ARSENAL BATTLE POST-SPURS TEMPTATION OF COMPLACENCY

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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.

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.

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MidwestGun

That was a serious collision between all the big bruisers.

Dissenter

Brighton stopped us from playing out the back and effectively shot us down. They are pressing so high up the field.
We don’t have a plan B

Spanishdave

Arteta frightened to loose , poor manager as we know so well.

Guernsey+gun

This tells you where arteta is..fucking cunt of a manager.

Dissenter

One game a week…should have more refreshed and full of energy
Can’t explain why a side that played late on Monday has more energy than us.

Time Up

Even GG mid 90s team use to be more entertaining.

Guernsey+gun

Embarrassing display….arteta is a cunt.

Goona

“Captain”…
🤣

raptora

We might win at the end, but the defensive display vs BRIGHTON excuse me. That’s shocking stuff. Why so negative when we can take them on and outplay them? Why so scared?

Spanishdave

Arteta is a control freak he doesn’t let the players have freedom

raptora

We are trying to shithouse a win vs Brighton. ???

James wood.

It was the weathers fault..

TheBayingMob

I think Arsenal just haven’t been able to cope with Brighton’s press, it’s made us look slow with a deep lack of attacking ideas

James wood.

Captain ALICE.😏

Ishola70

Maupay getting saucy again.

Danny

ESR……

James wood.

ESR SHOWING SOME

Spanishdave

Potter a better coach

Useroz

ESR made wrong decision am afraid

Ishola70

First real dangerous counter.

Dissenter

I like Ramsdale’s high starting position

ESR was right to take the shot

MidwestGun

Yep Mob… Brighton doing to us what we did to Spuds. They are playing incredibly well.. too.

Ohhhhh ESR probabaly should have passed it.. Still a nice counter.

Useroz

Esr really should have released Pepe without trying to driving thru … lacks pace

Time Up

Imagine Brighton also missing their best player lol.

Danny

Getting closer lads…..

Nelson

Laca passes the ball better than Auba.

Useroz

What’s that corner routine about?

Leftside

Shithouse scared negative football unless its Spurs at home for 45mins every season

Nelson

BHA looks tired.

Time Up

That’s better keep attacking 3 points or nothing.

Elmo

Our corners are so, so shameful. I can understand we’re outmatched in terms of height, but our corners just end up passed back to halfway.

Spanishdave

Arteta will be content holding Brighton to a draw that’s how low we are now.

Elmo

Feels like an end-to-end last 10. Chance to nick it.

Useroz

As long as artrta doesn’t put on elneny to shore up a point

Kris

I feel sorry for China for staying up to watch this shit.

Gazzap

There is space on behind Brighton if we just had some pace on like Martinelli.

Nelson

Again, Saka lost his man after we lost the ball.

Useroz

Gabriel took a hard one

TheLegendaryDB10

Well my stream died.

Sorry for the confusion. Due to poor quality steam somehow thought that Laca warming up was Eddie and forgot he was nor even selected before typing.

Useroz

Ramsdale for a strong right hand there

raptora

Kris,
seeing he hasn’t said anything for an hour and a half, he might be asleep lol

MidwestGun

Good save by the Rammer.

raptora

Good by Ramsdale.

Danny

‘Penalty?

Spanishdave

Ramsdale keeping us alive

Zfree

Tierney looking more and more like a liability. Where the hell is he on some of their attacks? Getting out jumped by solly march. It’s not good enough

Nelson

He used the hand to pull ESR down!!!

Gazzap

That’s a penalty. Why isn’t it ??

Danny

Saka hopefully will be out of the international matched, needs a rest.

Spanishdave

Pedro will get some kind of spin on this.
We are very mid table nowadays

TheBayingMob

Bit of a tussle from two mid table teams. Brighton have shaded and will feel they should have won. We looked naive against the press to be honest. Bit of a blow it Saka has done some ligaments there.

James wood.

Grasping at straws with that one

raptora

No way that’s a pen. ESR our best player today but that doesn’t say much. It still shows he was up for it compared to most of the rest.

MidwestGun

Hmmm.. Duffy leaned on him pretty hard. Saka and ESR both hobbled.

TheLegendaryDB10

What a save by Ramsdale!!! (Finally got something else working)

Gazzap

Hope Saka is ok

Ishola70

No pen.

ESR had already decided to throw himself to the floor when the shoulder to shoulder challenge came in.

TheLegendaryDB10

Thats a pen right???

Useroz

What’s the paetey yellow for??

Matt

This has been an absolutely shocking performance. The only decent performances are ESR and Ramsdale. Most of the others should be embarrassed.

Time Up

Taking striker to defend 0/0 lol. You couldn’t make it up.

Saladin

Pepe is so shit

rollen

Saka being overplayed.
Outplay by Brighton, embarrassing.

raptora

That elbow hurts.

Useroz

Not shoulder to shoulder challenge c’mon
Watch the reverse angle replay
Esr was shoving onto the ground, albeit dropping obligingly
Is shoving that way allowed??

Gazzap

I think the fact esr had already thought he’ll try for a penalty went against him. If he tries to stay on his feet chances are a foul would have come in

TheLegendaryDB10

Thanks raptora. 😊

Spanishdave

Saka plays once a a week overplayed? ………….

Useroz

Partey isnt that sort of player purely accidental he needed to move his elbow to stab at the ball

Muppetman

Why does our defence sit so deep? We have pace to recover, it creates massive gaps between midfield who sit just in front of them then the forwards are isolated

Venga, Dani

disappointing peformance gotta say

Useroz

Arteta would celebrate a point 👉

underrated Coq

Pathetic performance. Wenger would have smashed this team. Can’t stand Arteta and his approach.

Goona

Bloody useless.

Danny

0-0 fair enough, the conditions were awful.

Oh well , better than losing eh. Points a point

Useroz

Muppetman…..
Because arteta asked them to sit deep

Globalgunner

We came, we played, We sucked. Wish we could play the Spuds every week

Time Up

Where’s Pedro and AFC to talk to us about the project lol. They care more about being right then Arsenal having a better team and a manger.

rollen

Garbage football whole season apart from first half vs Spuds.
FraudTetta put ASAP.

LoveSausage

Well that was some exceptionally cowardly football. Arteta ball is officially back.

Leftside

Back to reality for Arsenal and Arteta. No need to over analyse, its easy to be revved up for Spurs at home but over the course of the season we’ll flatter to deceive more often.

Dissenter

That 45 mins at home to Spuds may be a false dawn based on this no-energy performance.

Jim Lahey

Sick of this shit.

Saka goes off and the cunt brings on AMN while Martinelli is on the bench. Sick of his negative shit football.

It will be a great day when this fraud is sacked.

MidwestGun

The second and 3rd pass out from the back today has been abysmal.. Never really able to counter at all.. Brighton has no quality finshers. and a draw. 0-0.

Gazzap

A good point?? I dunno. At least we didn’t lose but Brighton are all hard work and little quality. Difficult conditions as well.

Black Snake

The weather may have been shit but Brighton didnt seem to have a problem with it

TheLegendaryDB10

VAR does not give a pen.

Thank fuck for that.

Dissenter

We didn’t have a game midweek and were outplayed by Brighton.

Useroz

We were outplayed for most of the game, .other than first 3 minutes in 1H and the 3 minutes after pepe came on

Awful condition isn’t a rationale or we’d draw the whole winter??

MidwestGun

Gabi was a man’s man today though…. Easily our best player. Stopped countless attacks.

Lamia

After the euphoria of Tottenham, welcome to the reality check. being totally outclassed by Brighton ffc. This has been a quite shocking performance by Arsenal. We have lost every 50 50 challenge. Brighton players running at our back four unchallenged. I can’t think of any positives, except that Lacazette,as a sub has contributed more than Aubameyang.

raptora

Can’t believe we went to Brighton to play with 11 players in our half and try to shithouse a counter leading to a goal. This defeatist behavior is absolutely indefensible versus a team like Brighton when you are Arsenal. I’d rather we lose getting counterattacked than sit back vs bloody Brighton and consider us lucky to get a draw barely surviving their attack after attack. What did I just watch?

Time Up

Any real Arsenal supporter after 24 months of this clown Arteta and over 200 million spent would see, he’s a clueless Con Man.
Poor poor clown this Arteta

InsideRight

It’s a shame we couldn’t be as fired up and purposeful as we were against Spuds. A bit of a reality check tonight for those who thought after 45 great minutes last week that Arsenal were back.

We still have significant weaknesses that need to be addressed. We do look more threatening on the counter though. Brighton aren’t mugs any more so a point will do for me this season. But it won’t be good enough next season if we are to show we are progressing and improving.

TR7

Brighton even without their talisman Bisoumma outplayed us.

Kris

The most depressing thing is that we were rested as we don’t play in Europe, but still showed no energy or intent to win at Brighton.
Imagine if we’d played in the Europa midweek.

Also, you switch the players and Potter’s team win 3-0.

This season is our best chance for top 4 under Arteta, but I just don’t see it. Too many cowardly performances.

Zfree

Pepe brought nothing once he came on. Tierney and tomiyasu didn’t have good games. Partey cannot shoot. Auba was pretty awful honestly. Just a lot of 5 performances out there in the rain today. Not having a midweek European match should be giving us a major boost and yet, we got handily outworked

Graham

Ramsdale as a big positive – he even seems to make his own luck also (dropped cross not leading to a goal today, last week’s hospital pass to GX leading to a goal for us)

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