Arsenal took a defeat away at the Etihad in the first game back after the international break. There are no two ways about it, the result was disappointing, but probably not the disaster performance many are trying to paint.
Our truth right now is very similar to what it was last season under Mikel Arteta. We are well organized, we are resolute, and we’re tough to beat. We are… good at defending. Arteta wants to build a side based on strong foundations. He’s not far off cracking that code. Before yesterday, under Arteta, we were top 4 for total points since he took over. This is our best start in the league for 7 years.
… we are, however, a little bit shit going forward.
It doesn’t really seem to matter what combination the manager uses, we’re one dimensional. Arteta tried Willian in a false 9 role yesterday and it wasn’t very effective. Our front three weren’t really given much to work from. We tend to deliver one type of move and it’s not that hard to defend against. I think it’s fair to say that we attack with the handbrake on.
The hope was that we’d get runners in behind City’s centre backs yesterday like Leicester did but it didn’t really happen. We lacked ball speed when passing. Our attacking moves seemed almost over-rehearsed. We didn’t possess that extra 5% that comes with confidence. You don’t feel that we have the extra gear to kill a game when there’s blood in the water.
That might be a little unfair. We did have some good chances but we fluffed our lines. Bukayo Saka, having another excellent game, forced a brilliant shouldered save from Ederson. Nicolas Pepe didn’t do well with two pretty sound chances for headers. The opportunities were few and far between, but we really should be doing better with the pace and pedigree we have in the side.
I think Pepe will look back and be disappointed with how he played. He was very meek again. His passivity is infuriating to watch and his pressing is very hit or miss. Quite often, it looks like he’d prefer to be fouled than fight and beat a man. Willian also didn’t seem at the races, not what I was hoping for after dropping such a huge amount on his contract, he looks less settled than Gabriel.
There has to be a way around it. I’d be excited about ESR if he could stay fit for longer than 6 minutes. Having someone that can run with the ball and play in the pockets is what’s needed, but it’s quite a reach to think he’s bailing us out this season. Saka is great out on the left, I’m sure he could play through the middle, but you’d be teaching someone on the job which would require a steep learning curve. It is always tempting to think that Mesut Ozil is saving you here… but be real, our dismal away record isn’t going to be solved by someone that has bottled tough away games for 5 years at Arsenal. Wenger used to let him have days off. If you can’t commit behind the scenes, what makes anyone think he’ll do it on the pitch in a game like yesterday?
I think my biggest worry is that we sold the wrong keeper. The mistake we made for the goal was a catalogue of errors, I don’t doubt that. Bellerin and Luiz both have to do better in that situation. However, I find it difficult to look past Leno palming a shot like that right back into the feet of Sterling. This is now a pattern. He repeated the same thing about 10 minutes later. Emi Martinez was very much a catcher and he mostly palmed shots away from danger. The keeping coaches need to get on top of this issue because it’s starting to look like a tactical opportunity to shoot from distance against him.
Outside the goal, our defence was pretty good. David Luiz was originally dropped, then had to be called upon when Rob Holding tweaked his hamstring in the warm-up. It seemed like he was sulking a little bit. He’s a player that you can’t really drop because he takes it badly. I think this will become apparent as he transitions behind younger models this season. Also… stop indulging the garbage freekicks. He’s not a specialist.
It’s still early days in the so-called process. You can’t fix everything at the same time. We’re solid defensively, it is an objective fact that we did not get battered like we usually do in away games. That is a massive shift forward regardless of how offended your sensibilities are. It is an objective fact that we were still in that game right until the death. It is objective fact that when we were battered by them in June, we conceded 20 shots and yesterday and didn’t hit the target ourselves… yesterday, we limited them to 5 shots on target from 13 attempts. We had 11 attempts and 3 on target.
This is a process and things take time. Let’s see what a difference Thomas Partey will make to our midfield. Let’s see what happens when Willian settles and Saka grows in confidence and experience.
Things will get better. I want to get over the novelty of Arsenal being a competitive team, because we can’t be celebrating failure like this past January. We want to be the best, there’s no glory in losing, Arteta has to learn from these games and push the team forward… because this attacking conundrum has to be addressed with the players we have.
Onwards and upwards… we have a month to fix these problems against two more top teams. Let’s see what the coaching staff can do to make good on this result.
Rich
The two teams who have recently been thrashed have both beaten Arsenal.
Worried spurs mourinho win the league it would be like the anti christ being born
Fucking hell come on West Ham
Have to marvel at this place, only here can you see
– Spurs as champions-elect 5 games into a league season
– Arteta as Moyes 5 games into his first full season as a manager
– 25 year old Hojbjerg get labelled an ‘up and comer’
– Kaz asking others if they’re dumb.
Super Spurs conceding two in two minutes, exciting football though.
WOW! getting close 3 – 2
People go on about Villa and Leicester’s performance against Liverpool and city, why? Totally different game totally different expectations of the opposition.
Peps city respect us now they didn’t before and takeaway Leicester’s 3 pens they were right not to respect them.
Liverpool didn’t respect villa either but they did us.
We’ve given them both bloody noses recently so they both upped their game.
Why still moderation boss?
Cmon WH one more
Rich
Can you explain how Liverpool were hammered AFTER they beat Arsenal
Just a comment on people saying West Ham are relegation fodder. Their two PL matches prior to today were a 3 nil win against Leicester away and a 4 nil win against Wolves at home.
We play Leicester at home next week and Wolves at home at the end of November. Does anyone think we’ll score 7 goals in those 2 matches or manage to keep 2 clean sheets?
You forgot one CC
You thinking your opinion is so much higher than everyone elses.
I think you’re a difficult person but I enjoy you’re in this community.
Marc, apparently anyone Arsenal beat are relegation fodder lol.
“‘Player poverty’ is the new handbrake.”
Strangely it only started to exist Christmas day 2019.
Dissenter playing I told you so with Hojberg, really?
He’s bang average mate. Southampton haven’t missed a beat without him.
Tom
No not at all – when we beat them they are amazing – it’s when someone else beats a team that they become relegation fodder.
Dissenter
There’s an NFL saying “Offense wins you games but defense wins you championships”. So yes, I agree that you have to build from the back. And yes, I agree that we defend better than we used to under Emery. But there’s time and place for pragmatic football. We can’t be playing the same way against Sheffield United and Liverpool or City, for example. I don’t mind losing games when I see the effort and smart game plan. There was nothing of the above on display yesterday. Hence the complaints.
Ohh close from Bale there. Emi Martinez would have scored that.
What a fucking goal!!!!!
What a goal!
Hahahahahahahahahahah
Fucking back in your box you pathetic bunch of pricks on here
3 – 3
Leftside
That was funny
Lol, Spurs league champions
oh my fkin god
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
Last second goal.
Hahahahaha
😂
FPOOOTBALLL BLOODY HELLL!!!!!!!!
Thank goodness
Fucking lol!
Absolute muppets on here today. Amazing.
Mourinho meltdown imminent
Hahahajahahsjsjsjsjsjshsj
Maureen receiving mouth to mouth😂
It’s not mutually exclusive that we suffer from ‘player poverty’ and that Emery as well hadn’t a fucking clue in charge you know…
Hilarious that people are still championing Emery.
Makes the earlier frothing at the mouth talking up Spurs on twitter funnier.
Arsenal managed to beat this side.
What are the odds that Pedro suddenly appears!
Brilliant!
West Ham spanked Leicester, spanked Wolves, and stuck 3 past Spurs for a draw.
We beat them. Hate to fucking see it.
Bale on at 3-0, ends 3-3. Put your dicks away.
Hojberg the difference-maker. Just as Dissenter predicted.
Where are the Spurs lovers on le grove
Here cometh the Calvary
Bamford
Careful, stating the obvious is a crime on this blog.
Bale the jinx, lol…..
At least, Westham went for it, not like Arteta.
Hahahhaa 3-3
At least West Ham didn’t get embarrassed 😳😂😂😂
Mouninho difference!
Wonder goal from Lanzini. Fucking genius ❤️
Leftside
Martinez would have scored that Lanzini goal from his own box.
Take that Spurs! Now Tim Sherwood can take a chill pill and shut his trap. Bale this, Bale that.. Love it, love it.
West Ham to win the league??
“At least, Westham went for it, not like Arteta.”
West Ham went for it against Arteta and lost.
Whoever hyped up Spurs are probably the same clowns hyping up our manager.
Calypso
You missed the point of the story.
Liverpool being hit for 7 has happened once in 70 years.
A Guardiola side being hit for 5, has only happened once, and there was mitigating circumstances.
These results were the exception, and not the rule.
andy
How many matches did the Spud’s go without a win when Bale was playing for them back in the day?
I’d piss myself if we had a repeat of that!
WengerEagle
October 18, 2020 17:51:58
‘Spurs have a very pedestrian CM and are always prime for a meltdown with Jose at the wheel when results start to slip.’
Well, this aged well didn’t it. LOL.
Football is crazy and Le Grove is crazier. Premature title challenge talks galore…this season is a crazy one. Very unptedictable.
Jamie
Don’t worry, your back up have arrived.
Learn to check the league table before you try using it to make your point.
Spuds fucked this up doesn’t mean they don’t have a great squad on paper. I don’t think Jose is the one to take them to wherever they want to go. So, this is hoping they’ve given Jose a long-term contract.
Hilarious watching some of you crown Mourinho at halftime of Matchday 5.
Moyes permanent erection for the rest of the season.?
Bale missed a golden chance to make it 4-2 in the 92nd min.. lol… The goal from Lanzini was pure class
Lot of cunts praising spuds on here today!! Shame on you
Stick to making sweet predictions, Dissenter. They’re so funny.
Spursey
James
I’ve always considered Moyes to be one of the greatest managers to grace the PL and will always for me at least be the one that got away.
‘Learn to check the league table before you try using it to make your point.’
Lol, Diss you sound salty that Spurs choked away a 3 goal lead.
All you FIFA fans hang your head announcing spurs as title holders lol
Hey Le grove bro,
You are a legend. Maybe building from defence is the best way to go! Sorry for my previous comment. How fickle am I?
Newcastle vs Arsenal (4-4) scenes in the spurs game.
Diet Coutinho with a worldie
Well that one turned around quickly haha.
Heard the last goal go in from another room so went back ten mins on the sky box to enjoy the meltdown in full!
So WestHam got something eh?
This is why the game yesterday was so infuriating
You see teams like this giving it their all playing with belief and getting just rewards and then you see that nonsense yesterday from a meek coach with a meek captain and generally meek players aside from a few and then you wonder
To make it worse he said he liked the performance.
Sheesh! What an idiotic thing to say
What a result love to see the scum fucked over
Jamie
Remember Westham are very bad… you’re trying to have it both ways.
When spuds were ahead it didn’t matter because west ham were so bad.
Now that Westham responded you’re hanging tune.
Wheres the jiz heads on spurs loool
“There’s something different about Spuds this season. I know it but I won’t say it. Mourhino has gathered a good group of players and he has the know-how to win a league title.
Liverpool have lost VVD so you can’t count on them to stop Spuds”
Dissenter on page 2.
Never change. Always good for a good laugh.
Heheh, that’s a great o.g by Sanchez, an ‘orrible gaff!
A lot of people on here are over reacting and talk like football is mathematics. All the top teams have dropped points and they will drop more
‘Except that no one is. This is a straw-man.’
You have forever banged Emery’s drum on here and were only bleating about it being the squad poverty and not the manager as to the reason that we nosedived down the table.
“Spuds fucked this up doesn’t mean they don’t have a great squad on paper. I don’t think Jose is the one to take them to wherever they want to go. So, this is hoping they’ve given Jose a long-term contract.”
This sums it up for me. No lie spurs squad is stacked and dripping with talent. In terms of player quality they shit on us from miles above.
But they have a shit manager and weak mentality hence why they always ultimately flop.
Dissenter
Can you clarify how Hojbjerg is an up and comer at 25?
Looks a lot like you’ve nailed your colours to the most average mast going, and I personally don’t want to let you sweep this one under the carpet like so many of your ‘certain’ predictions.
Dissenter you fool, I already told you those are Bamford’s words for excusing our win against West Ham, not mine.
Here are your words from an hour ago:
“I just hope one of city or Liverpool get their act together to make it impossible for spuds under Mourhino to do the impossible.”
Embarrassing. You never learn.
This season is looking more and more fucked up as we go along. It’s making 15/16 season look marginally sane.
I don’t think the Spud’s will win the league but it could be more open for any team that manages to get their shit together. Is Allardyce out of work?
“There’s something different about Spuds this season. I know it but I won’t say it. Mourhino has gathered a good group of players and he has the know-how to win a league title.
Liverpool have lost VVD so you can’t count on them to stop Spuds”’
Oh dear, this is embarrassing.
Not one of your finer moments on here, Dissenter.
Mr Serge
I hope I’m wrong, but this hilarious capitulation doesn’t make Spurs not serious title contenders.
Had Bale gone the other side of the post, the narrative would be a different one entirely.
Football’s a game of small margins, and Spurs definitely have a squad good enough to compete, providing they keep their key players fit.
London gunner
Player poverty holds back Arsenal from making 3-0 comebacks.
I turned out it over at 3-0 and missed it all.
Lesson learnt.
Damn… did not see that coming. What a goal, and hats off to Moyes and West Ham. Battled from 3-0 down. Just like we battled from 1-0 down yesterday…. oh wait.
So what does power rankings predict about Villa vs Leiceater game ? One team thumped Pool, the other destroyed City.
Artetas mentor Moyes has more longstuff than his protege!
Look out guys, funnyman Jamie is back wit the sick burns after the predictable Tottenham choke to back up his homie who got outshot by West Ham 2:1.
Hamford apparently doesn’t know what straw man means. His inflatable “straw man” is in his closet, full of his spunk. In case you’re confused, spunk and straw man are pretty close to each other in the dictionary, why don’t you go look it up again.
WengerEagle
Who is top of La Liga
Wait Holjberg is up and coming? Bayern B team to Southampton to Spurs…yep checks out
‘Also, the West Ham we’ve seen in the past two PL matches is better than the one we saw play Arsenal, IMO. I’m not sure exactly what has changed, but they’re a better team now.’
Bamford makes it very difficult to not dislike/abhor him.
I thought people were fucking about when they said Villareal were top of La Liga!
No wonder Pedro’s not about.
Bamford give it a rest you were on here saying they were the worst team in the league after we beat them and then when they got a result against your second team Leicester you walked back those comments first.
Can you tag in Dariano so he can post on your behalf for the rest of the evening?
Constantly going out your way to dump on Arsenal yet you got Rich and the like twerking in your defence.
Westham outplayed us at the Emirates so it’s not surprising that they bounced back in a dramatic fashion.
I’m glad it happened because I was beginning to get worried with the ease with with Son and Kane were tearing teams apart.
It is surprising that a Mourhino led ream can collapse so badly in 12 minutes to draw a game that should have been in the bag.
A Dariano is simply a Karen that’s had his gender reassigned.