LIVERPOOL EXPOSE QUALITY GAPS WE KNEW EXISTED

by .

Well, the Liverpool loss was one of those: We didn’t really learn much we didn’t already know.

Referees favor the big clubs. It is amazing that Mane gets the benefit of the doubt despite being a notorious cheat. It is painful to watch refs raise the flag instantly at Arsenal and keep them down for Liverpool. It is same old same old watching decisions go against us.

We need a better option up front: I love Lacazette, he works like a Clydesdale, but he isn’t fast enough to make the difference with link-up play at the same time as being a threat to the goal. He’s also not decisive in front of goal. Your strikers need to score goals. He doesn’t really. We’ve gotten away with that beating lesser teams, but at the top, top level of the game, you need to have a striker that can make the most of limited opportunities.

We’re still a raw team of young players: The team didn’t believe they could win that game yesterday. There was a lack of belief. Our passes weren’t up to standard in a really good first half. You felt there was a lack of true expression or daring at times. This is an experience thing, but it’s probably also a mix of knowing you don’t have all the tools needed to dismantle the best side in the world at the moment.

So where were the positives?

We were a tough game for Liverpool. The game turned on probably 1.5 goalkeeping errors and a bit of a switch off. Ramsdale doesn’t get beaten at the near post like that normally. Saka tracks the runners better on another day.

The rest of the game was about 50/50 possession. We had the same number of chances, they had one more shot on target.

If we score in the first half, it’s a different game. We didn’t make the most of possession in dangerous areas. We didn’t truly unleash on them because we worried about how that would open us up.

Yeah, if your aunty had… and all that.

It wasn’t to be.

Liverpool are thoroughbred winners. They showed us the level we need to be at. Every player contributing, every pass precise, every opportunity brutally taken. Just look at how precise they are. Trent AA casually finds feet from 60 yards, that is not a normal ability. You watch over and over how good they are a finding people under pressure, you watch over and over what happens when you misplace a pass by half a yard and they counter.

Gabi Martinelli summed up the journey we have to go on. Firstly, the journey is a positive one. Martinelli roasted Trent all night, it was delicious, his power and pace is truly a sight to behold. Some of his tight control was world-class… but. Under pressure, his final ball and decisions weren’t quite there.

He’s 20. That’s par the course. His killer fangs will come. They aren’t there yet and at the highest level, that is why you don’t see clubs stacking the deck with 23-year-olds. So you can’t be angry. What you have to be is realistic and be thrilled that the future we’re gunning at is going to be special.

… but there are short-term goals to deal with that are attainable.

The league just got a little harder, but we’re still in the mixer for top 4, and we control our own destiny.

Aston Villa like big games, they have lots of attacking talent, and there’s a weird rivalry between both clubs because Emi Martinez is bitter, and Villa thought it in their interests to waste time chasing ESR this summer.

That is a must-win. We know we are better than them, what we don’t know is how well we’ll bounce back from a sad defeat. Can the players pick themselves up mentally and physically? We’ll see. But anything outside a win there is going to cause a bunch up in the league and pile the pressure on.

Quite amusing that the league absolutely stiffed us on the fixture list again. We play Chelsea on the Wednesday before our crunch game against Manchester United. I think Arteta said ‘it’s always Arsenal’ and it is. I said the league would try and fuck us on fixtures and they have.

Right, short post today, I don’t have a lot more to give the game. So listen in to the podcast or watch the video below.

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Terraloon

Kilroy.

Was a red for me should have been given on the pitch but was it really a clear and obvious because the refs view wasn’t impeded

Time Up

WH 2 and Yarmolenko scored.

MidwestGun

Ukranian power for West Ham.. Yarmolenko on one this week

Mr Serge

Keep it up for sunday yarmalenko

Killroy-TM

No two footed challenge, no studs in first and no violent conduct, sorry but never a red card..

WengerEagle

Yarmolenko is a shite player but nice for him to score two goals in a week all things considered.

raptora

Shite player loool

WengerEagle

He really is Rap, was dreadful for Dortmund too.

MidwestGun

Betis choked as well.. La Liga having a bad day.

WengerEagle

Another bad day for penalty-shootouts, damn.

Time Up

Emery for the CL this year after winning the Europa last year.

Rambinho

The game has gone if people think that is a red card.

MidwestGun

I guess Barca won.. unfortunately,

Terraloon

Kilroy

Serious Foul Play is a red card Offence

Here’s what is deemed to be SFP

Any player who lunges at an opponent in challenging for the ball from the front, from the side or from behind using one or both legs, with excessive force is guilty of serious foul play

sarge

Don’t agree Villa is. must win – it’s a difficult game, a draw is ok and still leaves us on track for 69/70 points.

The must wins – or must not lose – are the games against United and Spurs.

Time Up

4 Arsenal players in the English team equaled only by City. That will reduce our red card greatly.

WengerEagle

Villa is a bit of a must-win. We don’t psychologically want to be heading into fixtures vs United/Spurs within a game of them.

Time Up

Auba scored again. It was the usual tap in Auba.

Time Up

Point away to Villa and point away to Palace is not bad. 4 out to d 6 from those 2 away games would be just great.

Rich

Terraloon

I agree with you, under the law of the game that’s a red card, if St Maximin’s leg is planted, that’s a potential leg breaker

The problem is that there’s no consistency in interpreting the rules.

Allan is late, he’s high, he’s out of control, it’s a red card

Killroy-TM

“with excessive force” you can see where he touches the foot which barely moved. Again minimal contact, no excessive force and the fuckers who sit in the VAR booth never played the game and are taking the piss out of football. As already mentioned “football has tanked if people think this is a red card. In addition in yesterday’s game Mane was waiting for the contact, when it didn’t come he just dropped to the ground, worthy of a yellow card for simulation. Fucking Refs need to grow balls to call this shit out. Last decent ref that was respected… Read more »

rollen

Manager striker keeper was the deference.
No shame at loosing like that to one of the best sides atm.
just make Emi pick up the ball from the net few times now!

Tony

“Nigel, your blog policing antics make you come across as a complete fanny. Just so you know. Up to you what you do with that info. And in case you’re American, fanny means vagina, not buttocks.” So true ,but too complex for Nigel to understand. Something simpler like Nigel Numpty perhaps sums him up equally well. Sums you up perfectly always whining and moaning about others far worse than Arteta critiques mentioned by concerned supporters. How about before the Villa game state the team you’d like to see and the bench and why/how in footballing terms and tactics we are… Read more »

Gonsterous

We move on but I can’t help but feel, could we have gotten something out of the game if we had played esr instead of xhaka? Or if pepe came on earlier?

Were we too predictable for Liverpool?

Cyril

Holy fudge – nice. I don’t post that often. You sound like Ray Parlour. I have had an ST for 25 years and been going for for 40. Covid pass this year and phew!! I think we will get top 6 but hope for better. I have a great seat and I’m looking to rent it out (face). I’m done with it sadly . I. am too old in the tooth for it. It’s fir the young un’s now. When , I got my ST – we were looking to bite at the title. Since, we left Highbury- sadly and… Read more »

Tony

Cyril, sounds like you have a lifetime of Arsenal memories and stories to tell. I think I can speak for many others that we’d love to share in them if you feel like helping us more mature (67 soon) gooners to remember again what we have forgotten like me, and help educate our younger fans who are our future of The Arsenal’s fans about the culture and history of the club and its fans through the decades.

I certainly love hearing and reading tales of woe and wonder from those who have experienced them.

Goobergooner

“We’re still a raw team of young players: The team didn’t believe they could win that game yesterday. There was a lack of belief. Our passes weren’t up to standard in a really good first half. You felt there was a lack of true expression or daring at times. This is an experience thing, but it’s probably also a mix of knowing you don’t have all the tools needed to dismantle the best side in the world at the moment.” Ummmmm what?!?! They didn’t feel like they could win because they are young? Now I’ve heard it all. If the… Read more »

Goobergooner

The team hasn’t given up on laca despite not being the tool we need

Tony

Time Up I’d agree with most of your thinking below, but I believe we can get 3 points from both Villa and Palace away. As long as the Pool result hasn’t knocked our confidence, which I don’t see anyway, the football we were beginning to play was at short times unplayable against, hence the goals. Hopefully, we have learnt from the home defeat particularly Arteta, as other managers look to nullify our MF and front 3 playing together. In-game management is where Arteta needs to severely up his game to change things up as the game dictates. Anyway, here are… Read more »

Samesong

Happy Birthday to me

Agree with WE win at Villa would be good for the confidence and keep us aiming for 3rd. I hate these international breaks because we don’t know what Arsenal will come back.

Terraloon

Tony

7 away games is key statistics suggest 10-11 points from those and from the 4 home games 7 points
So I can’t put them into a match by match sequence but I think 17or 18points is more likely
But that require playing at the same level and therein is the real challenge. I hate predicting what will happen particularly when you get into the last half a dozen matches against teams that still have things to play for in the league.

Why I Gunna

Arteta needed to rotate yesterday because while we lose to Liverpool, losing to Villa is really bad news for our top 4 chances

Terraloon

Samesong

Happy birthday 🎂

Markymark

One point to note is I don’t think Liverpool have actually had a bad game with us in the league. It suggests Klopp has them on high alert which in itself is a back handed compliment.
An example is their performance at West Ham away which was mistake ridden.
Need a new forward and need someone over on the left hand side to replace Xhaka then I think the journey continues

James wood.

Tony.
When I first started going to the Arsenal they had 4 sides.
1st team Div 1
Combination side.
Metropolitan side.
And a side in the S E Counties.
That would be around 1964
I’m 74 this year.
They where really easy on prices for
the Combination team when the first
team was away and drew good crowds.
I was a regular home supporter.

Useroz

“If we score in the first half, it’s a different game”

It’s more like the gilt edged chance in the 2H a few minutes before Poo scored that made the difference… Kopp was readying Salah so he obviously felt the pressure to up the tempo … sobif either Laca or Odegarde scored that 1v1 it’d be a very tough come back and different game… Well, what ifs…

Pierre

Markymark “One point to note is I don’t think Liverpool have actually had a bad game with us in the league” Up until the Ramsdale mistake, liverpool were nothing special, in fact apart from a couple of delicious through balls from Trent Arnold either side of half time, they were ineffective.. Usually liverpool will dominate the ball against us for large periods of the game having us chasing shadows, but on Wednesday we competed all over the pitch. Our movement in both boxes was poor for their 2nd goal and when Martinelli got behind their defence. Anticipation is the key… Read more »

Goobergooner

Happy birthday Samsung!

James wood,

That sounds like it would have been awesome!!

What’s it like to go and watch the women’s or the youth teams now?? Could they get better atmospheres going?

Goobergooner

Ohhhh shit. Haha obviously meant samesong

Useroz

Tight controls and trickery aside, Martinelli did put 3 or 4 great balls in the box. In the 1H, he got past 2 Poo defenders and cut he ball into the 6 yard box. Had Laca got a bit more pace it’d he a poke in from 4, 5 yards!! Some said on here Eddie would have got to it… may be! Other times esp in 2H when he got into excellent positions there were hardly any to pass to, like 1 or max 2 in the box, and he quickly got surrounded by 2 to 3 defenders while waiting… Read more »

stubertio

Proud we pushed the form side in Europe. Sad our current state showed up. Excited for the future. For those that point to the trimming of the squad as an “I told you so when we have 3 games on a week…” please, please, please tell me who that went you would be happy starting in either the Chelsea or Man Utd game? I don’t mean Peak Auba as an example I mean the Auba who this season saw playing as an interruption to counting his cash. I’d love a deeper squad and see fresh legs for big games, it… Read more »

Rich

Stubertio We don’t need a squad bigger than 23, backed up by 2-3 talented players from the academy Too much competition, kills competition, because there’s only 11 places in the team, and only so many games, this then creates stagnation + malaise and a bad energy behind the scenes with under-utilised and disenfranchised players. Too little competition, kills competition, because it doesn’t matter how badly players play, train, or behave, they’ve got nobody snapping at their heels to keep them on their toes, this puts players into an unhealthy comfort zone, and also risks creates stagnation + malaise Direct competition… Read more »

stubertio

Rich agree. My point is to the moaners that we let too many go and should have held on to them for the couple of 3 games a week – but who would we play. When you bring in your points then having the squad players who don’t play impacts every week and not just the odd week.

Rich

Stubertio

Agree, whoever’s responsible for the cull around our squad, and beginning to install a much better balance, deserves huge credit.

Our squad is now evolving in the right direction, it’s imperative we get our recruitment right this summer, and tie down our talent.

Leftside

Happy Birthday Samesong

Times Up, I can agree with your points prediction and what is needed. I would say that we have to win the Villa game as it will give United and Spurs additional encouragement if we don’t come away with a good result.

We really do need Laca to start taking these chances too.

Rich

Juventus letting Dybala leave for free, he’s got a wand of a left foot, be interesting to see where he ends up.

He’s 29 in November and would likely want 4-5 years, we’ve surely been burnt too many times to enter that type of commitment

Nelson

Chelsea and MC on one side and Pool on the other side.

Nelson

As Arteta said, comparing to the Pool, our weakness is inside the opposition’s box. We miss a striker badly.

raptora

https://twitter.com/deanoiskeeno/status/1504597667237842946 Alan Shearer says the red card decision was “an absolute howler” for the VAR. Dermot Gallagher: “They [the match officials] say the point of contact is just above the ankle and they’ve made this conscious decision that this season that a challenge with point of contact just above the ankle is going to receive a red card. I can understand why Craig Pawson has initially shown a yellow card and most people would’ve accepted that – but because of this extra layer of scrutiny, Allan has paid the price for the VAR.” How is the point of contact “just… Read more »

Rich

Liverpool vs Benfica

Villarreal vs Bayern Munich

Chelsea vs Real Madrid

Man City vs Atletico Madrid

Semi finals:

Man City/Atletico vs Chelsea/Real Madrid

Liverpool/Benfica vs Villarreal/Bayern Munich

Liverpool lucky with the quarterfinal draw, probably have the preferable semi final opponents as well

raptora

Curious that the game between Juve and Villarreal was decided by a few players connected to Arsenal.

– our boy Coquelin was fouled in the box for a penalty
– the foul was committed by Rugani, who we almost brought to the club twice – in 2019 when we got Saliba, and in 2020 – Gabriel.
– Szczesny was extremely close to keeping the pen with a fingertip save but just couldn’t do it.
– Vlahovic missed maybe 5-6 good chances (fuck him)

raptora

Forgot

– Emery masterclass over Max Allegri (get in!)

G

Defo want westham to go through to semi final as we would play them in between our game with them

G

Westham v Lyon

Nigel Tufnel

I love that Juventus crash and burn. Perfect for me would be to meet them in the champions league next season. Here’s hoping we get there.

HerbsArmy

Hi Rich. Long time since you gave me pelters on another forum, for wanting Wenger out (which in itself is strange considering this is the first time you’ve been excited about an Arsenal ‘project’ since 2010/11). I’m well aware of the players we have, their ages, and the excitement circulating around them, the biggest issue is the length of time it has taken to get back to ‘Jam tomorrow’, which the club have been promising since the summer of 2006. City are not in the equation for this type of debate, Liverpool are much more like for like in terms… Read more »

Sid

Dis donc!

Mb

You have been missed, Sid 😂

HerbsArmy

Samesong

I know we’ve never spoken via Le Grove, but as a fellow Gooner who posts regularly here,
Happy Birthday, hopefully many more in the future.

Sid

@Mb, 😂

Useroz

Most of the Dermot Gallagher analyses sound more like politician bullshit than “expert opinions” and often contradict himself. Absolutely lack technical consistency and moral stance (refs almost never incorrect… “must have his reasons” … like what??). Gallagher is no more than a retired PR instrument to try safeguard a corrup, monopolised, and obsolete institution. It’s a virus to EPL.

Samesong

Thanks for the birthday messages all.

Benjamin

Sid is back!!!

raptora

Happy birthday Samesong brother!
May Brereton Diaz open up his scoring account in 2022 already!

Mb

Happy birthday, Samesong. A good Guinness on a Friday evening on birthday… is all you need mate.

Mb

Of all the things, I miss the Guinness after moving back from UK. Have one on my name too 🍺

Graham62

Samesong

Happy Birthday!

Still reflecting on Wednesday nights game. At HT I genuinely felt we could get something from the game but as the second half unravelled and Lacazette and Odegaard conspired to miss that chance, it became predictable.
My gripe is that Laca wasn’t removed sooner and Eddie was given 30 minutes and also Pepe could have been given longer.
Martinelli was a joy and deserved his goal at the end.
Am I allowed to criticise?

Graham62

Herbs Army

Correct.

Positive pete

Demot Gallagher is a prem mouthpiece employed by Riley back in the day.Another Dublin manc or scouse supporter I can guarantee you.Wenger eagle will prob confirm it.He didn’t & couldn’t give two shits about Arsenal useroz & it’s plain to see why they have him ready & enabled to spout crap like “ must have his reasons” yeah you bet they do.Just that we’ll never hear em explained.

Almuniasaynomore

Quick heads up for you lads. Couple of attractive 20 yr olds are hanging around shopping centre car parks. As soon as they see a middle aged man sitting in a car alone they approach him asking for a lift,open the door,slide into the car,touching each other and him. They take turns distracting him with this seductive behaviour until they suddenly depart leaving the stunned male to realise later that he is no longer in possession of his wallet. You’ve been warned. Happened to me last Wednesday. And Thursday and Friday.

raptora

Appreciated, dirty grandpa.

Almuniasaynomore

And happy birthday Samesong, you were only a few hours late,you could have been an honorary Irishman!