Let’s talk young players.
William Saliba had a run out in Europe against Galatasaray. It’s interesting to actually watch his impact on a game over a 90 versus the curated hype videos. His passing is fantastic and fairly measured. I don’t think he’s quite as ambitious as Ben White, but he has that in locker. I think his best attribute is his calmness in one vs one situations, he’s certainly no lunger. The thing he needs to work on is his passivity as a defender, I don’t mean fighting players or standing up for himself, I mean that fire that Gabriel and White have to snuff out danger and rifle into the back of players with a press as soon as a pass moves. That’ll develop, no doubt, but I think he’d have arrived there faster if he’d taken a loan in the Premier League. I’m still caught in two minds as to what was best for him… but really, hard to argue that 40 games with Marseille is better than 12 with Arsenal. He’ll come back ready to bang.
I also took in some of the U23 game against Brighton. The kids did a really good job. It’s clear that Balogun and Patino are miles ahead of everyone. Balogun pulled off an outrageous piece of skill to win a penalty and his execution was cold as ice. He’s quite a way off fighting for a first-team place, he needs a loan in Championship where he’ll get minutes, accrue some battle scars, score some goals, and adapt to the physicality he’s really lacking at the moment. Patino is a dreamy player, his movement is outrageous, he’s 3 seconds ahead of everyone else, and his passing range is simply stunning. U23 looks too easy for him. His launched pass is a thing of beauty, you just can’t believe a man of that size can hit the ball with such power. The reality is he’s a little light for the Premier League right now. A bit like Billy Gilmour was last season. He needs to fill out if he’s going to endure the rigours of the league. But he’s still very young, that’ll come, and I’m sure that’s why he’s not on the bench right now.
All three names I just mentioned are going to the first team at some point. Arsenal has so much talent coming through. The best thing about this summer strategy is the more chances we give to young players, the more elite young players will be willing to push for a move. There’s a reason Haaland went to Dortmund. He knew they’d develop him, we need to be that club for the Premier League when everyone else is sticking to older.
Arteta took a serious tone in the press conference. I think he’s likely acutely aware that there has been a little bit too much joy from the fanbase this week and the players could easily slip into complacency. Beating Spurs won’t feel quite as special if we drop 3 points at Brighton away. They are a good side, they’re where they are in the league because they deserve it, Arsenal needs to show up with energy and purpose.
The good news is Bissouma is going to be a late shout for selection. It’d be nuts for Potter to risk one of the best players in the league so early in the season, but we’ve seen crazier things. If he’s out, that’s good news for our day. They just aren’t the same team without him making things tick over.
We’re without Xhaka. His injury is serious. Young players need to step up. Thankfully, the choice this season isn’t Ceballos. The man who will likely land the nod is Sambi Lokonga. I think we’re all on board with that power move.
Some Arsenal Stats through Week 6 thread
Arsenal Final Third Entry Passes per 90, – 2021-2022
I think Partey can handle duties as the main guy getting the ball forward with the support that Arsenal has been able to add behind him. pic.twitter.com/MaFSGfzbyU
— Scott “says soccer” Willis (@oh_that_crab) October 1, 2021
As you can see from Scott’s thread, Granit Xhaka is pretty decent at a few things, and knocking the ball into the final third is one of them. Sambi isn’t quite there yet, but he’s close. He has to use this next three months to adapt to the pace, sharpen his game, and make the time count. What I love about the Belgian is the ambition in his passing. He doesn’t take the easy option. He’s also far more mobile than Granit, his movement after he passes is so smart. There will also be minutes for AMN, another player that needs to make this bad news work for him. If he’s called upon, he needs to find that semi-final concentration. It’s great to have him back in contention, but this is last chance saloon, we need the best he has to offer.
The goalkeeping questions keep cropping up in the pressers. Bernd said he didn’t know why he was dropped. He’d clearly missed the regression in his passing, the lack of dominance in his box, and the mistakes. Also, Arteta said that he’d spoken to the player, which I believe. Bernd only has himself to blame here. This #1 position is now Aaron’s to lose. Let’s hope the England back-up keeper makes it count again.
What do we want tomorrow? A full force game of the new Artetaball. Nice passing combinations, some long balls, some sharp counter-attacks, some great stuff around the box… and contributions from everyone. This is a big day. The pressure of consistency is on. Are we up the challenge? We’ll see.
Tune in after the game tomorrow for an On The Whistle with Johnny and Matt. Have a great night.
The playing conditions are horrible but they’re beating us to every second ball
We need to up the aggression.
Silly unnecessary mistakes, and Brighton not taking any of these chances. We’re fortunate to still be in the game.
Tomi got done there.
BHA is playing better.
Seagulls should really be one or two up here
Why does it feel like we are playing City or Pool? We are defending with 11 ppl in our own half. Is that the best game plan we could bring?
Brighton is a hard place to play at. We have not conceded and we will get chances.
Brighton looking to score …
Tierney fouled …
Not going swimmingly well this fist half is it?
Come on The Arsenal!!!!
Partey and Tomi robbed of the ball in our own half.
Dot to step it up.
Whole team has sucked cock. Darlings Tomi and Ramsdale included.
Struggling with the press. They are all over us …
It was criminal yo have kept Gabriel out so long beyond his recovery, trying to prove his shitall mind games of Managererial dominance
Auba and his “ALICE BAND.”
TAKE THAT OFF AND YOU MIGHT SEE THE BALL
Transfer him to the ladies team and he can be called ALICE.
REALLY NEEDS TO UP HIS GAME..
Can’t have Tottenham first half performances every game.
An entire week to prepare and we are being destroyed by Brighton! 😂😂
Samesong,
I get your positivity but it’s Brighton. And we are playing with 11 ppl in our half for 30+ mins. Wtf?
Thankfull BHA blow up their chance at scoring
And that header…. We are in trouble.
We need to get our selves back in the game.
Tomayasu having a stinker this evening
How far are Brighton in their “project”?
Looks pretty good.
We aren’t tight enough on any tackle.
Where are Brighton in the table Rap? Yes above us for a reason.
Seems tomi has gone to bed with arreta already
“Can’t have Tottenham first half performances every game.”
We are playing against an absolute tin pot club…
It feels like Brighton finish all of their attacks with a dangerous shot. That’s inexcusable.
Playing from back not working especially in this condition. White literally passed buck to Tomi twice and the last one nearly costed us. Did they not learn and practice another route when there’s traffic jam??
This time last week we were 3 up by now, shame we can’t play The Scum every week!
Surely that had to be a yellow card on ESR
Cucurella looks good, could become a regular fixture in Spain national team.
Seems that our players partying too much after the NLD victory.
Partey’s long kicks are terrible
Auba isn’t providing anything when he isn’t shooting
Aubameyang is such a poor footballer, no first touch what so ever.
Hmmm Not Partey time.
Partey reverting to type with the skyer freekick.
Apart from ESR and Gabriel the whole team playing really awful!
Better wake up soon
Is this the real tomi, what a fucking stinker.
Conditions are playing a big part on this game. Both sides struggling to be neat and tidy.
We know how Partey shoots. Allowing him a set piece instead of Oedegard or Saka just proves why the Fraud should go
“Conditions are playing a big part on this game. Both sides struggling to be neat and tidy.”
Except that they’ve had like 5-6 dangerous situations and we’ve had 1.
Ødegaard is having a nighmare performance.
Keeping the ball is a form of defence but we cannot get hold of the ball, let alone long enough
Since when does Partey take free kicks??
Øde should have kicked it.
TT getting all he wants today.. the counter attack passing has been way off and whenever we do get an opening.. Brighton,,, strategically foul.
Gazzap
“Conditions are playing a big part on this game. Both sides struggling to be neat and tidy.”
lol the only thing Brighton have not been tidy in this first half is putting the ball in the net.
But we are a lot less neat and tidy though
We are being outplayed in every single departement. Spurs was one off!!
Pretty sure that the Kronke’s celebrated a field goal when Partey took that free kick.. This 1st half is almost as bad as the first against the chickens was good…
Our players choke
Tomiyasu getting roasted on the right by Cucumber. First experience of a windy, wet Saturday night on the south coast.
We’re getting battered, so gotta hope Brighton do their usual and miss all their chances and we nick one late on.
Has anyone even checked the length of the grass? Asking for all the superfans.
Shit. Partey had a good chance
Missing Xhaka . Tomiyasu and Auba have a bad outing
Peak handbrake football. Need to wake up.
Partey’s shooting for a professional footballer is hilarious
Back to normal
Thomiyasu is having a rough time
Struggling to deal with the Guen lookalike dude
We need to get ourselves together.
I can’t believe we are letting BHA have the better of us.
I blame the heavy lunch the team was served
We look languid as a collective
Arsenal play like they’re got all the time in the world and no opponent will come and tackle them. How wrong they are
Why doesn’t Partey fuckin’ practise shooting, absolutely embarrassing.
Bit better from Thomas.
being out played
ref is committed to not give us any fouls
Odegaard is AWOL
No tap in, No Auba. I thought everyone could see that by now. He`s like the granddad of the player at Dortmund
If only we had a captain on the pitch to get the players in shape.
One day you’d score a curler Partey, one day!
Hopefully!
The grass is definitely not dry though… 😉
Let’s hope we can hold on til half time.
A bit better by Partey.
Come on!!!!
Someone get the flymo out, short grass we would be pissing this….an atrocious abysmal 45 mins. Fucking shameful.
Let’s not get too tricky in this condition…..
Auba missed a tap in but didn’t expect it
It’s like a different team to last week
Shoot and anything may happen….
Gabriel been quality this half so far.
ESR is a treat to watch, love the guy
Great ball by ESR and Auba didn’t move.
I guess the positive is that they haven’t scored yet. Arsenal playing like the plucky away team that will be lucky to earn a draw. Brighton could have easily had two or three by now.
A bit better that we moved the game forward.
Just fkin wonder why is Tierney crossing high balls in the box when Brighton has fkin volleyball defensive players.
Aubameyang just giving 50% effort but will take 100% of his wages!
Seems auba in that head band of his wouldn’t do well… take it off in 2H
Aubameyang isn’t even trying to get on that ball from ESR…
Saka looks knackered
The instructions to cross high are garbage.
ESR stepping up his game.. Lets go! For me Auba is the one that is way off.. Might need a sub at halftime.
I don’t think Auba expected the ball to bounce that way in front of him.
Saka looks injured.
In These conditions you have to assume the ball won’t be dealt with cleanly. Auba should have been alive to that.
Auba is too old to react to the loose ball.
Can’t possibly play worse than that. Folk saying its Brighton, and don’t we know it. They should be out of sight but typically are flaccid infront of goal.
Potter has made his average players look as crisp and precise as ESR . Say their average players, because our class of players would have finished at least 2-3 of their chances into the goal
We escaped from hell unscathed. Such a shit half. Can’t believe we gave them the initiative like we are a 2nd grade team visiting the champions???
Tierney I wish he would change it up a little instead of looking for the first time cross in the box.
Tierney’s crosses have been really rubbish lately.
Crossing them for the sake of crossing them.
Bad.
Performance can only get better.
Result – not necessarily considering they’ve had 3 – 5 times the dangerous situations we’ve had.
Bring on either Pepe/Lacazette for Auba who is looking laboured
Only Gabriel , ESR and Partey did enough in 1H
Most disappointing… auba,
Lokonga not comfy acting xhaka? Not himself….
The amount of attacks that end up with a Tierney cross that has 0.5% chance to end up a goal is shocking and needs an end of.
For the first time, our new RB is showing some insecurity. Even our GK is a bit nervous.
Guernsey is angry today lol
Lucky not conceded already … wonder what our xGA was for 1H…
Why are the club touchline jackets NEVER waterproof / resistant? Just seen Potta, and like all managers, they’re always standing at the side in a completely soaked puffa jacket that doesn’t keep them dry (just like Big Weng’s duvet/comforter/doona).
What happened to every middle aged man having a long, heavy wax jacket?
Not much to say about that first half other than we were comprehensively outplayed.
Put a little bit of pressure on them right at the end of the half.
It may be a game though that we can sneak a win from.
But is this entertaining from Arsenal? No
Is that first half in any way progressive from Arsenal? No.
Brighton may lack real class individual talent but the only team in that first half which could be called “progressive” in their overall football was Brighton.
Need to see much better in the second half.