GLORIOUS FAILURE IS AN AFFRONT TO PROGRESSING STANDARDS

by .

Well, what an average week.

One bad decision snowballed into multiple.

The biggest problem this week was how we approached the Europa League. We went big, played a group that had been rinsed physically by the Leeds game, we didn’t win.

Then we headed into Sunday, we were forced to rest players, and our lack of depth couldn’t handle City’s quality.

We lost 1-0. That’s not bad against the best team in Europe, the problem was less about the result, it was more about the acceptance of a lesser defeat.

‘We didn’t get spanked as bad as we usually would have’ is a 2019 way to look at games. Yesterday, after going down in under 2 minutes again, we just seemed to land on the idea that losing by one goal would be acceptable.

That’s not cool.

We played our way back into the game after Sterling of all people headed in birthday boy Mahrez’s cross early on.

We were certainly asking questions of City, especially in the last 15 minutes. We were stretching their defence, we were pinning them back, we had some moments. The hope was that we might have a go in the second half.

We didn’t.

We played with fear. The whole game was predicated on caution. Odegaard rarely took a chance by turning into space. The Norwegian was not at the races, it was a timid showing from him, but again, maybe his fitness was running low after a few games in a row after very little before. Mo Elneny’s fear of vertical passing seemed to infect everyone’s confidence. Auba, clearly knackered, offered next to nothing going forward. His fake jumps for balls in the box were embarrassing. His body language was shocking at times. He offered nothing. Is it time to accept that he can’t handle three games in a week? Is it time to accept that in hardworking games like that, you need a different forward leading the line: Lacazette or Martinelli would have offered more.

Defensively, I kept on thinking, ‘wouldn’t it be nice to have ball players.’ Rob Holding was fairly decent, but he’s not really built to be spraying it around against City. Pablo Mari was supposed to be the artful of the two, he just kept passing it Holding. Hector Bellerin was deeply frustrating all day. His partnership with Pepe was horrendous, not helped by the wingers return to normal form. His first touch was horrible. His decision making wasn’t great. Then you had Tierney, not his best day out, but maybe City was too much to ask after 5 games out.

Let’s talk about Pepe. He’s just not the full ticket, is he? His runs were poor, his touch wasn’t great, his decision making was laughable… he looks like he should be a good player, I’m just not sure we’ll ever see it. I’d prefer to see Martinelli on the left and Saka coming in on the right

We also have to be very honest about this squad. It is very nothingy without Thomas Partey. You can’t expect to beat City with Mo Elneny playing next to Xhaka. It’s not the Egyptian’s fault, he’s a sound guy, no doubt, but he’s painfully limited in games that require accurate passing with an edge of boldness.

The Arteta system needs fast passing from the base and it needs someone leading the line that is fully fit. Auba couldn’t run the line, he hid from crosses, and he looked sad. Elneny is living the dream, he’s the African Carl Jenkinson, we need to move on from him.

We also need to find a strong narrative heading into the end of the season. At the moment, there’s nothing to hold onto as a fan. We’re 1 step forward, 2 back every other month. It’s exhausting. There’s progress, but it’s not wrapped in anything. Arteta keeps telling us what we already know. He needs to give us hope. He needs to show us he can give us a run or another trophy.

Ending Leicester City’s title run next week? Yes please.

Ending Jose Mourinho’s Spurs career? Double yes.

Winning the Europa League by putting Unai ‘Good Ebening’ Emery to the sword? Don’t say sexy things you don’t mean.

This season has been shit. Give us some f*cking joy. Put a run together.

Check out our On The Whistle Podcast. It’s with Matt and Johnny. It’s a good one. They are basically miserable af and I keep the positivity bubbling. I’m that guy now. Imagine?

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BlackStock

Emery was sacked after just 13 games into the new season and since then we have regressed not impressed.

Goobergooner

Hahaha you got called out for what you are. A cunt. Get back to your superfan job mate.

Cheney10

Mark: I take your points onboard but their are critical points in games when players are the only ones that can make a difference. I used Saka and his inability to find Auba yesterday as an example earlier. There was the Auba’s six yard miss, there was Xhaka’s brainfart, Pepe’s brainfart against Leeds… How can Arteta legislate for this? I love Gabi but on his last start he was way short. Wilian hasn’t started a game since December and Cedric has been covering KT. Arteta sets the team up, he coaches and does have an impact but it’s in the… Read more »

Goobergooner

Considering there is more than one game a week I’m obviously doing better than you think 😂😂😂. Can’t even count. You must be a lawn mower or something that doesn’t require much thought.

The Bard

The point about Arteta is he is a rookie manager and is making mistakes along the way. We have to be patient and see whether he is a quick learner or not. When he was appointed we didn’t exactly have a tranche of top managers busting a gut to manage us. The big mistake the board made was not sacking Wenger much earlier we then would have had many more experienced options. We are paying the price for that indulgence.

Goobergooner

Nothing against lawn mowers by the way. Mowed my fair share of lawns 😂

Cheney10

Azed: Agreed. My point is the tactics got them there and put them in positions but players made the mistakes. Those mistakes are the difference makers between 10th and 6th for us this season and for the examples you have in previous.

Goobergooner

But olis, apart from getting up early every day what else is it exactly that makes you a real fan?

Mark

@Cheney

“Tuchel is getting a tune out of those players because they are good”

If that statement is true then why couldn’t Frank ???

You’ve kinda answered my question. The difference has to be the manager!

Cheney10

Mark: Earlier in the year, so was Frank. Also, look at the teams Chelsea have played recently. My point is our players/squad are/ is not strong enough and that’s not Arteta’s fault.

Mark

@Olis “Goober you’re Australian what do you know about being a fan of the Arsenal?” Wow, you really are a knuckle dragger aren’t you. Doesn’t matter if Goober is from Aus. Just as other Arsenal fans from around the world who post on here seem to have a greater knowledge and feel for the game than you. Such a sad little man you are. That you feel you have to attack anyone with s view that differs from yours. As Goober said you sound just like the type who gets mouthy when he’s got 6 mates behind him , as… Read more »

Goobergooner

Cheney it kinda is though.

He didn’t sell players he has now loaned out to make funds available for the 2nd midfielder he wanted to bring in.

And also spent a good deal of time trying to coerce Willian to join when we really didn’t need him. That money could have loaned a very good cam or another cm considering how poor our options are there and how stacked we are in the forward line.

DivineSherlock

Olis

What a proper shithead you are , Goobergooner loves the club , what else is required to be a fan you muppet . Didnt have proper education did you ?

BlackStock

The plan should of been sack Emery make top 4 and then in a couple of seasons challenge for the title, instead we’ve completely capitulated.

Cheney10

Goober: If that is all on Arteta what does Edu do?

Goobergooner

But Cheney, I don’t lay the blame squarely on Arteta. Well in terms of squad building he has had the least say. It was all Wenger/gazidis/Raul prior to Arteta joining.

Now it’s on him and edu. I think I trust edu more than Arteta.

Winthorpe

The state of some of you. Throwing your toys out of the pram after a 1-0 loss to the best team in Europe right now. You were all sharpening your knives beifre the game
We all knew it was going to be a loss. Wouldnt matter if it was 5-4 to city you’d have bitched that the defence has gone backwards.
I’ve actually switched off to most of it because it’s so pathetic and insincere and reeks of the anti arsenal agenda of the cunts (who call themselves fans) that this blog has become synonymous with.

BlackStock

Winthorpe

Man City are not the best team in Europe when beating teams like Arsenal are par for the course.

Goobergooner

Also divine/mark
Haha thanks fellas.
I can’t help sometimes getting dragged into shit talk with olis and winthorpe with their ‘better than thou’ attitudes just because people don’t share the same opinion.

We are all arsenal fans despite how we think the club would run the best or which players we like or which manager we think could do a job.

So it’s just annoying reading that you’ve never played the game or you’re not a real fan shit.

And this is an opinion blog after all.

BlackStock

Can you imagine what the top teams n Europe would do to Arsenal, it really doesn’t bear thinking.about.

Goobergooner

So what you’re saying is you have to be able to afford games and also live locally to be an arsenal fan. I’m sure the club would have totally different perspectives on that.

Mark

Cheney,
I think it is Arteta’s fault for not using the resources at his disposal. Why was Luiz even playing, I’d prefer him to be back up only.

Re Chelsea , agreed they haven’t had the toughest of runs, but there aren’t any easy games this year. It may be too early still but it does appear that he’s moving in the right direction.

I’d preferred them to have kept Frank.😔

Matt

Notice how the ones blindly following Arteta are the first to chuck insults around. Like a bunch of intolerant lefties! Agree with us or else.

Muppets.

Goobergooner

Yeah Pedro. My bad

Winthorpe

MattFebruary 22, 2021 15:13:39
Notice how the ones blindly following Arteta are the first to chuck insults around. Like a bunch of intolerant lefties! Agree with us or else.Muppets.

Chastises fans for throwing insults around whilst throwing insults around
The epitome of self awareness here braking his 4th wall

Mark

Matt,

It’s do apparent. 1st thing out the mudslingers mouths is abuse and how they are better fans than you…

Blah blah blah

Mark

Respect to Cheney,

At least he can have his own opinions, explain his point of view, and still debate with others without, trying to belittle people who have different opinions.

Cheney10

Mark: Me too re Frank :-))

I’d like Luiz to be back up too but we have had injuries. When we had that run of good games he wasn’t playing, and I don’t think he is first choice when everyone is fit. We have got into a conversation about players, and I’m almost sure we agree that this squad is not where it needs to be irrespective of the manager.

Mark

Even if he’s wrong. 😉

Just kidding Cheney. Nice debating with ya, wherever you’re from.👍

Matt

‘Chastises fans for throwing insults around whilst throwing insults around
The epitome of self awareness here braking his 4th wall’

The irony wasn’t lost on me. Just couldn’t stop myself from calling you out for what you are. Slightly tamer than calling people Cunts or abusing someone for being Australian because they dare to have a different view.

Pierre

Seems like somebody has a short memory…

MattFebruary 22, 2021 15:13:39
Notice how the ones blindly following Arteta are the first to chuck insults around. Like a bunch of intolerant lefties! Agree with us or else.Muppets.

MattFebruary 22, 2021 13:33:23
Pierre, just fuck off you senile old twat.

Cheney10

Mark :-))) Even if he is wrong…. but this is why we love football; despite our slight difference of opinion, we want what is best for our club and that is what unites us as a community of Gooners.

Matt

Pierre

What was that in response to?

Classic case of picking out only the points that suit your argument.

andy1886

And there he goes again. Good job Pedro!

Mark

Cheney,
Yeah the squad needs definite improvement. But as Goober said he kept players he could have sold and thereby improved us.

I personally think Saliba should have been integrated this season, (we waited long enough FFS) He is the future and would have improved us IMO.
These decisions are on him. We will see tho, as much as we all have our opinions, Arteta is his own man, and will do what he thinks is right. Of that I’m sure.

Goobergooner

Yeah but I’m one of millions of international fans who gives money in other ways and screen time to the club.

So I don’t just ‘love’ the club. And I might not pay a season membership to them (aka investing as much as you), but I have hard earned money that I give up just to show myself im a fan. My missus and grandparents even buys me presents from the arsenal store.

So the comparison between us is definitely there. Only difference is total outlay and location.

Pierre

Pedro
Conned again..

I thought you would have seen through it by now..

The entitled ones despise any poster who tries to be positive about the club , and you fall through it every time.

Windthorpe and AFC forever are the next targets..

Cheney10

Mark: We can pick decisions that we don’t agree with and Saliba is a lightning rod, as is Wilian; however, how much of an impact those decisions have had is, IMO, up for debate. Would a 19 year old CB improved us to the point where we were challenging? Top 6? Top 8? Arteta will live or die by those decisions but he needs the time. For me, if by November next year there isn’t a clear improvement then the arguments that keep me optimistic will no longer relevant, and I will join others in thinking it could be time… Read more »

Pierre

Pedro
“Matt, if you abuse Pierre or anyone like that, you’ll go in the bin as well.”

Don’t worry about me pedro , water off a duck’s back to me….no need to bin anyone on my account.

Dream10

Leicester favourites to sign Soumaré from Lille in the summer. Really good signing for them.

Anonymous Commentator

winthorpe i would rather we lose 5-4 to city, it would mean we were a good goalscoring outfit that could be exceptionally dangerous on their day and city had to open the taps to get passed us. that’s a completely different kettle of fish to what actually happened. we didn’t threaten city in any real capacity despite some positive optics in bursts, none of our attempts made ederson do any actual work. we didn’t have a single shot on target in second half. if we scored 4? against the mighty city? and forced them to have to score 5 to… Read more »

Goobergooner

Hahaha did I take one for the team?

Nelson

Goobergooner

Don’t get upset. I am also from the British Empire, Canada, to be exact.

11) We should probably say something more about Arsenal. It’s just quite hard to form an actual concrete opinion about them. For better or worse – and surely entirely unfairly, but it’s the impression one gets – they appear to be a side that football matches happen to. They don’t ever seem to dictate the terms. There is definitely a really good team in there somewhere, and a really good manager in Mikel Arteta, but they remain tantalisingly out of reach and still for the most part hypothetical. Even when they flew into a 4-0 lead against Leeds last week… Read more »

I suppose that football writer knows fuck all as well as he doesn’t have his tongue up arteta’s ringer therefore can’t taste the sauce

Goobergooner

Hmm I must have typed a banned word😂
was just saying that it’s ironic that old mate was telling me I dont have a real job, when next Monday I start a new job so this week I’m taking ‘sick’ days as I hate my current boss and haven’t taken any for 2 years 😂😂
So I’ll be sleeping in and watching the EL from bed for a change.

So Pedro I’ll be taking some of your optimism into this week for sure.

Goobergooner

Haha cheers Nelson! I only know great people from Canada!

Mark

Pedro “Benfica and Leicester this week. Then I’ll be basking in glory again and you will bow down to me.” 😂😂😂 Pedro you crack me up. If we start winning and Arteta changes his ways I would gladly eat humble pie. He gets on well with some of the players and the turmoil of sacking him isn’t lost on me. I just can’t see it happening ( him changing his personality that is) even if we beat Benfica , I can’t see us winning it or getting to the final. It’s the personality non negotiables that do it for me.… Read more »

Winthorpe

So predictable. It’s not about supporting arsenal. It’s just a popularity contest really. Someone who suits your ideals. I mean if emery is really the man you want, playing the sort of football he brought, to manage arsenal then it says more about you. Personally I think we’ve played better stuff in the last 6 weeks than at any time during emery’s reign. He buried the football arsenal was famous for in favour of his robotic, boring, functional over style shite

Pierre

AC I am sort of with you there about giving it a go . What i think windthorpe means is that if we did give it a go and lost 5-4 , the very same posters who are complaining about Arteta not giving it go will complain about Arteta giving it a go and conceding 5 .. Let’s take our 6-3 defeat to city….we gave it a good go, missed loads of chances(giroud), a couple of very dodgy offsides against us , a blatant handball , we played some real quality football that day but lost 6-3. WENGER WAS SLAUGHTERED… Read more »

Guvnor

Please stop saying fans need “ to be patient” and to trust the process. Arsenal fans have waited 17 years since we last won the Premier League. This is a huge amount of patience from a supposedly elite club. And what ‘process ‘ is there? I can’t see any…we play dreary one dimensional football, rarely take shots on goal and fail to use the wings. It’s boring. It’s predictable it’s miserable. The low expectations of how fan base are too now blame for the mediocrity on display. We moved stadiums all those years ago to “compete with Bayern and Madrid,”… Read more »

Odegaard was muted because we barely used him. All we want to do is bang the ball down the channels then cross ball into our strikers who are about as good in the air as a brick. He could be the closest thing to DB10KINGDENNIS that we’ve had in a long time, if we use him correctly

Goobergooner

Look winthorpe.

I get what you mean.

Arteta has had us playing some pretty fluid attacking football.

But no one wanted or despite their jest in saying it, wants Emery back; or for that matter actually enjoyed Emery’s style of play.

The only comparison to be made is that one got 5th and should have got 4th with 10 losses in a season. The other has us 10th with more losses than wins.

It’s not about either manager. It’s about how the club is actually doing in its search for glory.
I’d say not great at this current time.

@Guvnor

Spot on. Be patient my arse. 20 years competing in CL yet reaching the final only once. 17 years since we last won EPL, worse than that is that Tottenham look more likely to win it than we will anytime soon. But yeah let’s be patient

Goobergooner

I supported Emery, not because I thought he was the right hire, but because he was the arsenal manager. And I was fucking excited about the club taking a new direction after a long Wenger reign. I also support Arteta on game day as I’d like the club to win every game. But in my opinion I just don’t understand how the club hired either of these blokes as manager considering a lot of things. And I just think Arteta is too out of his depth for the proper rebuild that should have started with a more appropriate hire than… Read more »

Anonymous Commentator

pierre i get your point about that 6-3. but look back, our prospects were better that season as we were a truly dangerous side for the rest of the table. that was city, we were able to score 3 goals against their half a billion pound defense. that’s a lot more promising than being given free reign on providing attacking highlights for the match and not being able to score at all or provide highlights that the talking heads on tv consider worth having a look at. our danger factor is gone under arteta. the way city approached yesterday’s game… Read more »

Sid

Odegaard was only following Diet peps instructions which were to play it safe

Goobergooner

* should have said supported Emery until it was feasibly impossible for him to continue.

Which is how I feel now about Arteta haha.

Winthorpe

nonymous CommentatorFebruary 22, 2021 15:44:59
winthorpe i would rather we lose 5-4 to city, it would mean we were a good goalscoring outfit that could be exceptionally dangerous on their day and city had to open the taps to get passed us.
that’s a completely different kettle of fish to what actually happened.

Ac
So Wenger’s arsenal scoring 3 at the etihad with only the usual shit officiating giving city hooky goals and ruling out legit goals from us and penalty claims is commendable then? Glad we are on the same page lad

Sid

“If we’d chased the game and lost 3-0, the narrative would have been about not learning from the last run out.”

Its clear Diet pep and his fanboys have the same thought process.
Who is to say we wouldnt have lost 3-2 or drawn 1-1

AFC Forever

I thought Odegaard suffered at times from not receiving the ball in good positions. That will come but Elneny just isn’t that dominate midfield player like Partey. You have to remember, he’s another one catching up with the pace of the PL and finding his feet in the team and players becoming familiar with each other. it takes time, on the training field mostly but with the frequency of games that’s not always possible. I personally think we are asking a lot of players after beasting them on a Thursday with all the travel and lack of recovery time to… Read more »

Winthorpe

Thank you and goodnightFebruary 22, 2021 16:02:57
@GuvnorSpot on. Be patient my arse. 20 years competing in CL yet reaching the final only once. 17 years since we last won EPL, worse than that is that Tottenham look more likely to win it than we will anytime soon. But yeah let’s be patient

Tyag
Yeah
Which also coincided with the greatest domestic era since the 1930s
Wasn’t it awful? Shock horror

Pierre

Pedro
Odegaard played with no ambition , safety first and wasn’t prepared to take risks with the ball….a difficult for him to express himself though. .

To beat city’s press you need a smith rowe or grealish type player who will take the ball on the half turn and commit players….Odegaard didn’t attempt that.

I’m hoping taking smith rowe out of the CAM position is not permanent as i think we lose the link up play between saka and smith rowe which is vital for our creativity .

Jamie

Aubergine banned for the 21st time.

What a degenerate. He’ll be back with a new name and his trusty VPN in no time.

Shamelessly desperate to be the centre of [negative] attention. Bamford style.

Mark

” Mark, you see arsenal through your disdain for Arteta… which is up to you. It’ll come good for him, then you’ll be choking on humble pie ” Wow, You still just think it’s my disdain for him?? Pedro I gave Arteta the same chance I gave Emery, I let there performances decide. With Arteta I have even more concerns cos of how he’s treated our players, and his poor game management (set up/Subs) Not giving Emi the shirt he’d earned. Screwing over Saliba, poor handling of Balogun, Martinelli , ‘Williamgate’ etc etc Yet you still just say it’s cos… Read more »

Nelson

Pedro

Last game, the setup didn’t suit Odegaard at all. He was operating among Bellerin, Elneny, Pepe and Auba. Bellerin had a bad game. Elneny passed only sideways and backward. Auba and Pepe are lone goer. Ødegaard should play better when supported by Partey, Saka, ESR and Laca.

Sid

The diet Pep project is similar to mine.
I like to shake my project when im at the urinals

Guns of SF

Pierre I agree with you, Ode is not built for a physical high intensity type match like yesterday. ESR all day for me. ESR is the stronger player and of course has the experience factor too with Saka etc. Why he did not start is baffling…. Anyhow, my gut is telling me that Ode is not what we need long term. Fella is like Pepe, extremely left footed. At one sequence just inside the box, he had to use his right but only stuck with his left and did not see the option open on his right side…. frustrating to… Read more »

Mark

Pedro,

Thing is I’m not as invested in Arteta as you are. If he did turn it all round I’d be well happy.

However if he doesn’t, don’t worry I’d still give you water. Mind you you’d probably need something a bit stronger.😀

Guns of SF

where is the Aubergine? Purple eggplant

Receding Hairline

“Arteta needs to kick it up a gear for Leicester this weekend. Much more winnable.”

Same was said for about 4-5 of our 11 loses this season but let’s keep pretending we have only lost games against the cream of the crop

AFC Forever

Anonymous Wengers football at times was fantastic. I love that fast, attacking play but…… If we had gone out to try to score three against City we would have been given a good hiding. I understand your sentiment but it is naive beyond belief to expose the team like that. We conceded three attempts on goal, that was all, if we had gone on the attack it would have been a lot higher. It was that attitude that resulted in that horrible 8-2 loss to Man Utd, Wenger knew he had players missing after midweek excursions but instead of being… Read more »

Pierre

AC
“mind you where did we finish that season we lost 6-3 to city? much better than our finish will be this season i guarantee ”

Exactly..

What the club needs is a manager who is 50% Arteta and 50% Wenger , then we get the best of both worlds…

Open , expansive football with a disciplined midfield and defence .

There are many things i have disliked about Arteta but if he can move the percentage line from where we are now , which is about 75%/25% closer to 50/50 then i believe we can compete next season.

SpanishDave

We are going backwards much faster than we think. All we have is excuses foe each result. All teams get back luck and good breaks which over time generally even out. We do not have the right squad or the right manager so this is now our level. The owners and directors are in a stupor hoping for the impossible, that is european qualification. Arteta has spent good money on Willian and it has not worked , this is him being green at the job. So now we have yet another useless player taking up good funds that could have… Read more »

Sid

The girls love my project,

Is it worth it? Let me work it
I put my thang down, flip it and reverse it

Anonymous Commentator

winthorpe So Wenger’s arsenal scoring 3 at the etihad with only the usual shit officiating giving city hooky goals and ruling out legit goals from us and penalty claims is commendable then? Glad we are on the same page lad i’ll give it to wenger, that was a feat. if the manager makes us dangerous enough that city cannot take us lightly then i will be satisfied. i have never seen city ever call it a days work at 1-0 against us, why was that? because we were going to break them down at some point. we had the ability… Read more »

Matt

Pedro

‘Matt, if you abuse Pierre or anyone like that, you’ll go in the bin as well.’

Fair enough, but accusing people of being plastic fans is OK?

Guns of SF

Id take a 3-6 loss Pierre

At least I know we went for it. Nothing worse than losing 1 nil at home, with one shot on target. its pathetic.

Receding Hairline

“Arteta was brought in on a longterm project and it takes longer than a year to turn things around” Very true but the belief you must go backwards to go forward is just fanciful Our underlying stats are no better than that of all the traditional midtable teams around us, Arteta is not getting 70% out of our present squad, if he was we would not be 10th and nervous about a game against a below par Benfica. Arteta has not even used the element of surprise, the fact he is an unknown and no one quite knows what to… Read more »

Nelson

Ode has a much better vision than Pepe. Once Pepe had the ball and was pressed, he could only see opponents. He’ll try to beat the opponent(s) and shoot. Ode can find his teammates even in tight area.

Pierre

“Aubergine banned for the 21st time.What a degenerate. He’ll be back with a new name and his trusty VPN in no time.Shamelessly desperate to be the centre of [negative] attention. Bamford style.”

Excellent content jamie, as per usual , now try talking about football for once in your life.

@Receding

Arteta is fucking clueless. I had a shit this morning that could do a better job than Arteta, and my shit talks less shit than Arteta

Matt

Pedro, agreed. I just find it hard to stomach the likes of Pierre and his passive aggressive comments to then always be playing the victim.

Back to football. Arteta out! : )

Anonymous Commentator

pedro we can’t attack.
how are we going to win games?

Receding Hairline

“There are many things i have disliked about Arteta but if he can move the percentage line from where we are now , which is about 75%/25% closer to 50/50 then i believe we can compete next season.” Except we are neither a defensively solid team nor an attacking one In those 45 games he has overseen we have scored 63 goals, not shameful but not great and we have conceded 47 goals so not exactly tight at the back, whenever he tries to get the balance right the whole defensive solidity facade collapses like a house of cards. And… Read more »

Sid

Supreme leaders project cant score in a brothel just like diet Pep football

Guns of SF

Pierre We need Mike A to get us back to what we are known for, attacking, creating and playing breath taking football. I find it interesting, as a player who played with the likes of Ronaldinho, under Wenger, and even coached along with Pep that he takes a very rigid approach to coaching and management. I think we are seeing more of his own personality in the team, just think of him as a player- nothing special, simple passes, keep things moving, etc. He knows what creative attacking is. He chooses not to set us up in this way under… Read more »

Pierre

Pedro
“Odegaard on the right”

In my opinion,the only way to get saka , Odegaard and smith rowe on the pitch together without losing their effectiveness is to let them alternate/ interchange during a game.

They are all intelligent players who can play either wing or as a CAM.

Against benfica there was no interchanging of positions during the game, if nothing else it will keep the opposition on their toes.