Chelsea’s run came crashing to an end at Wembley as a rampant Spurs picked them apart and showed that if you stop Jorginho, you stop all the good things Sarri has to offer.
That puts today’s game in an exciting light. Win, and we’ll close the gap on 4th to one point. Lose, and we’ll bring Bournemouth to within a point of our Europa League 5th place. A lot rides on this result, the most important item being confidence heading into a really tough period.
We’ve had one win in five, which isn’t ideal. Our last league win was October 22nd. This becomes a minor blip in the season, or it becomes a very big problem if the game goes badly today.
I’ll be looking for a few things today, knowing Emery has likely been holed up in a video room for 2 weeks working out a plan of action for phase four of the season.
Balance:
He’s going to have to work out how he can find more balance in the team. Our midfield base of Xhaka and Torriera isn’t offering enough protection for the back 4 and going forward, our Ozil experiment isn’t returning a bundle of assists. The coach is going to have to make a decision. He doesn’t get enough from Ozil defensively to keep rolling with what he’s doing.
Does he switch things up and try Mikhi in a more modern #10 role? Arguably his best season in a Dortmund shirt came under Thomas Tuchel who played him centrally or on the left. He’s naturally a #10 by trade. I remember being told years ago that the thing Arsenal like most about his game was how industrious he was. A relentless attacking talent that could open up matches like a chess player. Is he as good as Mesut Ozil at threading passes? No. But could he give us more balance in midfield if he could do 100% more than Mesut defending, and 70% of what he can moving forward? Is that a sacrifice that could help us find more rhythm moving forward?
We’re running extremely low on options…
Starting 11:
We’ve been appalling in nearly every opening 45 this season. That has to stop. We aren’t going to be able to chase game forever. We need to play more cautiously in the opening 20 minutes, or we need to find our game quicker. Bournemouth are likely going to explode at us this morning, if we haven’t picked the right starting 11, we’re going to pay a painful price. I don’t know the answer to finding focus early on, but we all know it’s an issue, hopefully, the coach has a plan.
Strikers:
Auba and Lacazette both have exceptional individual talents, but playing one of them out of position isn’t really working. Do we lean in hard at working out a two-striker system? Or do we search for a better way to achieve width? We have a bit of a nightmare with the two of them. One can’t hold up the play and is best as a fox in box or over the top. The other is great at holding up the ball and bringing people into the game, he’s just a bit lightweight and easily anonymised against big teams. If the club is going to be ruthless this summer, you’d imagine one of the two will be on their way. We need to find a balance of skill sets, and unfortunately, we need to lean into someone who is a Giroud+++.
Plenty of excitement to look forward to this morning, let’s hope this is the start of a beautiful run that sees us take phase 4 by storm!
x
Great goal.
Up there with the best own goals I have ever seen
Back 3 look like Attenborough’s King penguins.
Socratis to much Greek wrestling looks bang on to give a penalty.
And then we get lucky.
Bournemouth, unlucky there. I’ll take it though.
That Celeste kit we have is like waste water mixed with Bloo.
Mikki wearing gloves with a shirt sleeve shirt…what a gash.
If you think Iwobi is that bad imagine how I feel about Mhiki considering there’s more of an expectation. For me though this is proving yet again our attacking options need some work. Just as well we’re not just being linked with Pepe but Ungiz and Pavon and Havertz too
Jefferson Lerma is having a great season. Now adding goals to his game. Hit with power and precision
Mikki’s boots are made of vibranium. The only thing that can hold his bulky body.
Anyone else see that?
Iwobi
Highest number of successful dribbles for arsenal this season
“No one can point to anything that he does well.“
Graphic literally just popped up mid game stating Iwobi has completed the most successful dribbles of any Arsenal player this season.
So he’s our best outlet when it comes to committing defenders and being direct.
We have been very poor so far, totally disjointed and lackluster.
The only dribbling Iwobi does is out of that always open mouth. P diddy looking mother fucker.
That needs to be on a new volume of own goals and gaffs.
“It’s a simple nod but he takes two attackers out of the game”
CC
Bamford disagrees with that.
Why do football coaches hide their mouths when speaking? Do they actually think some bastard is actually employing a lip reader to undermine their team talks?
Honestly.
Guns of HackneyNovember 25, 2018 14:08:06
The only dribbling Iwobi does is out of that always open mouth. P diddy looking mother fucker.
Anyone? I’m at a loss for words here.
Has Mhkki played a perfectly weighted ball today?
Two of the great own goals have actually been scored by arsenal IMO. O’Leary has one and Dixon v Coventry. Beauts.
mhiki has been pony with his passing today. Iwobi is one of our better players out there. No idea why he’s getting the hate. Kola has been worse, have the ball away numerous times.
I dont think we have been bad. Just not clinical enough.
I would say we have been better than bournemouth.
Charlie
What has Iwobi being Arsenals best dribbler got to do with anything?
He’s a shit dribbler.
It’s like saying “I’m the richest homeless man in London” because you’ve got £25 in your pocket.
Bellerin been excellent this half doing the simple things now instead of thinking too much.
Mkhi poor execution.
Azed
Mikki and weighted in the same sentence. Lolz
Guns
Don’t forget Jenks in the emirates cup I think. Didn’t he score a screamer?
Iwobi is trash. Even Gervinho was miles better.
half assed attempts
Hope Eddie gets a run out today
Feel he could nick a goal
CC
I stand corrected…three classics.
Iwobi is gash, no stats can dress that up, Bang average player
gambon, Rambo and co, Iwobi has the most successful dribble in the whole squad…..he’s gotta be good for something
Guns
Dixon also against Ipswich. Great header.
Claver
“Guns of HackneyNovember 25, 2018 14:08:06The only dribbling Iwobi does is out of that always open mouth. P diddy looking mother fucker.Anyone? I’m at a loss for words here.’
It’s a compliment
Puff Diddy is a very successful good looking dude.
Diaby scored a peach of an OG too. Think it was against Man U. Bullet header.
Got to go with my peers…Iwobi is drivel. I’ve said it for ages. A big lump with nothing going on upstairs. Heskey Mk II
Gambon
Nah that’s just your warped logic to try and cling onto your shit statement.
He’s the best Arsenal have ergo that’s his current value. You’d think there was a narrative on here that Iwobi is the next Mahrez, there isn’t.
He’s improved his usefulness this season and apparently saying as much is enough to trigger the likes of you and Banford.
take iwobi out of that left side and slot in anyone from the bench, we will be playing worse. No one here Is claiming that iwobi is world class, but he’s having a good game atm. There’s a reason why we are attacking from the left and it’s not kolasinac
Dissenter
Puff Diddy. Now, that’s funny.
Shall we call him Sean Coombes?
What a cunt Iwobi is.
I think this fixation on Iwobi is stupid, especially when there are worse players. Ramsey included
Fuck me just what is wrong with our defence?
Wow. Fab goal. They deserved that.
Great work from Iwobi. Wanker dribbled himself out the equation and fvcked his team.
Any comments Dale, Charlize?
Iwobi gave that a way there.
Iwobi instead of shooting tries some bullshit dribble and now it’s 1-1 fucking joke.
Charlie
Some players that have matched Iwobis output this season
Etienne Capone- DM
Fernandinho – DM
Trent A A – full back
Michael Keane – CB
What a player.
Yeah, I’d prefer to leave this argument to others, but if Iwobi has more dribbles statistically than others, this is not because he is a clever or skillful dribbler — he’s not — but because he is one of the few Arsenal players who runs at people with the ball and he does have a bit of athleticism about him.
I believe an unsuccessful pirouette of his just gave Bournmeouth the ball and a goal, by the way.
Puff Iwobi
Alex Diddy
Either way…to much open mouth stuff going on.
That was a very good goal
That was also a very poor team defensive performance for the goal. I know some simpletons will blame Iwobi for the failed dribble.
Hopefully our second half class wins us the game.
lmao, poor guns. I’m sure you are hating every thing about arsenal atm.
Look at the way mikki and bellerin jog for a cool few metres and then bellerin tries to sprint and there was a goal already.
Complacency.
That’s a tremendous goal from Bournemouth. Fantastic weak foot goal from King. Our back line was all over the place
every thing good * about arsenal
Well, that was underwhelming to say the least
Same fucking o
Didn’t want to shoot and pass, pass and more passes in the bou’s box.
Rubbish Iwobi, Mikki, bellerin all indulging in their dilly dally.
Got to sub Mkki. Useless
We are an appalling team this season.
No defence whatsoever, no decent wide attackers. Poor central defenders and midfielders.
It’s crazy but there isn’t a top 6 anymore, it’s a top 4.
AFC and UTD are not close to the other 4 at the moment.
Not sure why Arsenal committed so much forward at the end of the first half. when we lost that ball we were always in trouble, I think we were naive with 1 minute to go of the half.
Terrible when you have 5 guys hanging back at the other end when being counter attacked. You can literally see them walking about while Bournemouth players dashed away in numbers to score
Pierre was spot on about our current tactics in one regard, how can a team with the most sprint stats, distance covered etc be so so porous?
We’re putting in the leg work, so clearly there’s an error in the approach somewhere that can’t be answered with the idea the players aren’t tracking back.
On that note, where the fuck was Torreira for that goal? Midfield was empty there, what an embarrassing way to concede yet again.
How many Arsenal players do you need in the box and NOT score a goal…….try 8
That was coming
players not used to playing the new formation. Even Leno is kicking the ball up in the air than playing it out from the back, says it all really.
Terrible defending for that goal. Right on half time as well. Iwobi has been pretty shit today and it is becoming clear we just don’t have a CAM in the side that can do what Emery needs them to do. Pretty hilarious given all we have done is stack CAMs, says something about their quality. Not sure whether the back 3 is working or not, Bournemouth are getting joy but would they be getting even more with a back 4? Kolasinac is a bit of a disaster defensively and that is where they are getting their joy, on the flank.… Read more »
Dribble stats are like pass stats. Bullplop.
It’s a bit like that scouse slipping bastard, Gerrard…hit 1,000 Hollywood balls a game, landed 3. Looks great but ultimately nothing.
Dribbles? Fuck off.
Stats that matter. Goals. End of.
We need more players with the brains and clarity of Torreira, not Iwobi.
Torreira was about about to get the one-two with Bellerin then before dumbo Iwobi decided get involved and ruin it.
Iwobi and Mhkitaryan have been poor. Aubameyang absent. Iwobi’s finishing is so poor..
Torreira has literally been the only decent player this half
Rambo Ramsey
I think it’s fair to say that iwobi just had a ramsey-esque moment.
Mkhitaryan weight of pass destroyed three opportunities for Bellerinto cross . Contrast that to the David Brooks selection of pass to Josh King. Right in his stride
Really frustrating we need more street smarts. Knock the call wide and see the half out really fucking daft. We seemed to be growing into the match as it went on but it seems to me we start matches too rushed. Everyone wants rid of the ball to quickly and we end up giving it away and putting ourselves under pressure. I think the current shopping list is a LB, wide player and a CM that can control the midfield, knows when to put his foot on the ball as well as when to play it quick. Cesc is out… Read more »
I mean there was still a lot to do after Iwobi gave the ball away in the box. I mean if I was making a criticism I’d say why was Bellerin the wingback ahead of the ball and Iwobi why was it Mhiki and not he busting a gut to get back initially and also the positioning of Xhaka and why didn’t he close down that Brooks lad. He kinda did nothing tbh
All this talk of Torreira ‘freeing up’ Xhaka.
Freed up or not, Xhaka is still incapable of adding anything remotely useful going forward so now Torreira realises he has to be the one to take it upon himself and go foward.
Somehow being used against him, same way it was used against Ramsey. Lol.
Our wide players are relegation zone level.
Iwobi, Mykhitaryan, Ozil and Welbeck will be out performed by Sterling alone this season.
I see Paulinho is already picking which players to glorify and another to beat up regularly.
Iwobi’s failed dribble lost the ball in the 6 yard box but where was Torriera in that Bournemouth goal?
Mykhi is actually the problem in this half. He’s been utter shite while Iwobi has been miserably average.
Paulinho
That’s an epic comment.
Torreira with all the brains and class is trying to get on the end of a something to score in the 46th minute of the game away from home when we’re 1-0 up?
Torreira the defensive midfielder no less?
Elite brains clearly. That decision to give and go just vacated midfield and away they counter
My God that was very unnessecary and such a weak striker like Joshua King we just keep conceding to these third rate strikers unbelievable !!!!! The wenger era is stil alive and kicking.
Cesc
Strange but I think it’s the worst half I’ve seen from Torreira – he hasn’t been particularly bad just not as good as normal.
This bournemouth goal was all on mikki and bellerin.
Hopely mkhitaryan is subbed for the second half., waste of a player.
This team reeks of Wenger and his profligacy
Useless ending to that half. Things that stood out for me: mustafi goes to ground way too often. And in the box a lot too. He needs to be drilled into keeping on his feet. Better yet sold and replaced. Mkhi’s passing was shocking. The only balls he put the right weight on were back passes. I’d even prefer Ozil over that half performance. Iwobi is meant to be our dribbler, but I think it’s just his very unorthodox dribbling style that beats a man every so often, not really great technique. Why did we flood the box when there… Read more »
‘Iwobi and Mhkitaryan have been poor’ This is the story always though, whether it’s 4-2-3-1, 4-4-1-1 or 3-4-2-1 whether it’s Ozil, Ramsey, Mkhitaryan or Iwobi they just aren’t good enough. The ball doesn’t stick to them, they can’t control possession, they don’t link up midfield with attack, they don’t create, the don’t threaten, they don’t take on. We’ve assembled a group of very underwhelming and one dimensional CAMs. Look at Alli and Eriksen yesterday, look at how Brooks is showing our lot up, look at De Bruyne etc. It is such a problem for us because it means you’ve got… Read more »
This own goal is proving to be very welcome now. Bournemouth’s goal is now going to come out really fighting in the second half.
We need to display that same intensity that we had before Bournemouth scored from the start of the second half.
I actually thought that Xhaka and Mhkitaryan had the biggest influence on the game from 20 minutes onwards….maybe I was watching a different game to many on here.
Blame Iwobi all you want but that was a very poor team defensive performance that resulted in the Bournemouth goal.
Where was golden boy Torriera, the one with “brains “?
Why was he so far out one minute to half time with his side 1-0 up?
Bournemouth are fucking shit. Of course a team of our aspirations should be looking to score a second and make it comfortable.
We’re supposed to just hang on for the rest of the match?
Clown.
‘Our wide players are relegation zone level.
Iwobi, Mykhitaryan, Ozil and Welbeck will be out performed by Sterling alone this season.’
Add Ramsey to that and not just wide CAM roles and absolutely agree.
Bit harsh on Welbeck though given he’s not a starter and he himself knows he’s not a starter, he’s a workhorse.
Torreira is still winning balls in the middle, xhaka did little to nothing positive.
We just don’t have that winger we so desperately need and our number 10s are really not up to scratch
Mkhi, iwobi, kolasinac have all had horrible halfs. Iwobi should be a sub for us not a starter.
Paulinho there is nothing to admire about midfielders vacating the midfield 0-1 up away from home with a minute to go of the half.
Reminds me of the stoke match last year with the Xhaka/Ozil screw up.
Apparently Ramsey should’ve stayed back against the mighty Stoke (who went on to be relegated).
Paulinho
“Bournemouth are fucking shit. Of course a team of our aspirations should be looking to score a second and make it comfortable.”
That’s not even remotely true
They have been quite good this season.
All this talk of Torreira ‘freeing up’ Xhaka
We actually need a proper DM to free up Torreira. Who let’s be honest isn’t an out and out DM and who is capable of doing some good things offensively
Yeah righto paulinho,
I would have preferred to have gone into half time witha lead instead of putting everyone in their box in added time.
CC
I think it’s fair to say that Torriera also had a Ramsey-esque moment for the Bournemouth goal.
What Torreira did with that run?
We did that routinely when we were winning league titles.
Torreira is going to be far more use as a CM, said that since his first performances, particularly Cardiff.
We basically need another version of him to play in Xhaka’s position. Just a well rounded and hard working CDM/CM.
Just don’t think Torreira is built for pushing forward
he needs to have the Matic type roll.
He was still in our half when the goal went in.?
I really think his mobility is very limited even though he has been one of our better aquasitions.
Auba was also very ordinary … that has to be said.
We will probably still win this game.
Not a fan of Ramsey but the guy will give us more than Iwobi, need.to bring him on. Guendouzi in place of Xhaka.
Apparently Ramsey should’ve stayed back against the mighty Stoke (who went on to be relegated).
I’m not sure what you’re trying to get at with the Ramsey stuff today honestly. Cause for one thing he wouldn’t have done anything really different to what Xhaka did on their goal. In fact he’d be nowhere to be found if we’re honest
You can all blame Torriera. But what was xhaka doing when he was already behind?
So lets hang on against mighty bournemouth because xhaka cant shield the defence for 2 effing mins?
If we want progression we need to cut out these silly mistakes,Unai have a very dificult job but he has improved a lot still putting this teams bad habits to sleep will take more then one half season.
I wonder why peopler can’t see that Ramsey cannot be 100% committed going forward.
Surely he has to protect himself for that Bosman move next summer. He gets injured now and he’s just another Welbeck; out of contract with a major injury.
Ramsey is the past, deal with it.