The issue with Partey is really simple, whether we need to invite and evade pressure, or apply and sustain pressure…
He’s no longer equipped to do either of those things to a high standard, and that dictates the level of risk we can take as a team.
The silver lining is at least he’s stringing together his best run of availability since he’s been at the club.
The cynic in me is screaming “ Well of course he is, it’s contract renewal time”…
But either way, we need all hands on deck to manage this schedule, and even a Partey who’s past his best, is better to have around to take some of the workload, rather than sat in the treatment room.
I’ve wanted to dump him for the past 22 months, but since we’ve failed to pivot, we have to try and extract some type of value out of him.
We are still weak in opening up the Defence through the center. Our attacks go through the sides - Martinelli and Saka with the support of wing backs. We don’t have people to receive the ball between the lines and carry on with the threat. Havertz can receive but he can’t carry.
Nwaneri could be that man if we try him enough and yesterday he proves that talks about experience don’t apply to his case. He was much more dangerous than Sterling having twice less time.
MOTD only focused on Calafiori red. Second foul was undoubtedly a yellow but missed point that first was soft. Ndidi kicked a ball away at a FK but no second yellow (this new interpretation of the rule obviously only applies to Arsenal players). Skipp made multiple bookable fouls.
Actually great performance overall. One of those matches where I’m reminded why not to post during the match (had to watch on laptop cos of 3pm ko - really hate watching streamed matches). Given the number of injuries I’m really impressed with how the rest of our squad have coped.
I watched the game on TV, I have no idea what Pedro is on about Partey. It is interesting how the same match is seen so differently, for me Partey was fine. Calalafiori's first yellow was not a foul, therefore second yellow not justified. Every Pundit and the Leiceter manger complaining about is absolutely wrong, how many red is okay for this people I have no idea. Too many average minds talking rubbish, I guess Football is for the low IQ Folks, especially in UK as UK simply has too many sport, I guess those who play Cricket and Rugbby taking a lot of brain from british Football.
I missed the game as I am with the family this weekend and my initial reaction while keeping a partial on Arseblog's live blog was that the 2nd half dud feel like we let Leicester back into the game.
But after reviewing Arsenal.com's extended highlights I didn't realise that we kept going at their goal in the second half despite Leicester's resurgence (even the highlights made it clear that Leicester did fuck all in the first half) thanks to a deflected goal and a worldie.
So the 2 goals that we scored late on is a reflection of the teams work ethic of never giving up (as mentioned in Tross's interview).
So not only did we deserve the 3 points but this is exactly what we needed to do if we are serious about winning the league.
To TT who said he would have taken Saka off before Martinelli and how he can't do no wrong:
Most successful dribbles in a Premier League match this season
◎ 8 - Bukayo Saka vs Leicester
Most key passes in a Premier League match this season
◎ 8 - Bukayo Saka vs Leicester
The only reason Saka stays out of the headlines is that he's placed on the sideline, hugging it. If he was allowed to move more central, clearly a tactical decision, his number of goals and assists would have seen a dramatic rise.
Touches:
Saka - 103
Trossard - 60
Martinelli - 43
He was our chief creator in the absence of Odegaard and before Nwaneri was subbed in. I would have loved to see Saka play in Odegaard's place with Jesus or Trossard on the wing. But that doesn't really matter as we reached what's by understatdotcom an Arsenal record of highest xG since the site started tracking it in 2014/15.
Just as an info - Bukayo Saka on whoscored - 9.63 rating versus Leicester, MotM obviously. Monstrous rating for a monster performance.
After a first half with 0 attempts and 1 touch in the penalty box for Leicester, Partey passed to Saka deep in the opposition half. Saka didn't run towards the ball but decided to wait for the ball to roll all the way to him instead of attacking it. An opponent intercepted it, started an attack that resulted in a bit controversial free kick (it was obvious that Vardy slowed his run to cause the contact). From that free kick, Justin's header took a wicked deflection off Havertz and wrongfooted Raya.
Partey to blame for passing in a rather imperfect way. Doesn't matter that there were about 2 or 3 situations after that play. He made a bad pass next to the sideline deep in the opposition half. Insane mistake, it totally doesn't happen about 15-20 times a game.
For the 2nd goal, I guess he had to aggressively defend on the flank instead of Timber, who was covering air and Calafiori, on the other side of the pitch, who was also covering air. Ndidi with a first time hopeful cross had no business causing any trouble if our LB was doing his job and was aware of the player behind him instead of getting so close to Gabriel who was already covering his guy.
I saw Arseblog gave Calafiori a rating of 8, despite mentioning that "the ball floated over him for their second". I love the guy, he had a very impressive game. But that 2nd goal is almost entirely on him. Would he have gotten a 9/10 if he didn't make that mistake? I doubt it. So that score doesn't reflect the player making an error leading to a goal.
It's fine to have favorites and scapegoats but as someone yesterday said, if Zinchenko was in Calafiori's place and made that mistake for their 2nd, he would have been shred to bits and for a good reason too. I know Cala is still a newbie in a new country, new club, new language, new league, new championship etc etc, but a mistake is a mistake. Let's not put it on Partey just because he's currently an easy target.
Cala could have been sent off at 2-2 and then his positive performance would have been an absolute disaster. Hindsight is a beautiful thing but yeah, we need to look a little bit deeper.
Like singling out Partey but not a word on Rice who hasn't had a single good game for us this season (Carabooboo doesn't count) and has actually cost us points this season. Declan's combined whoscored rating in the PL is 6.43, Partey's is 7.02. But let's bag on Partey, not a word on Dec (or Calafiori). Gotcha.
Thanks for mentioning the scapegoating of TP5. I love the Declan Rice but he was on the ball a lot and he had the creativity of David Moyes product. There was nary a defense splitting pass from the man. Sorry he isn’t an 8. Play him as a six and him how to be a forward passing DM … just shocked at the Partey attacks when Havertz was on a Saturday afternoon stroll around the park
Parteys successful take on % has steadily dropped from 87% at AM to around 80% in first 2 seasons at Arsenal then 69% and 50% last season and this season.
I'm not sure why Pedro decided to single out Partey. He had a good game and was one of our best performers against City last week. He's not as athletic but he still sets the tempo for the attack when facing most teams in the league apart from when we are facing top quality
I agree and it looks like Saka can do no wrong on this blog. I would have taken him off before Martinelli to be honest. Califiori was lucky to stay on the pitch. If that foul was committed by a opposition player we would all be screaming blue murder and saying it was all a PGMOL conspiracy.
None of the goals came from his lack of effort and application. How many chances were created because of his so called lack of execution?
He completed almost 92 percent of his passes. This is scapegoating and I’m not having it.
Thank God I watched the game.
We were missing Odegaard’s all around energy and constant pressing. While Trossard lacks that, no one can question how lethal and clutch he is as a finisher …
Havertz had the finesse of a tug boat and the sharpness of an eel. He was so off his game and ran as if he had shorts full of poop.
Sorry Pedro and others, I’m not agreeing with this anti Partey narrative and propaganda…
He will exit the club in the summer but doesn’t need this kinda treatment. Did we not all see how performed at the Etihad when we had to bunker down against a relentless City team whilst down a man? Cmon men
Martinelli and Calafiori with 4 G/A in the last 2 games. The left wing has been in flux for over a year but it looks like we might have found the partnership to match Saka-White on the other wing.
I really liked that for our first goal Martinelli was central with Tross on the left and for our 2nd, it was the reverse - Marti on the wing, Tross central.
Add to it our full backs playing in about 5 positions and we're getting a glimpse of what the next level would be like.
Nuno Tavarez with an assist
The issue with Partey is really simple, whether we need to invite and evade pressure, or apply and sustain pressure…
He’s no longer equipped to do either of those things to a high standard, and that dictates the level of risk we can take as a team.
The silver lining is at least he’s stringing together his best run of availability since he’s been at the club.
The cynic in me is screaming “ Well of course he is, it’s contract renewal time”…
But either way, we need all hands on deck to manage this schedule, and even a Partey who’s past his best, is better to have around to take some of the workload, rather than sat in the treatment room.
I’ve wanted to dump him for the past 22 months, but since we’ve failed to pivot, we have to try and extract some type of value out of him.
We are still weak in opening up the Defence through the center. Our attacks go through the sides - Martinelli and Saka with the support of wing backs. We don’t have people to receive the ball between the lines and carry on with the threat. Havertz can receive but he can’t carry.
Nwaneri could be that man if we try him enough and yesterday he proves that talks about experience don’t apply to his case. He was much more dangerous than Sterling having twice less time.
MOTD only focused on Calafiori red. Second foul was undoubtedly a yellow but missed point that first was soft. Ndidi kicked a ball away at a FK but no second yellow (this new interpretation of the rule obviously only applies to Arsenal players). Skipp made multiple bookable fouls.
Actually great performance overall. One of those matches where I’m reminded why not to post during the match (had to watch on laptop cos of 3pm ko - really hate watching streamed matches). Given the number of injuries I’m really impressed with how the rest of our squad have coped.
Basically only a single major injury - Odegaard. Merino didn’t play a single game. Wingbacks were replaced quite efficiently.
I watched the game on TV, I have no idea what Pedro is on about Partey. It is interesting how the same match is seen so differently, for me Partey was fine. Calalafiori's first yellow was not a foul, therefore second yellow not justified. Every Pundit and the Leiceter manger complaining about is absolutely wrong, how many red is okay for this people I have no idea. Too many average minds talking rubbish, I guess Football is for the low IQ Folks, especially in UK as UK simply has too many sport, I guess those who play Cricket and Rugbby taking a lot of brain from british Football.
Arsenal have played 5 difficult games in the last 14 days . We have not lost any of those games despite our injury list.
Yesterday we struggled to beat Leicester despite the overwhelming dominance and stats. However,
we managed to win the game in final 4 minutes. So the 3 points were achieved. Anything less would have been a disaster.
We do need to finish more clinically than we have done sofar this season. Hopefully the return to
fitness of both Odegaard and Merino will improve the performance in midfield.
Nwaneri showed once again that he is a brilliant prospect. This season he will be considered a
bench player. However, as season progresses his workload will increase. Potentially he is a
match winner.
I missed the game as I am with the family this weekend and my initial reaction while keeping a partial on Arseblog's live blog was that the 2nd half dud feel like we let Leicester back into the game.
But after reviewing Arsenal.com's extended highlights I didn't realise that we kept going at their goal in the second half despite Leicester's resurgence (even the highlights made it clear that Leicester did fuck all in the first half) thanks to a deflected goal and a worldie.
So the 2 goals that we scored late on is a reflection of the teams work ethic of never giving up (as mentioned in Tross's interview).
So not only did we deserve the 3 points but this is exactly what we needed to do if we are serious about winning the league.
To TT who said he would have taken Saka off before Martinelli and how he can't do no wrong:
Most successful dribbles in a Premier League match this season
◎ 8 - Bukayo Saka vs Leicester
Most key passes in a Premier League match this season
◎ 8 - Bukayo Saka vs Leicester
The only reason Saka stays out of the headlines is that he's placed on the sideline, hugging it. If he was allowed to move more central, clearly a tactical decision, his number of goals and assists would have seen a dramatic rise.
Touches:
Saka - 103
Trossard - 60
Martinelli - 43
He was our chief creator in the absence of Odegaard and before Nwaneri was subbed in. I would have loved to see Saka play in Odegaard's place with Jesus or Trossard on the wing. But that doesn't really matter as we reached what's by understatdotcom an Arsenal record of highest xG since the site started tracking it in 2014/15.
Just as an info - Bukayo Saka on whoscored - 9.63 rating versus Leicester, MotM obviously. Monstrous rating for a monster performance.
I thought Saka had a fabulous game - some of his movement and passing was world class
After a first half with 0 attempts and 1 touch in the penalty box for Leicester, Partey passed to Saka deep in the opposition half. Saka didn't run towards the ball but decided to wait for the ball to roll all the way to him instead of attacking it. An opponent intercepted it, started an attack that resulted in a bit controversial free kick (it was obvious that Vardy slowed his run to cause the contact). From that free kick, Justin's header took a wicked deflection off Havertz and wrongfooted Raya.
Partey to blame for passing in a rather imperfect way. Doesn't matter that there were about 2 or 3 situations after that play. He made a bad pass next to the sideline deep in the opposition half. Insane mistake, it totally doesn't happen about 15-20 times a game.
For the 2nd goal, I guess he had to aggressively defend on the flank instead of Timber, who was covering air and Calafiori, on the other side of the pitch, who was also covering air. Ndidi with a first time hopeful cross had no business causing any trouble if our LB was doing his job and was aware of the player behind him instead of getting so close to Gabriel who was already covering his guy.
I saw Arseblog gave Calafiori a rating of 8, despite mentioning that "the ball floated over him for their second". I love the guy, he had a very impressive game. But that 2nd goal is almost entirely on him. Would he have gotten a 9/10 if he didn't make that mistake? I doubt it. So that score doesn't reflect the player making an error leading to a goal.
It's fine to have favorites and scapegoats but as someone yesterday said, if Zinchenko was in Calafiori's place and made that mistake for their 2nd, he would have been shred to bits and for a good reason too. I know Cala is still a newbie in a new country, new club, new language, new league, new championship etc etc, but a mistake is a mistake. Let's not put it on Partey just because he's currently an easy target.
Cala could have been sent off at 2-2 and then his positive performance would have been an absolute disaster. Hindsight is a beautiful thing but yeah, we need to look a little bit deeper.
Like singling out Partey but not a word on Rice who hasn't had a single good game for us this season (Carabooboo doesn't count) and has actually cost us points this season. Declan's combined whoscored rating in the PL is 6.43, Partey's is 7.02. But let's bag on Partey, not a word on Dec (or Calafiori). Gotcha.
Thanks for mentioning the scapegoating of TP5. I love the Declan Rice but he was on the ball a lot and he had the creativity of David Moyes product. There was nary a defense splitting pass from the man. Sorry he isn’t an 8. Play him as a six and him how to be a forward passing DM … just shocked at the Partey attacks when Havertz was on a Saturday afternoon stroll around the park
Parteys successful take on % has steadily dropped from 87% at AM to around 80% in first 2 seasons at Arsenal then 69% and 50% last season and this season.
The same also for long passes completion %.
I'm not sure why Pedro decided to single out Partey. He had a good game and was one of our best performers against City last week. He's not as athletic but he still sets the tempo for the attack when facing most teams in the league apart from when we are facing top quality
I agree and it looks like Saka can do no wrong on this blog. I would have taken him off before Martinelli to be honest. Califiori was lucky to stay on the pitch. If that foul was committed by a opposition player we would all be screaming blue murder and saying it was all a PGMOL conspiracy.
I’m not with all the Partey slander.
None of the goals came from his lack of effort and application. How many chances were created because of his so called lack of execution?
He completed almost 92 percent of his passes. This is scapegoating and I’m not having it.
Thank God I watched the game.
We were missing Odegaard’s all around energy and constant pressing. While Trossard lacks that, no one can question how lethal and clutch he is as a finisher …
Havertz had the finesse of a tug boat and the sharpness of an eel. He was so off his game and ran as if he had shorts full of poop.
Sorry Pedro and others, I’m not agreeing with this anti Partey narrative and propaganda…
He will exit the club in the summer but doesn’t need this kinda treatment. Did we not all see how performed at the Etihad when we had to bunker down against a relentless City team whilst down a man? Cmon men
Sometimes matches turn on their head. This was one of them. We could have beaten them 5 nil but the game twisted and became 2 all.
The hallmark of a good team is to dig deep and find results which we did.
I'm dumbfounded at this claim that Partey was the architect of the temporary glitch in the second half, it's ridiculous to me.
Even Rice wasn't at his best in the game if we are to be honest and like many here Im looking forward seeing him paired with Merino.
I just hope we won't be having as many complaints as we are witnessing.
Am sure the team collectively took some lessons from the game and would adjust moving forward.
Martinelli and Calafiori with 4 G/A in the last 2 games. The left wing has been in flux for over a year but it looks like we might have found the partnership to match Saka-White on the other wing.
And there’s a noticeable chemistry between those two!
I really liked that for our first goal Martinelli was central with Tross on the left and for our 2nd, it was the reverse - Marti on the wing, Tross central.
Add to it our full backs playing in about 5 positions and we're getting a glimpse of what the next level would be like.