via @Arsenal Instagram LOVE THESE TWO
Another Europa night, another devastating pummelling of a prestige team.
The big man in charge, Sir Unai Emery, inflicted defeat over Valencia in a pretty poor match at The Emirates.
Unai opted for what some thought was an attacking formation, with some thinking it was defensive. I thought it looked like a 3-5-2 at home, with 7 defensive players on the pitch, with a view to keeping a clean sheet for the second leg. Others thought it looked like a wrecking machine with two strikers and Ozil free to create havoc.
Havoc we created. The opening 20 minutes were straight out of the dustbin. Matteo and Xhaka were all over the place, the defence was getting pulled every which way and there was no intensity to our play. We even managed to concede from a setpiece (which is pretty rare), a long ball to the back post was nodded back into the mixer, Xhaka was nowhere and he was beaten to ball by Diakhaby who headed home.
The Swiss really isn’t fit for purpose… it makes me so sad that when he has a few ok games and all the usual suspects revert back to him being peak-Gilberto when it comes to football enigmas. He’s not. He’s bang average. There is nothing smart in the long-form editorial suck up pieces that lambast social media obsessed millennials who just don’t understand the beautiful game because they can’t see the beauty in Xhaka. Football fans are OBSESSED with other fans who celebrate shit players in militant fashion because it’s so bizarre, you worry you truly are missing something. You’re not. You weren’t with Senderos. You weren’t with Denilson. You’re not with Xhaka. Move on.
Up the other end, 7 minutes later, Lacazette played a perfectly weighted ball to Auba, he cut back and gave his buddy the gift of an open goal from ten yards. What a gentleman. I love those two. If they had a child, it’d be one helluva striker… would probs dress nice too.
7 minutes later, Xhaka showed why the usual suspects menace themselves to bedroom posters of his radar maps. He whipped a beautiful first-time diagonal ball into the box, Lacazette made a yard on his centre back and headed into the ground, the keeper claimed the ball didn’t cross the line but the refs watch buzzed… techhhhhhnology wins again. Xhaka… what a cross, I really think if you ignore the OTT critique of Xhaka, there’s a great player in there, I guess some people just don’t get it.
The second half just didn’t feel particularly smart. We were chasing the third goal and leaving Laurent Kos and Sokratis completely exposed on the counter. It was really tough to watch, Cech kept us in the tie when he denied Kevin Gameiro with a great block. Kos nursed an injury for as long as he could before limping off, we really have to pray he’s going to be ok. That block where he threw his head at a foot late on was something else.
Late on, Kola found Auba at the back post on a tight angle, the ball was struck awkwardly but crept in at the near post. A real shame most fans had gone home by that point. A sad indictment of the fans? The drab football? The Europa League? Who knows.
3-1. That’ll do nicely. £100m worth of strikers to the rescue. Another example of how dependent we are on superhuman finishing.
There’s no point in analysing the game too much. The football was awful, we looked a mess, but we did the job. We’ll shithouse ourselves to the final and then it’s a coin toss… and there’s no manager that knows this trophy as well as Unai.
Whatever my thoughts on his long-term future, watching him twitching out on the sidelines shows how much passion he has for the project. When that third goal landed at the end, he lost his damn mind. It’s great to see. He’s a hard worker, a trophy in his first season would be epic, it’d be even better if we didn’t have to play Chelsea.
Also… does a cup final count as an away game? Answers in the comments.
I’m getting ahead of myself, let’s see if we can go away from home and not concede 3 goals… not as easy as one would think.
Right, see you in the comments you total meltbags xx
Pierre “The most important aspects of a centre midfielder ‘s game is not strength , pace of mobility( though it would help) , it is being able to read the game , positional awareness , anticipation and sensing danger…” Ok so tell us how does Xhaka fair in these essential elements of a midfielder you list? The player that is the current hub of this side. tbh with Xhaka sometimes I feel sorry for him. Yes there are times that he switches off defensively and it looks awful because it looks like he is not trying at all but more… Read more »
Especially dedicated to Pedro :
https://www.skysports.com/football/news/12090/11710006/unai-emery-doing-remarkable-job-at-arsenal-with-bottom-six-defence-says-charlie-nicholas
Nuance dependant**
Mince dependant is something else entirely.
Dissenter What part is balderdash… Ramsey on the bench more than on the pitch . Guendouzi ‘s confidence at a low ebb. Torreira on the bench more often than not….I believe that he is our best defensive/ holding midfielder as he proved many times earlier in the season . As you know , Emery decided to play him as a box to box midfielder and his game unravelled along with Arsenal’s season up until the Bate defeat. Play him where he is most comfortable ,sitting in front of the defence , putting in tackles ,closing down the spaces , intercepting… Read more »
CC
Exchange Auba and Laca with the strikers from any of those teams and they would comfortably be in 3rd now. They are our only saving grace. Facts.
Bamford
Oh you’re such a victim. If you’re so keen to be liked on Le grove then maybe dont be such a pompous condescending arse hole constantly, swiftly followed by your cry baby antics
It’s a little pathetic….
H&L, it’ll be a cold day in hell before I take editorial tips off Charlie George.
Started against C.Palace with Mavropanos, Jenkinson, Guendouzi and Elneny.
Talk about stating the bleeding obvious!
Freddie
Putting the word “facts” after an opinion doesn’t morph it into one mate.
Give Arsenal Aguero, Sane, VVD and we’d be mustard. Fax.
It’s a dumb assertion because none of the clubs below can afford the talent of Auba and Laca without disrupting their side.
What do you know the Anti Arsenal blog Le Grove wants another manager out. Shocker. Lame ass half interested wannabe journos like little Peter boy have to rely on this type of nonsense to stay relevant. They’d rather be right about Emery than see Arsenal succeed. Fake Ass Plastic Gooners.
Guys Leicester are where they are because they don’t score enough goals over the course of a season. Same with Wolves but I think with them they are set up to be more defensive minded with the Portuguese in charge of them. Even though Leicester scored three goals against Arsenal you could see that their offensive play was a bit samey and they had similar style players as their main offensive weapons. During the course of a whole season this lack of variation can be a handicap to them in scoring those goals. I thought folks had realised that Arsenal… Read more »
Sokratis last night:
“I hear everyone speaks about the system, the manager. The manager tries every day to give the best to us, to the team. We want to to play in the Champions League. This is the point, our manager & the staff behind him help us every day [to do that].”
Sounds like the big, bad Greek believes in Emery.
Lacazette last night:
“We want to win the Europa League to go straight to the Champions League but also to win a trophy. We want to finish in the top 4 in the Premier League & if we can go to Baku [for the Europa League final], it will be special.”
Seems the team wants both top four and the EL trophy.
Until Emery sees the sack then the big bad Greek will publicly believe in the next man standing. How the game works.
Bamford, how many players called Wenger a cunt in the press during the season?
Even if we didn’t win against Crystal Palace, Everton, Wolves and Leicester, if we had an team attention span longer than a goldfish we should have been able to keep 4 clean sheets. We’re not talking about a run in of Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Man City are we?
Next season, that should be our goal, to try to keep as much clean sheets as possible…
*as many
Lol it’s funny when Banford copy and pasted quotes he likes. Should see him when there’s one he doesn’t like….
Ishola
Xhaka has his limitations , it’s his speed of thought defensively and when he receives the ball with his back to goal which Is his main problem .
He doesn’t anticipate danger which makes him a liability.
If you have no pace ( like xhaka) you have to be positionally ( and technically)perfect as he has no pace to recover the situation.
A good centre midfielder has the game in front of him , and his instinct will 9 times out of ten have him in the right position…
Knew the facts part would trigger you CC, lol.
our attack would be mostly fixed then yes, our midfield and fullback situation would still be pants though.
they can’t afford it? A couple of teams below us spend more in transfers than we do, how long do you think we can keep above them if that continues?
Pedro
I haven’t seen your (or any other Emery critic’s reply) to my point at 12:40:41. Show us the XI he should have selected.
Leeds
I think the problem in conceding goals is that the team mope and lose it if they do not get on the score sheet before the opponent does along with these players who are a hindrance defensively.
If a team can hold Arsenal at home and not concede in the first half Arsenal can collapse defensively at any time.
I think it’s in the genes for a long time.
Pedro
You also have not responded to my point at 12:38:30. Is it possible the men who run the club will think those things — and not what you think — even if Emery doesn’t get CL football? Is this feasible?
Pedro
May 3, 2019 13:00:57
Bamford, how many players called Wenger a cunt in the press during the season?
—————————–
THIS
That’s why we come to Le Grove everyday!
Mesut Özil on Unai Emery: “I think he is doing really good work. When you look at the team, you can see that we have developed. For a new coach, in a new country & at a new club, where it’s perhaps a different culture than you are used to, you have to let those things develop.”
Freddie
You’ve got an odd idea of what someone triggered looks like.
I don’t much care for speculating alternate realities. Do you think any of the teams you mentioned are taking over Arsenal in the foreseeable?
If you do there’s a white jacket and a quiet room waiting.
Özil on Emery: “He brings us forward & I hope he will continue to get better in the coming years. It’s like with Jürgen Klopp at Liverpool – over time he has been able to make them successful gradually & hopefully Unai Emery can do the same [at Arsenal].”
No I can’t agree Pierre re Xhaka.
Time and time again he gets done by the opponent in a ten yard race.
He is near enough to the opponent which means he has sensed the danger and positionally is ok but because he is such a slouch physically he gets toasted by the opponent and not even greyhound opponents.
Of course he does switch off and doesn’t sense danger and is in poor positions defensively but more times he just gets caught out because he is simply too slow.
Even Ozil the most hated player by Emery according to Legrove armchair experts thinks Emery should be cut some slack.
Pedro
Yeah I wouldn’t disagree with that but I wouldn’t say we were horrible but more to the point we looked sharper going forward because the strikers played off the shoulder
Or is it just me?
Dani
Exactly. Ozil is also supposed to be the epicenter of the anti-Emery player rebellion.
Absolutely absurd narrative at work among some on here at times.
Manchester United, via intermediaries, have recently made contact for Lyon striker Moussa Dembélé; Atletico Madrid have also approached, whilst Arsenal continue to scout heavily, according to L’Équipe
Also Bayern want Werner and Dortmund are interested in Brandt
Breaking news:
Player backs club, manager, teammates, in media sound bite.
It’s a nice break from the norm I’ll give you that, given all the players that come out and slated Wenger these past few years.
Dembele would be a good signing but in United’s case they need some good defenders brought in.
To be fair Bamford was right to call out Danny, who was talking complete shite about Emery not caring about top four.
I guess Klopp didn’t care about winning the CL because he played Wijnaldum up front.
If he does neither, it’s hard to justify him staying on.
I’m not sure when they started looking for Arsene Wenger’s replacement that the mandate was champions league inside one season or else. Whoever the manager was. That sounds like wishful thinking on your part Pedro.
Ok Chris, Emery really cares about getting top 4, in fact he cares so much that he wont start with Mavropanos, Jenkinson, Guendouzi and Elneny against Brighton.
Feel better now?
Do me a favour……
Playing fully fit and rested mid table teams on three days rest isn’t a “tricky” prospect these days and if that game happens to be away Arsenal aren’t even favorite to win. Throw in a handful of injuries to key players and it becomes even more difficult. None of this is to explain or talk up Emery but some people on here really need a reality check. This isn’t 2006 when Arsenal bench could’ve started for every PL club outside of top four. But then again fatigue is overrated and Wenger never bought anyone who wasn’t top quality so disregard… Read more »
Ozil playing the game …very sensible .
There’s a possible cup final on the horizon and I believe he would like to be a part of it.
He managed to restrain himself from showing his displeasure at being substituted last night , gave Emery the high five but inside he was probably seething..
There are some very gullible people on Le Grove if they truly believe that Ozil holds Emery in such high esteem.
Ok CC, still put in the facts for your sake and you predictably couldn’t let it slide. You do love a pointless argument. If we continue spending less than the teams below us for a couple of seasons more I can’t see us holding on to our top 6 status, it’s close enough already. Sadly it’s not an alternate reality that if we switched 2 players with the 7-12th placed teams they would be better than us. 2 players. It’s disgraceful and now hopefully with your daddy Wenger out of the club we can correct the wage bill and get… Read more »
Missed the first 20 minutes of the game. I thought both teams were shiite. Our boys at least seemed to threaten with some pace after Mikhi came in (a pleasant surprise). Kos continies to be heroic…what a warrior. Sead fkn horrible. Laca so wasteful but I do love the guy (sometimes). Emery strikes me as too cerebral without the emotional connection to his team (a la Pep or Jurgen post their games). So fkn depressing watching our continued demise.
Pierre
since when does Pail have the stamina to play 90 minutes regularly, or even occasionally. He was absolutely done after 75 minutes yesterday and silently praying for a sub, his prayers got answered, why would he complain?
Fucking autocorrect always changing Ozils name to pail, not sure what that means.
So it’s an easy ride in Valencia next week.
They win 2-0 they are through, oh we let in 3 goals in our last three away games.
We are getting ahead of ourselves .
Wow people seemed almost pissed off we won last night when I checked in the blog lol
Someone should tell Pedro Emery will be here next season regardless of whatever happens in the next 3-4 games.
I can see Charlie is back in full Bamford bullying mode. Including supporting all sorts of ridiculous opinions as long as they reflect poorly on the manager.
Good for him.
Save a little energy for next season, Emery will still be here.
Wonder why Carlo Ancelloti isn’t doing too great at Napoli, better squad, weaker league, I thought many on here believed he would be doing better than Emery if appointed
Valencia is by no mean sealed in my mind, still work to do. As Dave stated a 2-0 sees us out, it will be an interesting test. Regardless of opinions on Emery it would be a decent return getting this side into a European final on first season in. Club has no real history with this competition in past 15 years under current format barring last season where we went out to Simeone by not finding net in that Madrid semi final 2nd leg loss. In past 5 years or so we’ve seen United, Liverpool and Chelsea make the final… Read more »
LOk CC, still put in the facts for your sake and you predictably couldn’t let it slide. You do love a pointless argument.“
I replied because you addressed me with a comment. But apparently I love a pointless argument, makes sense.
So when you addressed me by name I shouldn’t respond? How does it work in your head exactly?
Disagreeing with a premise = loving a pointless argument.
“I can see Charlie is back in full Bamford bullying mode. Including supporting all sorts of ridiculous opinions as long as they reflect poorly on the manager.“
Ahh bullying again, good stuff. Nothing to do with his pathetic attempted smear last night out of the blue. Oh you missed that? Yep, don’t worry, it’s just me here bullying as per, don’t bat an eye.
There are some very gullible people on Le Grove if they truly believe that Ozil holds Emery in such high esteem. I mean it kinda doesn’t matter what he thinks honestly the club wants rid of him the manager doesn’t want him Germany are better off without him and he’s declined so much that it doesn’t seem like anyone is interested in signing him. That he’s pissed off is irrelevant he needs to play better. I actually thought he done alright last night he didn’t hide away and look for the ball in his own half and play a pointless… Read more »
@Pierre “A good centre midfielder has the game in front of him” I remember we both criticize Emery not playing Torr as DM. But Emery is doing the best he can with the players currently available. Without Ramsey, Torr and Xhaka are the two best midfielders available. Playing Xhaka upfront to do the pressing and to push the ball forward would be a disaster. Not only he is too slow to do the pressing, when he receives the ball, he’ll have problem keeping it. Only a DM has the game in front of him. For the other midfielders, they’ll need… Read more »
Marko, what do you think the target was?
You do love to jump in on a good dog pile on Bamford Charles. That’s just a fact…
Pedro
You pay any mind to Balague’s idea Emery is wildly overachieving this season, that the board didn’t expect anything near top 4?
Target for the season? I dunno I’d say when they gave him a 3 year contract with the option of cancelling it after two seasons that they were thinking get us back into the Champions League inside 2 seasons. I doubt whoever took over from Wenger after 22 years given the last two seasons was told champions league inside a year or else. I’d say that wishful thinking
Marko
Is it Marko? More facts from the thick Irishman, what a time to be alive. Or I take exception to his particular hobby of trying his level best to smear at every juncture.
Odd you never see two sides to anything, his rant last night seems to have evaded you despite you engaging with him at the time. Funny that. Just more opportunistic quips from you toward folk you dislike, it’s to be expected. Same cloth as Receding in that regard.
Dissenter rightly stated some on here are invested beyond a certain degree, that’s your ilk.
The target was clearly Europa league, the only reason we have a top four prayer in the league is because three other teams have underperformed. That will not be the case next season and we need to get serious with offloading names, be they world cup winners or bundesliga fullbacks of the season.
Joke Friday – John O’Reilly hoisted his beer and said, “Here’s to spending the rest of me life, between the legs of me wife!” That won him the top prize at the pub for the best toast of the night. He went home and told his wife, Mary, “I won the prize for the best toast of the night.” She said, “Aye, did ye now. And what was your toast?” John said, “Here’s to spending the rest of me life, sitting in church beside me wife.” “Oh, that is very nice indeed, John!” Mary said. The next day, Mary ran… Read more »
I would say he’s close to overachieving certainly not underachieving given the squad. I don’t buy the 70 million stuff and 5 equates to must need improvement stuff. Guendouzi and Torreira have struggled this season Lichtsteiner is dogshit and Sokratis isn’t great. You’re talking about the keeper being the only proper success signing and even then he’s only got a handful of clean sheets. 5/6th scrapping for 4th seems about right
RH, the top 4 points totals look about average for the last 5 seasons.
We’re par the course for where we should be. No one is doing us favours.
Is it Marko? More facts from the thick Irishman, what a time to be alive. Or I take exception to his particular hobby of trying his level best to smear at every juncture. That’s the perfect response to someone saying that you act like a bully boy with a tiny dick around here. It perfectly sums you up. I bet you think you’re decent too. You’re not. Just more opportunistic quips from you toward folk you dislike, it’s to be expected Right back at ya. I count about half a dozen posters on here that you’ll just butt in on… Read more »
RH “The target was clearly Europa league, the only reason we have a top four prayer in the league is because three other teams have underperformed. That will not be the case next season and we need to get serious with offloading names” Short memory there mate. It was clear at the start of the season (at least to me) that you had City and Liverpool challenging for the title. After that you had 4 teams who all had issues. Arsenal and Chelsea – new managers, ManU the Mourinho 3rd season meltdown was due and the Spud’s had the new… Read more »
Marko
You have made your opinions on Ozil abundantly clear with there being a 0% chance of his inclusion in squad next season according to you.
I’ll be interested to see if clubs able to do a deal seeing his exit, its this summer or bust with 2 years left. As it stands our structure for summer is ambiguous at best.
Pedro I dare say you didn’t see Spurs losing 12 league games this season. Many on here saw Ole riding to third when he was first appointed. You also believe Chelsea made a better appointment in Sarri and that gave them an edge. A lot has been said over the course of a season, opinions are bound to change and that’s fine, just don’t feel comfortable when certain people pretend that has been their viewpoint from the start
If anyone made a racial slur that was related to colour Pedro would ban them immediately yet there are regular remarks made about Marko being Irish. If you think he’s thick – whatever but what has his nationality got to do with it?
It is wonderful that Arsenal have USA fans- and indeed fans all over the globe. But if these American fans ( with the exception of the always excellent Upstate Gooner) think the same way as The Kroenkes- in terms of British football and Arsenal- we are in deep trouble. From The Glazers at Man Utd to: Leaner/Villa Short/Sunderland they are wrecking balls to the clubs they have taken over. I have come to the conclusion – The Arsenal and Americans don’t mix and we need The Kroenkes out of the club ASAP – before we can really go forward and… Read more »
“The target was clearly Europa league, the only reason we have a top four prayer in the league is because three other teams have underperformed. That will not be the case next season and we need to get serious with offloading names” I don’t think that’s true re this season. The standard for 4th in recent seasons has been 2 points from every 3, or 76 points over a season. Until the Everton game, we were very much on or above that pace, as were our competitors. It’s only been in the last few weeks where we’ve seen what was… Read more »
Chelsea have an owner who’s not allowed in the country on business
—————————
Actually he is allowed because he took out Israeli citizenship.
Danny
I’m pretty sure he’s not allowed in on business – he can visit for recreational purposes but that’s it.
Chelsea actually had to hold a board meeting overseas a few months ago so Abramovich could attend.
Sarri isn’t convincing anyone.
They are so suspect defensively compared to previous teams.
And tbf Sarri didn’t even mention that he would get defence right only that he would try to play the sexy football and it’s mainly Hazard that has really kept them afloat.
I can’t see Chelsea improving that much under Sarri and he will be gone sooner rather than later. The only way they could improve under Sarri is to spend big on defenders.
Pierre
Which of our midfielders fit your criteria of a good one?
Abramovich is allowed in the UK on his Israeli passport for up to six months at a time, but isn’t allowed to work while he’s here. Not sure how the UK authorities would enforce that, though. It isn’t like he needs to put himself on the Chelsea payroll and immediately fall foul of his tourist visa conditions. He can take meetings in his mansion all day long. He’ll get bored of Chelsea soon and offload it. Hope it isn’t so someone more wealthy than him though. Maybe he should sell Chelsea and buy Monaco. He’ll have no issues getting residency… Read more »
Nelson I would prefer 2 holding midfielders….who rarely , if ever , get ahead of the ball . We haven’t looked a compact team for a number of years …4-2-3-1 is my preference as it allows the 4 offensive players freedom to play if you have 2 holding midfielders as cover… The wing back system we played last night is ok with 2 up top and a CAM behind with the width coming from the wing backs ..but I would still prefer 2 holding midfielders in there. Of course, not everyone prefers that system , some on here like one… Read more »
It’s all well and good talking about holding midfielders that don’t get ahead of the ball but they will still get caught out on counters if they are not physically up to it.
If you get beaten often in 5-10 yard foot races then it doesn’t matter how far you are behind the ball.
CG- “Scanning the papers from my boutique London hotel this morning- who in their right mind- thought next seasons away kit would be acceptable?”
Literally, everybody.
Pierre
When we had Vieira and Petit we had players who could do both and were disciplined enough to make sure they both weren’t caught up field at the same time.
Latest comments from Poch suggest he will walk out on Tottenham if he is not backed financially in the upcoming transfer window.
Azed Torreira is the most disciplined (unless the manager plays him his to box)but I believe the centre of midfield is about a partnership .. Ramsey for a brief spell for the first time in his Arsenal career played with discipline in the role . I thought the home game v Napoli with Ramsey and Torreira together was a good match ( Ozil as CAM) …unfortunately the manager decided to bench Ramsey v Everton and then played him CAM away th Napoli so we couldn’t see if that partnership would develop. I can’t be certain but I think the Napoli… Read more »
TR7
I’ve had a feeling for a while that he’s been looking for an out. I think he was waiting for the Madrid or ManU job to be offered and it hasn’t happened.
Have you seen the list of players the Spud’s have said they’ll listen to offers for in the summer? Reeks of needing to raise cash.
My focus has always been beyond this league season. Before a ball was kicked, it seemed pretty evident that winning PL was far beyond the reach of the current squad, and this was confirmed by the inactivity in Jan window. The best that could be hoped for was a top 4 place. As for the rest, maybe a cup final, and better still, perhaps even a cup final trophy. I believe the vast majority felt the same way. But even if Emery achieves both, even if Arsenal win the Europa Cup, it’s only a prelude, a curtain-raiser. The reason is… Read more »
Listen you cannot insult the Irish it’s impossible our skin is too thick our mothers too unloving.
I thought the whole point of Abramovich getting an Israeli passport was to be able to enter the UK and do business, according to what you lot are writing here it seems weird why he bothered then!
Pierre
Ramsey aside, who do you partner with Torriera? Xhaka and Elneny aren’t mobile so they can’t play b2b.
“unfortunately the manager decided to bench Ramsey v Everton and then played him CAM away th Napoli so we couldn’t see if that partnership would develop.”
With Ramsey’s injury, I can say the manager was probably right not to risk him at Everton since we had Napoli away.
Where’s Poch go after Spurs though? Chelsea? Someplace like Inter? Be a crying shame if the best job he could get is Spurs
Board meeting are official work business and are recorded as such in official public record. Anybody attending a board meeting is therefore considered working. Abramovitch could not just chair a board meeting and pretend not be working. The UK law authorises the government to permanently ban somebody from entering if they have previously entered the country under false pretences like being on holiday and instead attend a work meeting. Home Office are just waiting for such silly mistake from Abramovitch to permanently stop him coming into UK. Hence the latest Chelsea board meeting had to take place in Monaco to… Read more »
“Listen you cannot insult the Irish it’s impossible our skin is too thick our mothers too unloving.”
Good stuff, agree.
One thing iscan surely see is that Unai has passion for our clun and is a fan manager
Ps where are DM & Bankz?????
Valentin
———–
Thanks
@azed,
If Arsenal doesn’t have the personnel in the senior squad to play Emery preferred tactical midfield, he has two options:
1) use a youth team player who could fit into that model. Willock.
2) use a different system like switching to 3 in midfield to compensate for the lack of mobility and dynanysm.
In the return leg, Valencia will be able to play Coquelin. A combination of Coquelin + Diakhabi could really put Xhaka + Torreira under pressure. I am not sure that they would have the technical ability to compensate their physical disadvantage.
“it seems weird why he bothered then!”
He wants somewhere to run to when Putin comes after him.
Marc
It was rare to see petit or Vieira in the opposition box in open play….in the double season they protected the defence and supported the attack mainly from deep positions.
https://www.goal.com/en/news/pochettino-spurs-care-more-about-trophies-after-overtaking/pibs68k5zlzi1ujpr17rjf6h2
Christ he talks some shite. Guy who’s never won a trophy cares more about winning trophies now even though he said that trophies only build egos not too long ago and in his words they’re close to winning the league and champions league
Marko
It’s comical that you think anything you say about me carries weight, you’re an absolute mong. Just one of those so heavily invested on here that you take it all to heart. State of it.
Loads of people like you in society mind, doesn’t make the stupid any more palatable however. The limited vocabulary, limited perspective, and limited state of awareness puts you right in the convo for dimmest cunt going on here. Bravo
Marko
I think he’s desperately trying to sound like he’s not making excuses.
Danny
Your view is too extreme Emery obviously cares about top four. Just because you don’t agree with his team selection doesn’t mean he isn’t interested.
It has turned out to be the wrong decision he made but it doesn’t mean he doesn’t care, he was obviously rotating due to squad size/amount of games but the team he put out there in his mind was one capable of gaining something from the league games
There is a difference between being pragmatic and not caring.
Pedro, Late to the party, but re your comment that the game last night was “poor”, that’s pretty accurate if we’re looking at how Arsenal played. In terms of fluency, I’d give our performance 5 or 6 out of 10. But in terms of intensity, the performance picked up quite a lot relative to the matches against Watford, CP, Wolves, and Leicester. Last night it was more like an 8 out of 10. If we can maintain this intensity, and even if we don’t play particularly fluent (I.e. easy on the eye) football for the next two matches in the… Read more »
Pierre
I hear you. Right now, our squad is not suitable to play 4 2 3 1. We don’t have proper wingers. Mikki plays better as a #10 and sucks as winger. Iwobi can’t finish, can’t shoot. Our defense is too weak. Wolves destroyed us easily.
Valentin
The actual problem is whichever formation you play, there would always be someone playing in an unfamiliar position or one they are not suited to.
We have no wide forwards so we can’t play a 4-3-3. If we want to play with 3 in midfield, we have to go with a 4-3-1-2 which invariably means conceding the wide area’s to Valencia in defence and using or fullback to provide width in attack.
Because of the frosty relationship with Russia, a lot of European country have put restrictions on the movement of Russian citizens within Europe.
Those restrictions do not apply to Israeli citizens.
However following the nationality purchase scandal (basically some countries like Malta, Israel, Ukraine, … give away nationality against cash), the EU is reviewing their policy.
For example Schengen agreement may be rewritten with more stringent verifications and restrictions for people with multiple nationalities.