chance this season and maybe been unlucky not to have played more. Proper defender and if you look back at our biggest results over the last 5 years (think Cup finals, Community Shields, wins over big teams in the league) you'll usually find he's been in the side.
I felt the performance was largely similar to the previous three games. Difference this time was Nketiah nabbing his two goals, both basically out of nothing. Shoe had been on the other foot in the previous games, with the opposition being very clinical, and us not being clinical at all. Interesting to see a drastic formation change from Arteta, Saka at RWB and a back 3. Worked ok, but I'm not sold on it for any stretch of time, and wouldn't be rolling it out against ManU in the weekend. Boy Tavares does my head in. Basically never stops any crosses coming in from his side, and never stops his man from getting to it when it gets crossed from the other side. We miss Tierney so badly. Are any of Tierney, Tomiyasu or Partey due back before the end of the season? We are really going to struggle without them if not. I felt that this morning papered over some serious deficiencies in our game at the moment, largely thanks to them being missing. We are a far better side with them in it, rather than the likes of Tavares and Elneny. Still, a wonderful and unexpected win, that gives us a real sniff at 4th again. We must beat ManU at home in the next game to give ourselves that shot though. Whenever we actually expect to beat them, we sh*t the bed, this fixture has been such a disappointment for the most part in recent seasons. It's a huge game in front of our home fans, we need to show up big time and batter that rabble.
Would also add I felt Elneny had a very solid game too, seemed to be in position to make a number of key interceptions and blocks. Few squad players out there today perhaps showing they should have been used a bit more at times.
Looking at the goals again that's an excellent composed and clinical finish from Nketiah for the first. Lacazette rushes it and puts it wide or straight into the keeper's legs there.
yeah, would have been interesting to see if Laca would have even been able to get involved both of Nketiah's goals given his current form, regardless of what happens with either of these two the only striking player I see staying at the club is Martinelli
Carried Saka and Smith Rowe in my fantasy team for weeks. Decided that on double game weeks and form would drop them and only retain Ben White…good grief
Carried Saka and Smith Rowe in my fantasy team for weeks. Decided that on double game weeks and form would drop them and only retain Ben White…good grief
Oh mate, you've been shafted there something chronic!
Carried Saka and Smith Rowe in my fantasy team for weeks. Decided that on double game weeks and form would drop them and only retain Ben White…good grief
Oh mate, you've been shafted there something chronic!
Then you get to the paranoid state where you think they wouldn’t have had a good game if you hadn’t dropped them…
if you hadn’t made that change Arteta is staring Xhaka at LB TBFmartinb
brumbys
martinb
Carried Saka and Smith Rowe in my fantasy team for weeks. Decided that on double game weeks and form would drop them and only retain Ben White…good grief
Oh mate, you've been shafted there something chronic!
Then you get to the paranoid state where you think they wouldn’t have had a good game if you hadn’t dropped them…
Obviously the greatest of sympathy for what Ronaldo has gone through but was really hoping he'd still be missing tonight. You can already see the headlines.
bizarre situation of Nketiah's goal being wiped by VAR only to have a pen review for the same play. Saka to step up to take it! and he drills it passed De Gea 2-0
