136 Comments

3 weeks no ode

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If we play duble pivot of Partey and Jogi with Kai at 10 that means we have to play Cala or Kiwior at LB cos we'd need more overlapping and width than inverting.

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Any formation or personel changes that sees Jesus play in CF position is a hindrance to us.

I'm excited to see Haverts in the R8 or exclusively 10 role but I'd rather Trossard or Sterling or even Nwaneri in CF if that happens.

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Gutted as I am about Merino, it is arguably a case of what we never had we will not miss. Ode and Rice are big misses though as they were the lynchpin of our title challenge last year. However we still have enough if belief is maintained

Odes injury is a sharp reminder we need to start blooding Nwaneri now even if on a sustained programme of decent length substitutions

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You’re very ,very naive if you think EPLs Independent panel( 😂) were going to go against the PGMOL stooge.Irrespective of whoever was on the panel.Sends out the wrong message as to their credibility which would never do.So no amount of ‘ Contrarian’ blah blah blah is going to change what I’d imagine is the majority of opinions on this blog with regards to Kavanaghs decisions.Nice try though Tom.Havent lost your touch.

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“You’re very ,very naive if you think EPLs Independent panel( 😂) were going to go against the PGMOL stooge.Irrespective of whoever was on the panel“

More than 30 decisions have been declared as wrong by the panel since its inception two seasons ago, and many deemed right have been considered thus by 3/2 majority vote, but don’t let that fact worry your little brain.

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The purity test merchant numero uno in fine form I see.

Rest assured I recognize fully going against the Legrove grain makes me a second class Arsenal fan and a horrible human being.

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I’m sure you’re a wonderful human being Tom.No one wants to hurt your sensibilities.But let’s call a spade ,a spade hey.

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Curious Tom.How many of those panel ‘decisions declared wrong’ involve Arsenal? Seeing as we tend to be involved in a disproportionate amount of contentious decisions,wouldn’t you say?

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I see what you did there; from the panel always tows the league line, to now, ok, maybe they don’t, but they always do when it comes to Arsenal.

Is this when I’m supposed to debunk this latest offering just so you move the goalposts again?

Fun, fun, fun.

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Some meat on the bones would be helpful.I mean,you’re pretty adamant we’re paranoid about this.

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The EPL’s independent KMI panel of five unanimously agreed with Rice’s sending off for the second yellow.

I disagree with their decision, definitely disagree with “the referee had no choice but to send Rice off” part, but this puts a dent in the worst refereeing decision of all time opinion many on here staked their reputations on.

Or maybe everyone just hates Arsenal so much…….or the panel consists of three former Spud players, Levy, and big Ange

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It was 100% consistent with the letter of the law but inconsistent with the spirit of the game.

The problem with our fanbase and their whipped up quarrelsomeness is they picked the worst case to make an accusation of bias.

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Odegaard is the Norwegian Aaron Ramsey.

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Don't you dare offend my boy Aaron...

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Players getting injured in pointless internationals is frustrating. Almost as frustrating as fans moaning about pointless internationals, blaming FIFA/ UEFA for ridiculous schedules, yet still watching them.

Can we talk again about who did/didn’t sing national anthems, or celebrated scoring?

Fascinating stuff.

Personally, I’m gonna rewatch all Arsenal players’ international matches I missed out on this window, right after the must watch presidential debate and the last episode of the Kardashians.

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Just wait until Saka limps off injured later against Finland!

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Odegaard is a problem for us in a specific type of games. The type of games that are following vs Spuds, Atalanta and City.

Vs City, Odegaard has 0 goals, 0 assists in 7 apps. With an xG - 0.24 and xA - 0.47 over 7 games (huh?!?!).

Vs Spuds under Ange - 0 goals, 0 assists in 2 games - xG of 0.1, xA 0.2 over 2 games (lol).

Odegaard is near useless when the game is stretched or when it has to be played in transition. Versus the likes of City, Bayern etc. We don't need him in such games. He's an issue.

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Come off it mate you can’t seriously believe that. Don’t go solely off stats.

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You think he passes the eye test versus a certain type of opponents, I don't.

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Sep 10
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I’ve said the same - it’s Pierre. The anti-Odegaard agenda is profound and pervasive.

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Match winning strikes - versus a team managed by another guy. Not Ange who has a vastly different strategy and a very distinctive way of playing - high line, suicidal football even versus the best teams.

Your point is dead right there.

9 games vs City and Spuds - 0 goals, 0 assists, near useless. You can add Bayern to the mentioned.

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Sep 10
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I'm convinced you can share your opinion without resorting to insults. Like I do.

You rate Odegaard otherworldly. I don't. It's fine.

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Martinelli on £200K a week? Another example of why we rarely move players for decent money.

We barely spent anything in this window. Now there’s no cash for a top striker in the coming windows?

Evan Ferguson is the plan?

What is going on today?

Wishing Ode a swift recovery. Leo to fill in until then.

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The reason I always maintained that Kai is a pointless signing at Arsenal is because his best role was already been fulfilled by Ode who is a darling of the manager. When he plays at L8, he's atrocious cos he's never played there before (we have bought better). When he plays at 9, he's passable because he has strengths that could be utilised (we would still eventually buy better).

Play him at R8 however, you'd see the best of him. That, or as a bonafide no 10 (floating central attacking midfielder). We may actually start looking for a new role for Odegaard when he finally returns. I'm excited to see him played there and the damage he could do from that position.

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That right pod of Saka-Ode-White is considered unbreakable, but what if it weren’t? Odegaard is able to perform left-foot actions we lack at L8, we’ve see him do it e.g. porto. Kai at R8/10. Interesting.

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I would start a double pivot of Partey and Jorginho. But we shouldn't press high at all. Sit deeper. Both of them can handle defending in smaller spaces. What they are poor at is eating up space like Rice would.

Do that and play on the counter. We can win playing that way. Partey and Jorginho have the through balls in them. And we need to play both Sterling and Martinelli alongside Saka to exploit their high line. Basically Ole ball is their weakness. We don't need to impose our game on them. Let them come at us because they are weak breaking teams down and finishing their chances. And we have a strong defense. They are weak on the counter as seen from the multiple trashings from Newcastle.

I hope Arteta has learned from that mauling at the Etihad 2 seasons ago when we all knew playing higher with Holding was suicide. Same for Partey and Jorginho. Set up right and even our bench midfield can handle spurs away.

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Odegaard is integral to how we play

His intensity dictates our overall approach, his press sets off the press and when he’s on fire…we are on fire.

We just effed up with how we have constructed the squad because you can’t have a position such as his to be uncovered for injury.

Not that you need a comparable player happy to warm the bench but you ought to have another creativity node in the middle in the squad.

I’m not going to hold up Nwaneri for any criticism, not even a microscopic one because he’s only 17.

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I think I’m gonna focus on all things Not Arsenal this upcoming week. Don’t need the irritation and aggravation …. ok I lied.

I wish I could, but sadly, it’s the life of a fan … smh

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Norway has provided healthcare and education for Odegaard and family, its misguided to think he owes Arsenal more than Norway

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Arsenal pay his wages not Norway!! It’s time this international nonsense for meaningless cups stopped and UEFA stopped inventing more excuses for playing matches

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Arsenal paid his wage because Norway nurtured him. Get over yourself. He's not done anything aside from play for his country when he's supposed to..

When he gets injured playing for Arsenal and can't represent Norway, what then happens? Does it become ok suddenly because "Arsenal pays his wages"?

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Arsenal is without Rice, Merino and Odegaard. What was supposed to be the main starting midfield.

Yet, we still have enough quality to just deal with it.

________Partey Jorgi________ (double pivot)

__________Havertz__________ (in front of the pair)

Saka______Jesus__Martinelli (for the threat in transition)

We're playing Ange's suicide football, then Rice will be back for Atalanta and City. High lines that our fast players can abuse.

Havertz already played there for Germany just a few days ago and probably again later today. He did so well vs Hungary.

Jesus, Partey and Jorgi help Martinelli with their technical skills and ability to make that long pass/through ball behind the defence.

Odegaard out for the 3 games (if he's even out for that long) might be a blessing in disguise.

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I went for the same type of

line up. But mine is more of a 442. I wouldn't start Jesus right after an injury. Martinelli with Havertz uptop for me and Sterling on the left. Spurs are weak in behind and their fullbacks are also vulnerable. We can get some joy out of Sterling vs Porro especially.

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The Odegaard bit being a blessing in disguise is hilarious though.

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Cause Odegaard is so important versus the likes of City - 0 goals, 0 assists in 7 apps. With an xG - 0.24 and xA - 0.47 over 7 games (huh?!?!).

Or versus Spuds under Ange - 0 goals, 0 assists in 2 games - xG of 0.1, xA 0.2 over 2 games (lol).

Odegaard is near useless when the game is stretched or it has to be played in transition. Versus the likes of City, Bayern etc. We don't need him in such games. He's an issue.

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"don't need him" what a pathetic comment. So you'd have two old age pensioners instead or the baby Nwaneri? Grow up and get a brain cell.

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