FIGHTING TALK

by .

An away day at Liverpool is always huge. More so over the past half-decade. Liverpool is an institution, Anfield is a legendary stadium, and Klopp is a top 3 manager in the world.

The stage is set.

Mikel Arteta usually underplays our chances, but the talk was a little different in his press conference.

He’s talking about confidence in the camp, he’s pumping his players, and he’s making no excuses about the expectations that are being put on Arsenal.

We are going to Anfield to win because that’s what Arsenal Football Club is all about.

This game isn’t a litmus test, people need to move away from that sort of chat… it’s a chance to land a blow on a club that has standards we want to reach.

Since boxing day, we’ve accrued more points than Liverpool. What does that tell you? That they are beatable. Klopp’s side has lost a bit of that invincibility force-field this season. They aren’t quite hitting the heights as consistently as they were a couple of seasons ago. There are vulnerabilities in their system.

The main difference? Huge experience and a 5th gear that we don’t have yet. Both teams at 100% and we’re on the back foot.

So what do we need to see?

A smart game plan executed with maximum focus

Our problem against Chelsea and City was that we conceded inside 15 minutes both times. We can’t afford to do that against a Liverpool side we know will come flying out the traps.

I’d love a fast start, but it’s questionable whether that’s the right approach against Liverpool. A game right after the break might take some time to feel our way into. It might be sharp to just be in the match after 20 minutes and work our way into the game by growing with time.

There needs to be a plan for Mo Salah, the best player in the world right now. We need to have ideas for Liverpool’s wide players. We should be set up to counter-attack at speed, because Liverpool have been leaving openings. We have to play a high line and confidently play around their brutal press when it comes.

Arteta said the weakness in the side was that as a team, we don’t have enough collective experience yet. Let’s be clear, this new group of players hasn’t felt pain together yet. We are unbeaten since our new defence was formed. There’s no record of how we’ll react to a battering from Liverpool. That makes this game interesting for a whole host of reasons.

This is a big moment for the project. Lose, well, we expected it and we’ll have to hope the team can bounce back quickly. Come away with a point or more and we’ll really start to believe something might be brewing early.

I’m very excited. I feel confident we can compete. This is a test we could pass, I haven’t felt that way about a Liverpool game in a while. So let’s see where it goes.

See you in the comments. Join for an OTW podcast right after the game!

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Leftside

Mane is a piece of work, gets away with it constantly

Northbanker

Few of our front players getting time on the ball

But the main weak point is Auba – need to bring on Gab M to replace

Johng

Not a bad first half all things considered. We’re still in this game, come on you gunners

Major_Jeneral

They always think they can be physical and we wouldn’t cope with it.

Arsenal have managed the game so far. They have to take better risk going forward if we are going to have more shots on goal. The last 10 minutes shows that we can get at them. We must get ESR on the ball though has he had few touches of the balll in that half. Meanwhile Saka must do better in the 2nd half.

Tony

Put Pepe and Martinelli 50 minutes. Auba and Laca are giving us nothing. Why no Eddie on the bench

Mb

Somebody should go, punch that cunt and take one for the team.

Fucking hell, cheaters.

Dissenter

It seems United are about to announce the sacking of OGS
That’s bad news for us even though I don’t think they are easily fixable.

TheLegendaryDB10

We are doing well so far defensively.

And we are doing Ok centrally, trying to get the ball forward.

But we are breaking down up front.

This is where you see how limited Auba is. He can’t create for himself.

Subbing in Martinelli would be worth a try. See if his harassing can unlock the game for us.

Northbanker

Tony – don’t agree on Laca – he has been pivotal to what we have done up front but suspect we will need Ode on in second half

Gazza

Auba needs replacing bring on MO

I want to see klopp nursing a black eye in the second half, IRON MIKEL TYSON will rip him a new one

Guns of SF

Ole is gone

Johng

Yes Saka fluffing his lines a little bit at the moment

Vickingz

This is all on arteta, we can’t just be defending and being sloppy whenever we have the ball and expect a miracle to happen. How has he set up this team.that we have no one keeping Liverpool’s right back and left back occupied? Lokonga and Partey?, he may have to bring in AMN for either of the two. Auba is useless in match like this, he’s got pace but not can’t hold the ball for a sec to bring others into play, he heads to Liverpool’s space instead of either holding or heading into oncoming player

Guns of SF

zidane to manure
shit

S Asoa

Pepe might not be a good idea. The team is playing well, save 2 laggards who have to be substiruted

LoveSausage

Saka keeps doing his best Pepe impression. Standing still, cutting inside, refusing to use his right foot.

That said, this isn’t a disaster. We used to come to Anfield and get shredded because of individual inferiority. So far today we’re doing fine in one on one challenges. We just need cooler heads when we actually have the ball.

china1

Some positives and negatives but 1-0 down atm is not bad. Still in the game. After the goal we finally started to attack with more purpose and actually look more like scoring.

But the attack strategy has gotta be more balanced than just endlessly passing to Saka and hoping for magic. The few times we went on the left instead and we looked more dangerous. ESRs involvement in the offside goal was immense. Really not sure why all the attacks are insisting on going via the right wing when ESR is looking more dangerous these days

Guns of SF

who knows

Arteta has a bye from me in this game. Not many teams will come here and win so don’t expect to much.

Danny

Parking the bus tactics and playing out from the back against Liverpool, well done Arteta, 2 weeks to come up with that……

china1

I’m not sure how people can say ESR is having a bad day when 90% of all our attacks have been forced down the right side. Not sure what ESR can do if he doesn’t get passed to

Guns of SF

China

Yea I noticed that too
Right wing is where we are getting some chances

Our vaunted left wing needs to get a pick up

Luteo Guenreira

Pretty entertaining first half. Thought Arsenal acquitted themselves pretty well actually, had a couple moments of good football. There have been times we’ve gone to Anfield and capitulated after a goal so I see progress in the resolve and effort so far. Still feel like we can get something from this game.

Dissenter

I’ve never seen Arteta get so angry, not even when he was a player.
What did Klopp tell him?

china1

If Saka had been roasted his man time and again I’d understand it but he’s not got the better of him once so far so I’m not sure why we’re forcing it right every time.

Literally one of the only times we went left and ESR had a magic piece of skill to set up auba who was sadly straying offside.

LoveSausage

China,

Agreed. The few times ESR got the ball he’s looked pretty sharp. Need to start attacking down his flank. Plus provoking a second yellow from Mane.

china1

Dissenter he told him he doesn’t trust the process

Savage

I think Arteta’s spat actually disturbed our calm a bit, even though I liked it at the time. We lost our shape after that.

Dissenter

I pressed with Ben White, he’s been sharp today.

Saladin

Too much respect being paid again in my opinion. But then again I would be moaning if we played fearless and were 4-0 down already.

china1

Yeah we could do worse than to target Mane. Players with the ball around him should be hanging onto it a bit to draw in challenges from him and hope he gets himself sent off

MidwestGun

Diss_

I believe Klopp told Teta to sit down and shut up.. but not that nice.. Teta was complaining about all of Mane’s dirty fouls. He was right.

TR7

I think we can beat Pool and really should go for it in the 2nd half. Pool not really playing great football, we need to test them more.

china1

After they scored we started to play better offensively. I think we respected them too much before that.

Samesong

Parking the bus tactics and playing out from the back against Liverpool, well done Arteta, 2 weeks to come up with that……

Come on Danny that’s really unfair considering Liverpool are at home and barely lose. The best we can hope for is a draw now.

Liverpool have scored from a set piece lapse of concentrstion from TT and Mane best him to the ball.

OCGooner

Odegaard on for Auba. Probably now at half instead of waiting until 55-60.

Dissenter

China1
I suspect he must have said the condescending sort of things elite world class managers tell younger upstarts,.

Vickingz

Pepe for saka please, he will at least go past his marker or try to, sounds crazy though

gnarleygeorge9

Arteta needs to learn to reign it in. But apart from that the Club has been impressive on the Big stage in the norf.

Benjamin

Accepting being 1-0 down is a looser mentality! Rather to have a go and loose 2-0 than this.

Frost

Absolutely loved that exchange from Arteta!

Crazy how good ramsdale is. That second save to take the ball around Salah was something. Bummer the Mane effort had too much pace on it.

Fully expected Liverpool to score, all that passion would be a waste if we can’t nick a goal in the second half

MidwestGun

I don’t think Danny knows what parking the bus means or is… so I would ignore that comment.

Major_Jeneral

China1

That is why I said we need to get the ball more to ESR. Most attacks has been on the right. Because Tavares and Lokonga are occupied with Salah no much enterprise towards him from Midfield.

Pierre

One can see why our attacking and creative stats are bearly the worst in the division Our improvement in set piece goals has masked our poor showing in the final 3rd. To not have Eddie on the bench is a criminal waste of talent, granted it is very difficult playing against this liverpool side who don’t allow you a second on the ball, but we need to show more creativity up top . Our midfield looks ponderous on and off the ball, i think it’s time to bring AMN on. Our back 4 has played well , Mane should be… Read more »

Akinzo

Its really very boring identifying Aubameyang as the weakness of the team. Too repetitive! What were the glaring errors he had committed so far for him to be referred to as our major flaw? He has looked sharp in recent matches and we need to recognize the fa r that he won’t score in every game

Samesong

I don’t think we can afford to open up too much to this team.

Nigel Tufnel

Keep it close is right Midwest. Not time to start chasing hard. That’s how teams get slaughtered.
We played fine from the beginning. Keep it tight still and try to surprise them if possible.

Dissenter

I thought Auba was having an okay game.
We are within touch of the game

Put Ode in fir Auba?… not so sure about that sub
I would rather sub in Elneny for this one

Nelson

Dis
“What did Klopp tell him?”
_______________________________

Klopp pointed the finger at our left back saying that he tried to get Maine a yellow card. Replay showed that Maine’s hand hit our player’s face.

Spanishdave

Auba now is a wet fart too slow

MidwestGun

True we didnt create much.. but we didnt get ESR on the ball enough. either. I think part of that sis making sure MO Salah was under wraps.. which he was for the most part.

Anyhow.. we can do this.

Nigel Tufnel

Really lazy dangerous pass from Sambi there.

Guns of SF

our build from the back is quite risky and shaky

Northbanker

Sorry you’re bored Alonzo but you’re obviously not paying much attention to games

Soham

Take out Lokonga for AMN

Guns of SF

sloppy

Nigel Tufnel

Sambi again wtf …

MidwestGun

Think I would bring in AMN for Loko.. he is looking a bit shaky at the moment.

Spanishdave

We have now lost the plot, passing short in front of goal.

TR7

Sambi too casual there, I think he needs to be subbed. He has been our worst player so far.

Northbanker

Shit

OCGooner

Diss
Ode can hold the ball up, Auba can’t.

Luteo Guenreira

That was horrific

Spanishdave

Nice pass to set up their goal!!!!
Wanker

Johng

Stop giving me heart problems Arsenal . Silly mistakes at the back will kill us

Guns of SF

Fuck
rat face
fuck

Luteo Guenreira

What is Tavares thinking

Spanishdave

Is that an assis?

Saladin

ayi ayi ayi ayi ayi
what the fuck Nuno?

MidwestGun

Ugh.. mistakes like that kill you..

azed

Learning process…

We move

LoveSausage

Pathetic. I get that taking risks is part of playing from the back but we’ve been incredibly naive so far in second half.

Johng

And right on cue

Benjamin

Why insisting on playing from the back? Arteta will never learn! That is a fact!

S Asoa

That Jota is a slippery customer. Should have been watched 24 x 7

Spanishdave

The next level

Guns of SF

just go for broke now fuck it

TheLegendaryDB10

Ouch….

Now that hurts from Jota.

MidwestGun

AMN for Loko.. but too late now most likely. Damn that was unfortunate.

Luteo Guenreira

Jota and Mane seem like they score against us every time we play

raptora

This is what happens with so many young players.
Lokonga made like 5 errors in the last 5 mins. Now Nuno.

Problem is that Arteta had no idea how to help his team and it felt like the end of the first half, when they were all over us, never ended. We changed nothing.

Benjamin

We cut our mistakes by 50% Pedro?

Major_Jeneral

Tavares inexperience cost us there.

He should do better there. He will learn from it.

Gazza

Sambi not up to this level of game yet unfortunately

TR7

Tavares has largely been good for us, so I will cut him some slack. I am pissed with our “experienced” duo of Laca and Auba.

Dissenter

We play too much in front of our goal

If you give away the ball at the halfway line, the oppo still has to do so much to score
Give it away 12 yards from goal…madness

This is the fallout from playing out the back too much.

Spanishdave

All at sea now.
Arteta the man

Habesha Gooner

This was why I wanted a 343. We needed protection against our own inexperience. I can’t hold it against us. We need to keep this score respectable now.

Johng

Unfortunately I can’t see a way back from 2 down, but let’s not give up and take a hammering

Northbanker

This game only reinforces my view that playing from the back should be used sparingly and not continuously

TheBayingMob

I can’t stand losing to Liverpool. Sickening. I’m done. Didn’t play badly, terrible mistake. We had a chance at 1-0 but when had nothing up front today, turning off I can’t watch anymore regardless of performance

Ronald Bolo

total inexperience showing. Panic mode hit properly. Worst part is the senior players arent helping.
Lessons learnt indeed.

Spanishdave

Two going for the same ball in front of goal ffs

Ronald Bolo

Even Saka is totally off. zero composure

raptora

I feel the air of how this can get ugly if we don’t change it up.

Spanishdave

It’s getting ugly now

Luteo Guenreira

Players look a bit disinterested now, it could get ugly if they don’t snap out of it.

Guns of SF

Out on Martin, Ode, Pepe
fuck it

Nigel Tufnel

Commentary is correct .. we needed to keep it close for 20 minutes but we were impatient and young players errors cost us. Sambi and Nuno.