Preseason moved into game two yesterday against Rangers. Mikel Arteta went back to the club that gave him his first British experience, even though it was against the backdrop of the smallest crowd he’s probably ever played there.
The game was so, so.
The players looked fitter and sharper. We controlled the 90 much better. We also created a lot of chances. 19 attempts with 9 shots on target is far closer to what most of us were hoping for against teams in a weaker league.
The highlight was seeing Tavares score a great goal with his weaker foot. He has power, he moves at speed, and he clearly has all the raw ingredients to be a good player… he’s certainly plenty raw though.
The two areas for big improvement.
Obviously, we can’t keep conceding goals from set plays. We did a pretty decent job last season rectifying the issues of the season prior… we cannot slip back to corners feeling like penalties. Good job we have pinched the coach from City to help out.
The other area is in the final third. Auba missed some really easy chances, as did the rest of the team. Arteta had this to say.
‘Overall I’m really pleased with the performance. I think we dominated the game, we created so many chances – I counted about eight or 10 clear chances to score – but this game is decided in both boxes. We weren’t clinical in the opponent’s box’
Goals will come, I’ve no doubt. The key point I’m excited about is that we’re finding ways to move the ball into the final third. Last season, we could barely create.
We still have plenty of good players coming back, transfers will kick up a gear over the next two weeks, and we’ll start to see more sharpness with the play.
Arteta trains a cognitive style of football. He teaches patterns of play that take time to bed into players. He picked Arsenal up from a very low point, his ideas will hopefully start to impact the style of football this season and we’ll not only see a lift in quality, we’ll see a lift in how exciting the football is.
Ben White joining Arsenal is one part of solving the lack of speed we moved the ball through the lines. If you complained about our football being slow last season and can’t see how a ball-playing centre back helps move us on in that department, I can’t help you.
We really need to address the partner for Thomas Partey in the midfield. That will again help speed up the football and make us more unpredictable and give us more options.
The key move we’re all waiting for is who the attacking midfielder is because without that, we’re going to have another frustrating year. I don’t care if it’s Maddison or Aouar, we need someone to help us bind it all together. Resting a season on the shoulders of ESR and Saka is not the path to top 4.
Also worth noting that we haven’t had a viable right back for 2 seasons. Even yesterday, it was absolutely clear that there needs to be a big upgrade on Bellerin and Soares. We’ve spent the last 18 months building from the left. Imagine Pepe having a right-back that could offer him Tierney levels of service? Would be incredible.
There’s not a lot bubbling in the ether today… but Arteta said he was looking forward to some new players joining the party next week.
‘We’re going to have some new faces arriving probably, so very positive.’
Let’s see how we’re looking this time next Sunday.
See you in the comments.
Pierre, gotta agree with CC, it is dim to think ESR and Saka alone takes us to top 4. We are absolutely signing an MO rpl
“””””Pierre spitting truth right there.”””
He is indeed.
And off course the Italian defenders Chellini and Bonnici. 37, 34
World class old school defending.
Pedro
Make your mind up.
“The players not included last year really caused problems. No way they are allowing that again.”
Or
“Marc, it’s not a fire sale at Arsenal. We don’t need to sell to buy. Gives us more leverage”
This conversation is not about finances this is about we either have to shift some bodies or we don’t.
Marc
“If you are selling shit it’s difficult – if everyone knows it’s shit and knows you’ve got to shift it you’re not going to get good prices.”
Lets be honest Marc, everyone thought Willock was shit until he was given a proper run of games to prove the doubters wrong.
So when le grove talk about Eddie as being Shit, I say judge him (like Willock) when he has had a run of games..
Maybe he will prove the doubters wrong .
I’m really interested in who we sign to partner Partey. Will he have a more defensive or offensive default setting.
I’ve always liked the idea of a Bissouma Party underpinning our midfield.
The issue I have with that is goals and creativity. We don’t score enough goals overall, and our midfield chipped in with almost zero goals in the league last season. Not sure Bissouma moves the needle there.
A midfield 3 of Party Bissouma And Aouar would be interesting though
Marc, we need to shift bodies, but we don’t need to sell to buy like last year. That gives us leverage over other clubs. Fairly simple stuff.
Pierre
I wasn’t actually talking about Nketiah – if you saw what I posted you’d see I said I think he’ll get the move to Palace.
I’m talking about Xhaka, Bellerin (not a bad player but a pace merchant after an ACL?), Kolas, Willian.
Pedro
If white has pace and is on the front foot, Mari would be his better partner. Calm and good on the ball and a leader of the back. Like a slightly faster Per.
I think if whites place is with Gab, one of them needs to learn to sit back and dictate the defence. If you have 2 aggressive CB then you need a goalkeeper to keep them in check.
Pedro
That’s backwards logic – it works both ways but could easily end up with an even more bloated squad but with even less matches.
Like I said I’m not talking about finances etc this is how do you unload shit when everyone knows you’re desperate to get rid of it.
Pedro
Out of our current crop imo Mari is the best suited partner for White.
Slow all right but White’s supposedly very quick so could be reminiscent of Koscielny-Mertesacker which was our best CB partnership since Campbell-Toure.
Mari is massive, aerially strong, composed on the ball and reads the game very well. He is also vocal and an organiser.
Traits that mirror Per.
Vintage
I don’t like Bissouma stylistically, and actually I think we’re more likely to see us move toward a midfield balance like Barca and City (1 holding, 2 creative)
Said it a month ago, but Partey-Aouar-Maddison would be a huge statement in the middle of the pitch for us.
The important thing about a decent CB pairing above all is consistency.
Almost Any league winning team will have had 2 cb who played 30+ games together at least.
I think in our invincible team sol and kolo played 37 and 38 league games (that’s from memory, not 100%).
Last season we saw about 100 different combinations.
Charlie
Perhaps but after how we handled AMN last summer would it really be a surprise?
I don’t think that he trusts Willock’s ability on the ball myself so you may well be correct. Teams do not defend against us as they do Newcastle.
CC
Have you actually watched an Arsenal match since Arteta took over? The idea he’d go with a 3 man midfield with 1 DM and 2 creative players?
Madness – Arteta makes Tony Pulis look like a drunk Wenger.
Well said Danny re Mari.
The mighty Giroud signs for Milan
Giroud and Ibrahimovic a combined age of 75, lol.
For all the talk around Arteta, next season ultimately depends on how well we recruit, and how long those players take to settle We haven’t got 6-18 months for adjustment periods as we sometimes see with players White isn’t the finished article, but still needs to be an instant upgrade on every defender at the club, particularly since we’re paying this type of premium Xhaka’s replacement needs to be at least as good as Xhaka from the off, and a significant upgrade once settled I hope we sign Odegaard, he already knows the club, and I think he’s brilliant If… Read more »
Charlie
The difference between smoth rowe and Odegaard is the game comes alive when Smith Rowe is on the ball, he takes risk with ball, he commits defenders and he has a superb relationship with Saka that should be encouraged.
One doesn’t get that sense of anticipation when Odegaard is on the ball , you can almost predict what he will do when he receives the ball.
If Smith Rowe can have that kind of impact in so few games then he will grow into an integral part of the Arsenal team ..
WE
I’ve always been a bit of a fan of Mari.
I only wish last season we’d have just tried once to partner him
With Gabrielle.
Diet Pep prefers Odegaard in the middle because of that predictability.
Most of our patterns of play are predictable
WE, like that comparison. Hopefully we see more from Mari now he’s adapted a little more to the league
Pierre, Ødegaard isn’t predictable and he’s a totally different player to ESR.
Has Mari appeared in pre season yet?
Giroud will score goals for fun in Serie A
White isnt very quick, he was embarrasing vs Rashford, soething that has never happen to Koscielny or Toure
Tavares can also cover at right back…
He is raw but Partey is able to cover if we find a decent partner for him.
Otherwise AMN is an option if he doesn’t get any offers. It doesn’t seem anyone has cash to spend, I don’t see Edu entertaining another loan for him.
Marc
Think he was the only player to last 90 against Hibs, got pulled at half time against Rangers
Sid tbf Rashford is rapid though.
Unless we sit deep like Brighton, i can see White having problems
Diet Pep thinking he is Klopp and Ben White, the VVD. Lol.
Rich
Cheers!
Not sure a player falling over us a gauge of speed over a season.
I’m glad we are signing players. Let’s get more done.
One day does not a summer make, eh?
Ben White can only grow.
“Not sure a player falling over us a gauge of speed over a season.”
All we had to judge Xhaka on though!
Duzie
Let’s hope he grows another 3 inches eh?
Be a decent size CB then.
As long as the pairing is balanced height-wise , then it will work out.
WengerEagle Onana may be great with his feet, but he’s suspended until sometime in November and then in January he’s almost certainly going to AFCON, so he will only be available for about half the season. Signing him as your number 1a is a big gamble when your number 3 is a young academy player. They need to sign a number 2 for the whole season. If they expect Leno to leave next summer, it would probably be smart business to sign Onana in a depressed market and then they will have a new number one, possibly beginning in February… Read more »
If Arsenal are looking for a creater in midfield, look no further than God. Our prayers will come true. Our fans will be in seventh heaven. Arsenal will be rebuilt in six days. There will be light in this darkness. Pedro will continue his praise and glory of Arteta. All the Arsenal players and fans will be singing from the same hymn sheet. The Emirates will be heaven on earth. It will be a sin to criticize Arteta with Pedro telling all and sundry to go to hell if they don’t believe in the generational sauce. In the beginning was… Read more »
By the time he fell over the 2nd time Rashford had reduced his sprint, he will have problems if we do Not sit deep
Sid
I agree, if we play a high line, he will get caught out… ala Mustafi, who was a good athlete too, with pace and decent leaping ability.
I sure we dont stick with the double pivot, but if we do, White might be ok…
Charlie . Saka and ESR saved our season from what? No European football? They helped us play like more of an Arsenal football team, as did Odegaard who was creating chances at a rate bettered by nobody. Hence why I’d be amazed if we didn’t replace him.” Actually we know why we lost to Villarreal ans we know why we didn’t qualify for Europe via the league. Also Odegaard couldn’t even better a novice in respect of goal contributions, and he was plating in his favourite no.10 position , unloke Smith Rowe who was shunted out wide to accommodate Odegaard… Read more »
Please dont mention mustafinovs, it gives me goose bumps loooool
Smith Rowe and Saka have good cohesion when they play together prefer Smith rowe in that cam position personally.
Samesong
When saka played right, with Pepe left and ESR central we had a couple of great results I think.
Fir some reason Arteta didn’t fancy it though and when Ode turned up he shoehorned them in together.
The best solution to defense is controlling possesion like man c
2nd best solution is counter pressing/gegen press like liverpool.(once in a while the press is beaten leading to freak results)
We lack midfielders to do those 2 things effectively.
WE, I agree with your point that Gabriel and White would be a bad combination. They are both aggressive defenders who like to lunge and try to intercept the ball early. They need somebody calmer and who can act as deep security blanket if they miss the ball. I hope that White will be used in a Back 3, because to me it is clear he can’t play RB and we will be murdered under the high balls with only 1 big CB who can head the ball. Add to the mix a smallish midfield, no decent heading ability in… Read more »
Sid
Doesn’t matter. Didn’t you hear, we are signing Ben white! He can pass through the lines so we won’t actually need a midfield.
“Has Mari appeared in pre season yet?”
Yup, and left an impression………… mostly on one of the Rangers , like , literally.
Open field tackle Bruce Lee style.
Can anyone explain how and why Ben White is a better right centre back than Chambers?
Mari is the calm one. Almost too calm at times.
But I see White and Mari fairly soon after the season starts.
Mari might pick up an injury, so its Gabby back in… and will hold on to the spot IMO
WOAB
Presumably he is slightly better with the ball at his feet so we can play out from the back at each and every opportunity next season. I can picture it now, we will be drawing the opposition in and then catching them on the break for fun!!
Pedro,
“Arsenal staff thought so. We spent 50m to replace him. He was our best CB, even with the errors”
But…but he’s a passive defender, he was in the 4th percentile for all center backs in the top 5 leagues for pressures per 90 minutes, the 3rd percentile for tackles per 90 (0.76), and the 1st percentile for interceptions per 90 (per FBref).🙄. But he is a very good progressive passer and ball carrier, much better than White has demonstrated himself to be.
I dont care for Maddison or Aouar, either is fucking fine to me….
just get them in…
Even better, get both
Pedro is right
We are all waiting for who the CAM will be incoming……
Alright. Listen to this.
If Arsenal had bought £35M of bitcoin in 2016 instead of Shkodran Mustafi we’d have over £1.5B to spend on transfers right now.”
Mb
If arsenal had of bought 35m worth of Woolworths shares in 2016 we wouldn’t have had to put up with 5 years of mustafi and I’d still feel a lot happier for it.
Pierre, Ødegaard is perfect in a team that plays slow, possession based football. The problem is that unless your club is ManCity who can afford the best player in every positions, pure possession does not work in the EPL. Every clubs who has won the premiership has been playing either counter-attacking football, power football or fast and furious football. A third of the teams in the EPL plays a low bloc counter-attacking football. The EPL money means that England clubs can afford better defenders and better players than in the rest of Europe. When adding the laissez faire attitude of… Read more »
Matt,
Chambers is skilful, reads the game well, and can play at right back, CB or DM.
He is taller than Ben White, equally fast, and a better header of the ball.
He played as DM for almost a full season at Fulham where was player of the season (yes I know they were relegated that season).
I am genuinely completely bamboozled as to why we are spending £50m on White.
Wouldn’t that £50m be better spent in midfield?
Someone please explain to me what it is that Ben White can do that Chambers can’t.
Left, because you troll. Same thing will happen again if you do the same this time around
Auba is a question mark. By accident I watched last season’s game against Rangers. What a contrast, he scored a hat-trick, played superbly. Will he recover that kind of form? Does he care? Do we need him?
NVM, he played 46 games in one season for Bielsa… the most intense manager in the league. Pretty sure he can muster the levels we need
I watched Brighton play so many times last season and I never noticed the £50 mil CB.
I have to get to my glasses adjusted.
Vintage GunJuly 18, 2021 21:29:07 I’m really interested in who we sign to partner Partey. Will he have a more defensive or offensive default setting. I’ve always liked the idea of a Bissouma Party underpinning our midfield. The issue I have with that is goals and creativity. We don’t score enough goals overall, and our midfield chipped in with almost zero goals in the league last season. Not sure Bissouma moves the needle there.A midfield 3 of Party Bissouma And Aouar would be interesting though. Once again Arsenal are running up against AFCON. If they sign Bissouma to partner Partey,… Read more »
Danny, there’s about 5-6 very boring posters on here that are ‘lol but’ merchants and you kill the conversation. I’m not triggered, I just find inane contributions kill the vibe in here.
Val disagrees with me all the time, at least he brings substance and something new to each conversation
Diss, honestly not sure it matters how many times you watched Brighton. Chelsea, City, Liverpool, Spurs and England all like him.
How things change in 13 months. This from Le Grove on 19 June 2020 “Nothing sums up our problems more succinctly than the David Luiz debacle. 1) Arteta had to drop a 33-year-old for a big game because Arsenal can’t afford his deal 2) Allowing him to derail a game because his head was gone 3) Having this problem after paying, according to The Athletic, £24m for his services. ONE YEAR. 4) Allowing a whole media cycle to be dedicated to whether Arsenal can seal a deal for him, because he’s important. This one transfer is everything that is wrong… Read more »
‘He’s been good under Arteta.‘
It’s in the piece, Andy. The fact he’s out best CB and we just spent 50m to replace him tells you how weak our CB offering is.
My view on this doesn’t matter. The coaches and analysts believe it and they convinced KSE of the merits. So unless you have a suggested CB partnership you think is elite, no amount of old posts change the facts.
It is notable no one is out here putting their name to ‘Rob Holding has been our best CB’
Also, for the last time… no one is happier than I am that Luiz is out the club. I’m also happy Arsenal aren’t stupid enough to assume our CB choices are elite.
… and honestly, what a perfect comment to pull from me.
Ben White:
Scouted, backed by data, young, doesn’t make many errors, sell on value, so super agent.
Exactly what I want.
not sure why the fee for white rankles so much, I’m happy we got him. Looks ready for battle, can’t wait to see what he looks like next to Gabriel and Tierney.
Max Aarons next?
Valentin, Who would you have instead of Martin? I was also slightly underwhelmed but saw enough raw ingredients to believe he could be really good when settled.
I dont give a shit if he costs 50, as long as we spend on other positions in that amount or more….
Diss: A good center-back is like a good DJ — you don’t know they’re there until they fuck up
Great post Matt, if you didn’t notice Ben W, that’s a good thing
Will Pedro ever sign a member of back room staff who will have seen it all and give him the benefit of his experience?
I don’t like it that Arteta only seems to hire people, who are on the face of it, unwilling to challenge him…
It might make him feel better but he won’t grow as a coach.
Pedro, no shame in changing your view, my assumption is that Arteta has a new(er) vision because I don’t see any evidence that this was his desired style last summer. My concern is that if he wants to mimic City we don’t have the funds to make it work. It’s taken City a billion to get there.
*Obviously I meant say Arteta 😂😂😂
just dont bring in Ode for 50
Matt B
Actually not, I noticed Dunk everything he played fir Brighton
…and that stuff about not noticing a good CB is cheap schtick.
So long as the other side have attackers, you will always notice good center backs.
Andy; two minutes ago you posted a comment I made lambasting ball playing centre back David Luiz as a signing, now you can’t see evidence a ball playing centre back was a need?
No harm in paying attention to your own posts.
Ben White was signed to replace Luiz because a ball playing centre back has always been in the plan.
Diss, no other major club seems to have noticed Dunk, he’s 29, still at Brighton.
Maybe your eye isn’t sharp?
Leeds, fair point there
Ben White sell-on value? WTF? His all-in fee puts him in top 10 transfer fees for a defender, ever.
We’re paying 50 for him up front. If he impresses, more likely end up at 55 having hit the extra clauses.
Has any defender in the history of football ever been bought for >50m and then sold on for a profit? How many players (any position) have been bought for 50m (or equivalent, inflation adjusted) and sold on at a profit? Neymar to PSG. C Ronaldo to Juve. Lukaku to Inter. Anyone else?
CG
“If the likes of of Willian, Elneny, Sead K, Chambers, Hector, Cedric are on it , as opposed the training compex in London and told to look for other clubs ,that will tell us more than a few pre season results.”
Colney is shut due to a Covid outbreak, and currently having a deep clean!
Elmo, didn’t Rio break two records WHU > Leeds > United
Pedro
any dirt on aouar or maddison coming>>?
Pedro
Yeah. Adjusted for football inflation that’s likely a relevant example. But it does show it’s a very rare occurrence. It’s extremely rare if you’re spending 50m+ that the player will be moving on for more. Likely because you want to keep them!
Elmo, I think the hope here is that he’s elite and we keep him
For anyone who thinks Ben White is good value – leave it out!!!
Leeds United built their entire defence (and subs) for amount the same money.
The club is backing the manager for once.
However the flip side to this is that Arteta has nowhere to hide and no one to blame if it all goes wrong.
Plus I hope White, stays fit for goodness sake!
Leeds, do you believe a man who told the club he wants CL in 3 years would prefer to hide?
Pedro
Fair enough. I want Arsenal to succeed, that’s the bottom line.
I personally think Arteta should have been let go after last season when he crashed out of the Europa League but no use moaning over spilt milk.
If Arteta succeeds marvellously after he brings his own personnel I’ll be more than happy to say that I was wrong.
Top 4 is minimum for me.
I want to get excited about new attackers coming in.
WE do have a goal scoring issue
Leeds, Spurs played that game then ended up with Nuno and Mendes.
“Leeds United built their entire defence (and subs) for amount the same money.“
14th best defence last season for Leeds, could probably do with spending a bit more.
It’s all relative. Ben White is a highly-rated English CB aged 23. 50 mil is the standard for that sort of profile, Wan-Bissaka, Walker, Stones, Maguire, Chilwell went for between 45 and 80 mil.
Unlike Pepe who couldn’t be gifted back to France for a third of his transfer fee, Ben White could be very average and still depart for 25-30 mil aged 26. From that POV it’s value.
Guns
I disagree, I personally think we’re well stocked on attacking options but they are not being supported by our midfield.
If we are going to upgrade our attackers we need to bring in people who are happy to score with headers.
Our attackers are incredibly one dimensional in terms of finishing.
“Leeds, do you believe a man who told the club he wants CL in 3 years would prefer to hide?”
That’s you trying to revise history
He promised Willian a CL FINAL In three years, now he has one season left to deliver anything close to that.
By extension, you’re agreeing to the minimum of 4th place, right?
For some reason players who have been sold for £70m plus in the EPL have been generally very poor value… in terms of immediate results.
Leeds agreed, but we need Mids that can create AND score. We have none of that.
We cannot go with similar mid like last season That would be a disaster…
We need shooters, players not afraid to take risks in attack, and goal scorers…
We have none of that bar ESR or Saka… or Pepe… mostly wing types. We need central attackers too
Diss, do you think Arteta hides from responsibility? Do you think he would rather have a good squad or not?