Sh*thousing West Ham at home. What a time to be alive.

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Wooooooah, the less said about that performance, the better.

Arsenal took 3 very undeserved points at home against West Ham, the game was won with a VAR decision that overturned an incorrectly flagged offside, but the 1-0 victory didn’t disguise a ‘revert to type’ performance from a group of players that didn’t show up.

It’s easy to criticise every single line-up Arteta puts out because there’s not really an ideal starting 11. We’re a mess whatever we do and you can argue every player and their role. The one that seems to irk people the most is Auba out wide, especially when we have options on the left like Martinelli. I also think we debate the midfield over and over, but the reality is, we just don’t have a lot of good choices.

We were awful today, that was the most important thing to note. The midfield struggled to keep to West Ham at bay, the spacing between midfield and defence was off, and there were a lot of very poor lapses in defence. We are not a creative team, there’s no spark, no magic, no nothing. It’s painful to watch. It’s also interesting that the heavy pressing has gone, with the penny dropping for another manager that the squad aren’t fit enough to deliver on that without dramatically poor second-half performances (or injuries).

It is telling that we’re back to Bernd Leno being the MOTM again. He made some crucial saves, commanded his area well and took high-risk chances in tough situations. He was very quick off his line. It’s simply not good enough that we’re battered at home by West Ham.

More worrying is that moving forward, we just weren’t at the races. No one seemed to find their range when it mattered. We took too many touches, made the wrong choice, or just fucked up the momentum in attack.

Dani Ceballos had a great game from a numbers perspective. He made the most successful tackles, he had the most interceptions, his passing was fairly accurate, but to my earlier point, we didn’t make it count for anything. Our front three managed 2 shots on target. That’s miserable, especially when you look at the players we have at our disposal.

Still, when it comes down to it, the thing that matters most at the moment is the 3 points. We took them. Auba fired a speculative ball into legs, the ball looped up, Mesut Ozil was sharpest, he nodded a header to Lacazette who swept home a clinical shot. The players thought it was offside, the lino did too, but after 37.5 minutes of painfully nerdish deliberation, VAR called it a goal.

It was a bit embarrassing to win that game, but we kept up the pressure in the league and now we find ourselves right in the hunt for top 4. At the time of writing, there are 5 points between Arsenal in 9th and 4th (6 points if you go to 10th). Win our game in hand and there will be two points. It is staggering that this season has been so terrible to us, yet we’re a fluke win at City from being deeply in the top 4 hunt.

On the players, bar a bit of an iffy attempt at a clearance in the first half, Pablo Mari looked pretty solid. The worry in the league is always that you’ll be beasted by hulking thug forwards. He dealt with West Ham’s aerial threat pretty well today, he also won 3 out of his 5 aerial duels. He’s a good passer, he has a bit more pace than we thought, and he’s very composed. A solid Premier League start and his second clean sheet in 2 games. Let’s see how he copes on Wednesday.

Mesut Ozil was the decisive factor in the game, his quick thinking and cushioned header turned the game. He worked really hard, watching him lead the press in the final 20 was a sight to behold. He’s lost a lot of edge with his game-changing passing. He just hasn’t looked very confident of late… it seems odd that a player can lose the sparkle, with him, you do wonder if he’ll ever return to what he was.

Overall, our midfield was poor. We lack power and a tempo setter. Ceballos had good moments, but it didn’t feel synced to the wider team. We created next to nothing, Arteta has to find a way of addressing that in the coming games if we’re to stand a chance of making the most of this top 4 race.

Reality is that we’re still shit and I have little hope that we’ll surprise anyone on Wednesday, but it’s nice to hope, and it’s nice to know that everyone else around us is just as capable of failing as us. The mighty Nuno dropped points, United will have a tough game against City tomorrow and Spurs just went a goal down at Burnley.

Who knows what will happen… but it’d be very funny if we shithoused to top 5.

 

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Wasi

🤣

Bertie

1-0 to the Arsenal

Receding Hairline

All this talk of Guendouzi and his attitude, prior to Arteta I can’t recall one person ever complaining about Matteo’s attitude. He was always seen as positive, never hides and always giving his all. Now they seems to be a campaign to paint him as petulant and not deserving of a place. Charlie’s last comment on him was particularly distasteful, even alluding to him bullying the past manager to play games last season, this is the same poster who wanted the team built around him. Now he is in full on AKB mode and nothing should be criticized. If Arteta… Read more »

Habesha Gooner

I also think we debate the midfield over and over, but the reality is, we just don’t have a lot of good choices. This is you admitting player poverty Pedro. I didn’t write this did I. If you don’t think there are good choices we have player Poverty. Yeah He didn’t play torriera in the Olympiakos game when we needed a tackler in midfield. Champagne Charlie Torriera brings bite to midfield. And by all accounts he is not a bad passer. He doesn’t lose concentration and give the ball away in places that would hurt us a lot. He can… Read more »

Calypso

We really missed Mustafi yesterday, our defence looked shaky throughout the game.

His commanding performances of late have been a plus sign and made him our number one choice for centre back..

Habesha Gooner

Ernest, really struggling to see why anyone needs to piss on Pierre for stating the obvious.If our players are total shit and Arteta is getting a win today, then we should be happy. That’s the positive. If people literally believe in squad poverty and that we genuinely are relegation fodder, the should be over the fucking moon that we’re a 4-0 win away from 5th. Do you hear yourself when you write this bull pedro? Nobody said we are relegation fodder. We are firmly a Europa league team. that’s our place having thos midfield. RH Guendouzi is one of the… Read more »

Tony

“Bottom line, you are so full of shit Pierre”

Has a certain ring that many Le-Grovers would attest to.

Pierre
“My 2 bobs worth on Pepe is”

A couple of pence would do!

Sid

Even with zakaria we will still have the same problems
1. Lack of a ball carrier to move the ball from midfield to attack
2. Lack of someone to create for attackers.( saka is currently doing both but its asking too much of him)

Buendia could play #10 and is epl ready then have a CM that can take on players like sangare or similar, soumare is out of our league

Champagne Charlie

“I do not think you need a Xhaka type player if you have Ceballos. Far too often, Xhaka would pull left, or get ahead of Ceballos and do nothing, no runs etc. due to his lack of recovery pace. Not once did he give and go, burst past Ozil or any other advanced player who had the ball.“ Agree and disagree with this. Xhaka is our player, Ceballos isn’t. Both are players that face the game, they don’t run beyond, they don’t move between, they don’t carry the ball, they’re sit and splitters. That said I’d not be adding another… Read more »

Sid

Theres a lack of chemistry between Arteta and Dozi like Pep and Ibra, Jose and KDB, salah
but Dozi has what it takes to be a baller and he’s best as a #10 not #8 for now until he’s physically matured.

Calypso

Ozil’s game has markedly picked up under the tutelage of Arteta.

Yesterday’s assist was a fine example of Ozil’s instinctive reaction to being in the right place at the right time.

Danny

Only the start of March and we only have 4 more matches at the Emirates this season!

Bob N16

Calypso, Ozil was a ghost for most of the game. Got the assist but nothing summed up his contribution now compared to say three years ago was the moment in the second half when with one touch he could have had set up himself an excellent chance to shoot, instead he passed unsuccessfully. Xhaka, in the first half, was more or less playing a left sided cb. This allowed Saka to push forward but isolated Ceballos who was a one man midfield. Agree with others, it’s blatantly obvious that we need a midfield overhaul, bringing in players who can provide… Read more »

Champagne Charlie

Bob

How much would represent value for Ceballos as you see it?

Ishola70

Bob

I don’t think Ceballos is worth keeping and certainly not for any significant transfer.

On Ozil he still has the intelligence tbf to find good areas to put himself into but of course lacks that overall dynamic play.

Champagne Charlie

“Charlie’s last comment on him was particularly distasteful, even alluding to him bullying the past manager to play games last season, this is the same poster who wanted the team built around him. Now he is in full on AKB mode and nothing should be criticized. If Arteta chooses to field 8 outfield players Charlie will have reasons as to why that’s the right decision.“ Guendouzi has talent in abundance, but his attitude has been questioned of late and he was disciplined in Dubai. Unless you think he’s developed this personality trait in 2020 it’s quite obvious he’s always had… Read more »

Up 4 grabs now

Morning, If there’s a toilet paper shortage due to coronavirus stock piling, then go old school and use tracing paper like we used to back in the day! Talking of shit performances, there not getting much better, yesterday was probably one of our worst performances in years. And that includes us being turned over by utd, Chelsea and bayern a few times. At least we were turned over by better team’s. It’s not artetas fault he inherited a piss poor midfield and weak defence, and there’s only a half melted bag of revels, some coins from the back of the… Read more »

Receding Hairline

Was his attitude questioned last season? Did any single poster or press man question Matteo’s attitude last season both on and off the pitch? He was cited as fun and playful off the pitch, fans loved him for it, is that the cardinal sin a strong leader can’t ignore? You are an AKB Charles and always has been. The A simple swapped names. Matteo is being unfairly made an example of. Ceballos called that bluff when he threatened to cut short his loan and all of a sudden his attitude was spot on. Matteo sadly doesn’t have that ace up… Read more »

Champagne Charlie

“Torriera brings bite to midfield. And by all accounts he is not a bad passer. He doesn’t lose concentration and give the ball away in places that would hurt us a lot. He can tackle. Overall he is a more complete player than xhaka.“ What does bringing bite mean in real terms? He has no physical presence and spends a lot of time getting bodied. He absolutely does give the ball away and has been guilty of doing so the last few performances he’s played, it just isn’t lapped up because he’s not on the neighbourhood watch list. Also his… Read more »

Bob N16

CC, really hard to say. It would largely depend on first spending money on two ‘ready for the first team’ midfielders, before an outlay on Ceballos. In other words, keeping Ceballos should not be a priority so £25- 30m? It would also depend on whether we sold any combination of Xhaka, Guendouzi and Torreira and the money we’d get in for them. A complete overhaul would be unlikely. Ishola, of course Ozil still has amazing technique but he doesn’t compliment our other midfielders which is clearly not all down to him. When Ceballos was on the ball yesterday and was… Read more »

Receding Hairline

This is normal with any change in management anyways, someone will always get the short end of the stick. Funny enough the ones enjoying it are characters whose application has always been questioned. AMN I can understand as his attitude has always stank, Matteo no,no amount of mud slinging can convince me the kid has anything wrong with him, he is just being himself and there is nothing wrong with that.

Useroz

“Then he drew the first line and it was nailed on onside, zero potential dispute. 3 mins later I don’t even know what they’re talking about, and they’ve gone back to draw the line again This needs to stop and the officials responsible all need sacking. WHAT ARE THEY ACTUALLY DOING??? It was a tight one at full speed in real time but it was VERY easy to see he was onside in the replay” Bet someone was calling Mike Dean and Mike Riley just in case. Absolute embarrassment. Waste 3 mins of the globe! FA brags about tens of… Read more »

Champagne Charlie

Receding How the fuck would any poster be privy to a players behaviour and attitude off the pitch? He’s being unfairly made an example of now? On what grounds given you haven’t a clue what he’s even been disciplined for? Ceballos called no bluff, he was sulking for his loan to be cut short and was told to abide by the demands of the team or he wouldn’t play. Two weeks later what do you know? He knuckled down and started to play. You’re the same guy that dismissed Arsenals need for leadership let us not forget. We ‘don’t need… Read more »

Bob N16

CC, disagree with your view that Xhaka ‘is better in duels’ than Torreira. Sure in an aerial duel Xhaka is more competitive but he is a horrible tackler. He commits numerous fouls when he is the wrong side of an opponent and has to tacklewith his left foot , fouling the player because he can’t get in position quickly enough to properly use his left and he can’t tackle with his right.

Torreira on the other hand is much more nimble and has a far better tackling technique.

Champagne Charlie

“Matteo no,no amount of mud slinging can convince me the kid has anything wrong with him, he is just being himself and there is nothing wrong with that.“

😂😂😂

Bob N16

Agree with CC. ‘AMN’ s attitude has always stank’, ‘Matteo, no amount of mud slinging…’

Receding, you write as though you attend training sessions. Incredibly biased. Happy to sling mud at AMN, whereas Guendzouzi can’t be criticised. Ridiculous and incredibly hypocritical.

Champagne Charlie

Bob Well we struggle to breakdown teams that sit in a low block currently and that’s with Ceballos in the side. Where’s the logic in using circa 30 mil of our summer budget to keep the status quo? That 30 mil is better served on a player that would improve us. You can disagree Bob but the data tells it’s own story and Xhaka makes more tackles, has a fractionally higher tackle percentage, wins more duels, wins more headers, and wins more 50-50’s. so your view of Torreira is anecdotal and not representative of what actually occurs. As I stated,… Read more »

RockyRoe

Pedro People like RockyRoe insisting that we can solve the performance issue by just tweaking the team their way seem to have missed that the revival has been part driven by sacrifices. When faced with performance issues, you try and tweak the obvious things first, like keep you most potent goal threat close to the goal. Also you might have a case IF we were performing, we certainly are not. So what’s thr harm in switching auba to the middle and playing martenelli on the rw? It’s not like there is a danger of playing any worse. Essentially you are… Read more »

Bob N16

All those psychopaths out there, listen to Receding, just be yourselves, there’s nothing wrong with that!

Ishola70

The thing that should be said about Guendouzi is that there were reports before he joined Arsenal that he did have temperament problems on occasions reported as hot headedness.

As for on the pitch Guendouzi is too many times scatty which is a shame because he has shown positive elements in midfield for Arsenal at times.

Up 4 grabs now

Apart from the city game for the last nine games I would go all out with a 442. Play with an actual back four. Put auba and laca up front. Play martinelli on the left with pepe on the right. That way you have everyone playing in their best positions. Put ceballos alongside guendouzi, it doesn’t matter if you only have two in midfield they don’t need to get forward as you have a front four, you have an actual back four behind you covering the flanks as well, so the full backs don’t need to bomb on because you… Read more »

Champagne Charlie

“All those psychopaths out there, listen to Receding, just be yourselves, there’s nothing wrong with that!“

Haha cheat code enabled. He’s being himself so that’s fine.

Bob N16

CC, can you not accept that Xhaka’s lack of mobility both exposes his defensive limitations and puts pressure on the defence? I’m not suggesting he is a terrible player, I am simply seeing with my own eyes his fallabilities and how that affects the team. I don’t believe his positives are so significant to justify accommodating his deficiencies. Arteta is playing him as a third CB to allow Saka to play higher up the pitch and exposes Xhaka less to being caught further up the pitch when we turnover the ball. When Tiernay is fit, hopefully Saka can play up… Read more »

RockyRoe

Up 4 grabs

I doubt without a specialist lb, it would work.

Right now saka operates more as a winger with xhaka filling in at lb. Infact I think the reason Arteta played sokratis at rb instead of bellerin, was to give saka more freedom to go front. With sokratis being more defensive minded than bellerin.

When Tierney is fit though it could be viable strategy, especially if we play saka on the left of the midfield 4 where his on stint will stand him in good stead.

Cheney10

@Champagne Charlie I was meaning in the same starting line-up. I agree, ‘Replace Ceballos (or Xhaka) with Grealish (although out of our reach) or similar’, we need someone who can move with the ball in CM. I would like to see Arteta be a little braver with his selections to unlock the team. Could Willock be given a run next to Ceballos? ANM (attitude aside) in CM? Could we drop Ozil and go with two runners flanking Ceballos, particularly now we have Mari and Luiz who can play with the ball at their feet? I appreciate it is likely we… Read more »

Useroz

”Midfield
I think AMN or Guendouzi or both should start. I can’t see a trio of xakha ozil and Ceballos getting a grip on city“

Set aside AMN and guendouzi, City could eat the trio of Ozil, Ceballos and Xhara alive.

Seriously Ceballos is slow as Xhara. And takes 5 touches before releasing the ball and quite often backward.

Ozil also lacks raw pace and energy but at least a bit more slick from a technical viewpoint and can do one touch passing if he fancies it.

Don’t know who could step up in MF vs City.

Receding Hairline

How exactly did Ceballos knuckle down, are you part of the coaching staff Charles? You say no ones knows what goes on in training yet state things like you know what goes on in training. Weird

Bob I don’t see how my comment applys to killers and psychopaths, that’s a poor comment even by your standards. What exactly has Matteo done wrong? Do share or shut up

Up 4 grabs now

Rocky apparently Tierney is close, maybe back for next Saturday against Brighton.
Wouldn’t try it against city but then again it might be a curveball that throws pep?

Champagne Charlie

Un I’m not convinced we’ve been any better with him, but I do think his ability to intercept can be a huge benefit because it potentially allows us to turnover the play and catch the opposition pushed up and with some space to exploit vs deep and congested where we struggle. Bob I’ve never suggested Xhaka is quick over 5 yards and it certainly hinders him and us in certain situations. But Torreira doesn’t cure that ill because he’s comfortably as slow and easily bypassed with a runner. Same with Ceballos. That collection of players centrally is the issue vs… Read more »

Bob N16

Just turning your words back onto you Receding. Your argument was that if someone was being true themselves then they above criticism. I simply extrapolated to highlight the ridiculousness of that statement. As I understand it, in other words that it’s been commonly reported, that on more than one occasion(once in Dubai) Guendouzi acted inappropriately. He appears to like a laugh but at 20 not surprisingly his judgement is lacking. He’s certainly not the first young footballer to act as though he needs to grow up a bit. Nothing wrong with that. He’s not going to be publicly flogged. Not… Read more »

Habesha Gooner

FFS Charlie How can you bring up stats when talking about xhaka? he has been horrible the past two seasons. he is a weak link. The stats tell that story. Torriera hasn’t been a weak link for us except for that time Emery thought it was a genius idea to play him as an advanced midfielder. How can you say xhaka is better than torriera in duels and concentration? That’s just a pure lie. You will say anything not to admit you just like the player despite his faults. This is the stats of the last two seasons. Torriera has… Read more »

Champagne Charlie

“How exactly did Ceballos knuckle down, are you part of the coaching staff Charles? You say no ones knows what goes on in training yet state things like you know what goes on in training. Weird“ Not very weird if you can follow things. Here you go, drink up.. Arteta on Ceballos Jan 24th: “I heard of all of those things [speculation about a move] but I don’t have a comment. He needs to get back to fitness and fight for his place. After that, I will make the selection that I feel is best for the team.” ….two and… Read more »

Sid

We are now playing with 4 CB sok luiz mari Xhaka
Mourinho played with 5 yesterday. Thats the reason the football was boring

Im telling you this for free!

China1

The form of almost all the teams above us is absolutely dismal. If we don’t get top 4 or 5 it’s all on us as the door is not only open but being propped open by a whole fucking table lol Chelsea are in not far off relegation form recently. Can barely buy a win in the league, smashed at home in the CL. Playing Everton today and city next. I’d be shocked if they come away from these two games with more than 3 points and I am expecting them to only pick up 1. Leicester’s form is even… Read more »

Pierre

Another diabolical refereeing performance yesterday . Atkinson gave us nothing all game, absolutely nothing. Pepe is too clever for the referee to see when he has been fouled He beats them with skill and sleight of foot, they take him out and he gets nothing. In the 2nd half , the west ham defender had Lacazette in a wrestling hold for fully 5 seconds in the penalty area, VAR gave nothing. VAR was desperately trying to find Ozil offside, they tried for about 2/3 minutes to find a part of his body that may have been a millimetre offside ..in… Read more »

Ben D

Pedro,

I was at the game yesterday, and it’s a bit of an exaggeration to say we were battered. I don’t recall a West Ham shot on target the entire first half.

Yes we played poorly, but we all said days like that will happen. 3 points were what we needed, and we got it.

Upwards and onwards!!

Champagne Charlie

Habesha

Xhaka literally is a more prolific tackler, more clearances, more blocks and vastly more passes in whoscored. Suggest you have a proper look at data and skip the ‘characteristics’ part.

Here’s PL data for them both this season, Xhaka is objectively a better defensive player than Torreira. Nothing to do with juvenile arguments about ‘liking’ someone, I just explained to Bob above my view of all midfielders and how I’d chop it. There’s no sentiment there as I said last season when I stated there’s not one player I’d be desperate to keep hold of.

https://www.premierleague.com/players/23033/Lucas-Torreira/stats?co=1&se=274

https://www.premierleague.com/players/12136/Granit-Xhaka/stats?co=1&se=274

Useroz

Ceballos may be relatively the lesser ponderous MF player however don’t see him good enough if we have any CL and PL ambition as Arteta stared and reiterated. Defo not worth the 40 to 50m media touted.

Good on him working hard in training to get back in the starting 11/ bench but performance has regressed from a creative perspective.

TR7

I like Torreira. He is nimble footed and good at tackling. He can press high and break up play. Not very bad in and around opposition box either. He does face problems against overly physical opposition but he ticks a lot of boxes for me. AMN gets a lot of stick from many for his attitude and rightly so but can’t help but think he has attributes to be a good player. It’s up to Arteta to get him to put his head down and realize his potential. If we can get Ceballos for £15M, I think we should keep… Read more »

Ishola70

Charlie

“There’s no sentiment there as I said last season when I stated there’s not one player I’d be desperate to keep hold of.”

Thank you. That’s all we need to know and sums up the parlous state of the Arsenal midfield.

The midfield needs a complete revamp including the midfielder that has been seen as the core one Xhaka.

Nelson

I can imagine that Reiss Nelson must have enough from the VAR photo showing all the players lining up on a line while he stood like an idiot five feet in an offside position.

Habesha Gooner

Charlie
You forgot to mention the stat at the bottom that says Error leading to goals which points to lack of concentration. 7 for Xhaka and none for torriera. Discipline also a problem in your stats. Also your xhaka stats are projected from 121 appearances. I want more clarity on that.

Habesha Gooner

And to be honest doing a lot more in tackles points to not being in the right position. Mancity on top form have more interceptions but not tackles. That’s why he is weak. he is bypassed easily.

Champagne Charlie

Habesha
Filter it for this season, it’s premier league games.

Neither have had an error leading to a goal this season. And they’re not my stats mate, they’re compiled by the premier league.

TR7
15 mil for Ceballos? Where on earth has that figure come from?

Ivan

Guen is ill disciplined and it showed from the start. Cant recall any game he played that he didnt recive yellow or been in the face of reff. Not that hes not talented, he is but he was also overplayed by Emery and he didnt improve his game or attitude much allthough he played a lot. The thing that impressed me most about Arteta and that I see as a big improvement after Emery is Arteta face his problems head on. I saw most of post match pressers, and Arteta never hides from obvious, he openly said that we had… Read more »

Ishola70

TR7

“He can press high and break up play”

Yes he can and has shown that.

It would be hilarious to think that Xhaka could be capable of high pressing which Torreira has done.

And yet we are told porky pies this morning stating that Xhaka is “better” defensively.

TR7

Charlie

I meant to say I wouldn’t shell out more than £15-20M for Ceballos. Of course Real will demand at least twice the money but I think we can do better than Ceballos for that sort of money.

Habesha Gooner

Charlie Fair enough If you actually think Xhaka is better defensively than torriera. I just see a player that gets there after he fucked up or made a mistake leading to trouble. He doesn’t even compare to torriera when talking about defensive qualities for me. That’s why I have problems with arteta. He wanted more offensive threat so he added ceballos by taking out torriera because he had xhaka as his favorite. We have sucked defensively since torriera has been taken out of the lineup and that’s not a surprise. Xhaka was the one who should have been dropped if… Read more »

China1

The torreira isn’t good enough bandwagon has always just been a bit bizarre He’s had two proper spells at DM and in both periods was consistently one of our top 3 performers Then for whatever reasons (injury/emery ‘strategy’ playing him out of position/insulting arteta’s mam or something) he goes off a cliff and everyone starts repeating the he’s not good enough quip He’s not necessarily world class but he’s one of our top 5 players and is one of the least logical players to sell out of our squad. But you know, he’s not 6’4 so he needs to go… Read more »

TR7

Arteta should not touch Stones with a barge pole. Daniel Ake a far better option imo.

Ivan

Habesha

Saka is reason we need Xhaka. He is the fake lb that tucks in to the left when Saka goes up.

He also give bigger phisycal presence than Torr.

When we get fully fit Tierney i bet Xhaka will se hes ass on the bench more often, especially if Ceba continues his form.

Ishola70

Out of the current midfielders I’d keep Torreira, Guendouzi and we have to be realistic Ozil is not going anywhere and he is not as important regarding the tempo and tone of the central midfield as he is an AM. Looking at the current options for CM in the Arsenal squad and it’s just not good enough. Sparse and lacking in real quality. When Ceballos leaves to go back to Spain we are left with Xhaka, Torreira and Guendouzi as options for CM and for a big club that is pathetic. Let’s hope the Arsenal management get their fingers out… Read more »

China1

The other illogical thing about selling torreira is do people really want to replace the ENTIRE midfield in a single window (and also think this is realistic for the club)?? Xhaka needs to be sold and ozil needs to disappear. Mikki should not be welcome back. Ceballos leaves in the summer. Guendouzi divides fan opinions and is not the finished article and willock is lower than guen in the logical pecking order. So on what planet is it logical in this context for us to even entertain selling torreira? The club should be focusing its attention on addressing the largest… Read more »

Ishola70

China1
“The other illogical thing about selling torreira is do people really want to replace the ENTIRE midfield in a single window (and also think this is realistic for the club)??”

You could actually do it because as said before the number of CMs at Arsenal are pathetic in number . Just three when Ceballos goes back to Spain.

But I’d keep Torreira and Guendouzi and add two more CMs in the summer.

Ivan

Ishola – spot on

Hope we cash in on Xhaka and get at least one athletic dm and one cappable cm.

Remeber Arteta interview at the start of his tenure when he said that hed like specialist for every position.

Hope that means no more Xhaka type players and similar hybrids. Cant run, cant carry ball up front, cant tacke and read game to intercept efficiently but can spray long pass now and than, has strong left foot and somegow can play cb if needed.

Habesha Gooner

Ivan
that’s fair if it is the thinking behind it. We have no creativity other than saka and pepe.

Ishola
With you completely on that. The only player that should be a starter for us next season is torriera. We need to bring a cheap young alternative to him like pape gueye too. But CM and CAM we need new starters. Sell Xhaka and let ozil move for free.

Dissenter

That Ogbonna grab of Lacazette was a 100% penalty
Referees won’t make obvious calls now because they are afraid of being second guessed by a colleague who’s watching the game while sipping a latte.
The referee in the Southampton vs Newcastle game made VAR work yesterday. He jogged over and reviewed the VAR monitor to reverse himself on a nasty tackle that wa s initially deemed a yellow card.
Had Martin Atkinson seen how obviously Ogbonna was holding back Laca from reaching the ball, he would have been embarrassed and probably consider retiring at the end of the season.

China1

Height is not a prerequisite for a good career in the PL. we can double check with makelele how critical height and power is to do a great defensive job in England We all want our entire team to be physical specimens who are also top class players, but of these two qualities, it’s the footballing aspect which should always get priority. Otherwise you end up like most of the PL where all the clubs are full of players like Antonio, Iwobi, Welbeck etc who are all amazing athletes but are miles short in terms of *actual footballing ability*. I… Read more »

Dissenter

Habesha
I think you’re overrating Torriera way too much and you’re just another card carrying member of the Xhaka-bashing party.
I’m convinced Torriera’s playing style doesn’t fit the league. He’s too small to be aerially effective, doesn’t cover enough room like a proper central midfielder and doesn’t pass that well. He makes as many errors as Xhaka but people like you look the other way.
He does tackle quite well and has a knack of breaking up play well.
My point is there’s nothing irreplaceable about him. He’s just another flawed midfielder that we acquired.

Dissenter

TR7
We are not going to be able to afford either of Ake or John Stones
Do we really need to acquire another central defender when we are so bereft of central midfielders?

Habesha Gooner

Dissenter
I am absolutely not over rating torriera. He is absolutely dependable in a good team. He is not going to be world class but I have seen enough in him to know he wouldn’t hold us back. He was one of our best players when arteta started and now we look suspect defensively because he isn’t there. He does his job and I think he is the last one I would replace in our midfield.

Ivan

China1

You need balance. Cant have Shire FC in PL. Only way to compete both domesticaly and in Europe is to have good blend of both.

If you only have small techincaly gifted players they will get runned over in PL.

Torr injury is testament to that. Reffs support thoughs and let a lot of rough challenges slide.

Useroz

n the 2nd half , the west ham defender had “Lacazette in a wrestling hold for fully 5 seconds in the penalty area, VAR gave nothing. VAR was desperately trying to find Ozil offside, they tried for about 2/3 minutes to find a part of his body that may have been a millimetre offside ..in the end it was like they reluctantly gave us the goal ” _________ Conspiracy or not, you’d be forgiven to be curious about the people sitting behind those VAR screens at the Arsenal game. If the way Laca’ long sleeve was pulled by that West… Read more »

Ishola70

Habesha

Dissenter argues regarding Xhaka from a feeling sorry for him stance.

Sweet and all but not really addressing the problems Arsenal have at CM.

Words on a Blog

The naked eye would say that Torreira is better defensively than Xhaka, both in terms of tackles and interceptions, but more importantly that he is a much better presser of the ball.

Xhaka plays in part cos he contributes more to possession than Torreira. And with Saka playing more further up the field on the left, there needs to be someone to fill in the space he leaves behind.

That person is Xhaka

Champagne Charlie

China

Torreira is slow and short, that’s irrefutable. If you don’t like Xhaka for being cumbersome and slow then you either apply it to Torreira and any other midfielders or see yourself out because what’s the point.

Ishola70

Words

Any CM can place himself in the LB position as cover.

Xhaka going to LB is two fold. To provide cover for Saka and as a safety net for himself.

You see Xhaka operating from the left side deep many times now when he is on the ball starting a move. This area is his safety net. There is less pitch space in this area to get exposed in.

Ishola70

As Marc pointed out a month or so ago Xhaka has been going left side deep even when Saka was not playing LB.

Ishola70

Don Arsenal are not the only team that have fullbacks bombing forward and other players will naturally fill in if necessary the defensive position the fullback vacates. But what is more telling is Xhaka goes into the left side deep position when starting moves and not just to provide cover there. This is because if Xhaka loses the ball early or the team move breaks down early from left side deep there is less pitch space for the opposition to take advantage of. Arteta has seen that Xhaka can struggle when teams break on Arsenal through the centre in open… Read more »

Ishola70

It doesn’t entirely stop Xhaka being exposed because opposition can switch play quickly after winning the ball back early in deep left position but it scales the probability of Xhaka being exposed down.

If opposition win the ball back early in this area Xhaka has a chance of simply running the opposing player out of the pitch over the touchline. The opposing player runs out of pitch space.

Champagne Charlie

“Xakha-Torreira combined works though
You put Grealish in front of those two and we are instantly more dangerous.“

I’d be shocked if CM is at all to Arteta’s liking given how he sees the game. I fully anticipate it’ll be the area developed most under his leadership.

He sat at the base of our midfield and had Ramsey, Song, Wilshere, Arshavin, Rosicky, Cazorla and Diaby. He’s seen first hand the value of a midfield with levels to their game.

China1

Charlie try as you might to drag other players down to lift your fav xhaka up in comparison, torreira is clearly more nimble and agile than xhaka and that’s refrelected in his ability to do well defensively in the center of the pitch unlike xhaka who needs to be put in a very specific, extra protected role to be able to contribute anything other than a defensive horror show Xhaka, who is on the form of his life under arteta currently looks like a 6.5/10 player. His great achievement under arteta he is getting credit for is not looking utterly… Read more »

Ishola70

Usually a CB will come across and defend the area a LB has left exposed going higher up the pitch if opponents are breaking on them in this FB area.

That Arsenal are specifically getting Xhaka to do this is telling.

Marc

Arteta has a lot of goodwill from the fans and I think most see what he’s trying to do even if it doesn’t quite happen some of the time. However if we line up next season with Xhaka as a first choice CM and it’s clear that he hasn’t been sold because Arteta wants to keep him that goodwill will quickly fade if results aren’t seen as good enough.

Champagne Charlie

China

So the difference is your subjective opinion on two players, and a condescending dismissal of mine because Xhaka is “my fav” – despite no mention of how he’s rated outside of relative to the other CM’s at the club.

Meanwhile Torreira is ‘one of our top 5 players’ on your say so, and Makelele gets drafted in as a pillar of the defence against him being called short.

Glad that’s me caught up, educational stuff.

Dissenter

Ishola As you well know, Xhaka doesn’t need any pity. He’s proven he can take care of himself, remember he have the middle finger to all the boo-boys and didn’t even bother to do a groveling apology. He’s the player who was truly ready to move in before the manager persuaded him to stay. He’s also one that didn’t even bash the former manager to ingratiate himself to Arteta. He’s is who he is, callus and all. He is still our best and most dependable midfielder, even when is flaws are baked in. This is not even an endorsement of… Read more »

Marc

Ishola

Is the problem Arteta’s tactic of getting a CM to drop into LB when the full back pushes forward or is the problem the player who’s doing it?

Dissenter

*he gave the middle finger

Marc

Un

“Was criminal letting our ballers walk for free the way emery and Raul did.”

Which players?

Ishola70

Marc “Is the problem Arteta’s tactic of getting a CM to drop into LB when the full back pushes forward or is the problem the player who’s doing it?” lol I think you know the answer to that. This tactic is as much about Xhaka as it is providing cover for Saka. As said other teams if they get caught on the break with their FB gone walk abouts further up the field they will just get the CB to come across to defend that area and the rest of the team just filters back as well. The tactic is… Read more »

Valentin

To be honest, I am slightly disappointed with Arteta. He has stabilised the team, makes us more difficult to beat and re-energised some players, but going forward we are still as toothless and predictable than under Emery. I understand that we have some limitation with our players, but to me what is clear is this team is not suited for 4-2-3-1. When we attack we switch to that weird lopsided 3-1-4-2. With a duo of Xhaka, Torreira/Ceballos we have no willing runner going past the ball carrier or the striker. Low block opposition do not even have to worry about… Read more »

S Asoa

Agree with Chesney10
Wish someone would sell Laca and fix thereby Arteta’s fixation. You know , stabilise his senses.

Champagne Charlie

Xhaka is our most useful midfielder plain and simple, you can argue the merits of the midfield as a matter of that but it’s the landscape we have. He doesn’t miss games injured, he’s our most progressive passer, his defensive input is wildly undervalued even when the numbers are offered up clear as day, and he has a physical profile sorely lacking in our side as a whole. On top of that he’s played LB and CB admirably when it’s been called upon and despite the laughable stuff on here towards him he has a proper personality. To suggest him… Read more »

Ishola70

Dissenter
“As you well know, Xhaka doesn’t need any pity”

How about adulation then?

What home match should the fans give Xhaka a standing ovation in which you were calling for?

Remember we are nearing the end of the season now and home games are running out for the fans to rise as one in appreciation of our Granit.

Dissenter

Unai na
What ballers do you keep talking about ?
-Santi had been injured forever, the club extended his contract twice out of respect even though he was crocked…at the end he went back home. The regret is that he didn’t get a proper send-off
-Wilshere had been a perpetual crock. He is still a perpetual crock and is keeping the Westham physios busy.
At least acknowledge there were valid reasons for whatever choices were made.

UTarse

“Ozil’s game has markedly picked up under the tutelage of Arteta.Yesterday’s assist was a fine example of Ozil’s instinctive reaction to being in the right place at the right time.”

Calypso, chuck us a pair of those rose tinted bins please mate.

Champagne Charlie

Un

You know I agree entirely with that, yet some still sit wondering why we’re lacking guile and ingenuity. Some even blaming sauceless Arteta of course.

If I could have a pick of any player I’d love a fit Thiago Alcantra, he would destroy teams in this league. Unreal footballer

Marc

Un No mate you got my take all wrong. You said “Was criminal letting our ballers walk for free the way emery and Raul did” Jack – Wenger / Gazidis Santi – Wenger / Gazidis Ramsey – Had already decided to leave Sanllehi did the right thing Mkhitaryan – Is down to Emery / Sanllehi Iwobi – Helped pay for Pepe so worth selling Benching ozil – Emery but there is a huge question on his contribution at the moment. You blamed Emery and Sanllehi for letting all these players go – I don’t see much of Sanllehi doing any… Read more »

China1

Charlie you’ve been defending xhaka on here since the day he joined, good performances (very few and far between) and the bad (notoriously frequent) You don’t have to express how much you rate xhaka for it to be known any more than Pedro needs to spell out that he thinks arteta is going to be the next big thing. It has always been clear As for torreira being one of our best 5 players when in a proper run at DM, player of the month awards both last season and this during his only proper spells at DM say, yes,… Read more »