He’s been disappointing. I expected him to show more desire, but he’s just so languid and even some of his attempted tackles have been lazy. Worrying signs.
Nketiah’s been making crap tackles all game, and it’s been halting our momentum/giving the ball straight back to Brentford. He’s rightfully yellow carded for a stupid and late foul.
Ok we’re under deep pressure this half, Brentford dominating. This was the game I expected us to be having at the start.
FT. 0-1. Wasn't expecting us to go through, so that was a pleasant surprise. Good defensive performance in the second 45. I wonder who we'll get in the next round. Thought Kiwior was fantastic all game and made a huge clearance off the line late in the second-half. The whole back four was solid, but Kiwior really impressed me tonight. Ramsdale's long distribution wasn't great, but he also made some big saves and commanded his area well. Not a bad response to all the spotlight that's been on him. Jorginho was very good too, he was spraying the ball well but also combative and winning duels in the middle of the pitch. ESR was superb first half, but feel like he faded second half. Nelson was excellent at protecting the ball and bringing it up the pitch. He's such a threat but he also relieves pressure off the defence too. Happy that he got his goal. Nketiah did some good things and some bad things. Sagoe Jr will always remember this evening, and you can see he has talent, but I think he wasn't ready for a game like this. He got outmuscled too easily at times, too. Now - Havertz...he wasn't bad, however, he also wasn't good. I'm sorry, but he shouldn't be near the first team at the moment. He just doesn't offer enough of a threat and isn't contributing enough to our build-up. Again, some nice touches here and there, a few good passes now and then, but we paid £65m for this guy. I honestly think some of the academy boys we have would show more than he is currently. I really don't know what we're going to do with him.
Agree with that assessment. I think ESR just needs minutes and game time. But the talent as we know is there, he just needs a run in the team. Like you, I was particularly impressed with Kiwior. He's a really strong and mobile defender who reads the game really well and can play across that back line. He's a very decent player to have in this squad. I think MOTM for me has to go to Nelson, he was brilliant last night. Always available and made some great penetrating runs down that left flank, held the ball up well, brought other players into play, kept the ball moving and drawing Brentford players onto him, and tracked back and defended well too. Of course he got the winning goal and could / should have scored another. But a great performance from him and with Martinelli and Saka injured, he's great back up. Eddie was unlucky not to get a goal last night, he got himself into some brilliant positions, and but for last minute blocks and tackles I think he would have been on the scoresheet. He doesn't do a lot wrong, but for me he's just below the standard we need. If we can get Ivan Toney in a cash + player deal in Jan, I would gladly let Eddie go as part of that deal. As for Havertz, I have to say I like him....but.... He does a lot of good neat and tidy work in midfield and he's actually very good at breaking up opposition play, but he doesn't offer anywhere near enough going forward. And for a £65m player, he should be giving us more. Xhaka in that position last season was immense and if Havertz is his replacement, then it's a big downgrade. I just want him to get a goal and hopefully his confidence will boost. But I want to see him be more aggressive and take the game to the opposition, because at times he just looks like a passenger.
Yeah - For the Xhaka position. I feel that with Viera, he's too inconsistent and doesn't offer much defensively. And Havertz offers no goal threat and lacks general intensity/urgency. If Timber does return by Christmas like some people are saying... I think with our current squad this could be our best lineup. -----------------------Raya-------------------------- White------Saliba--------Gabriel-------Timber -----------------------Rice---------------------------- -------Odegaard-------------Zinchenko--------- Saka----------------Jesus-------------Martinelli
Well - I was originally thinking Rice as a No.8 and Partey as the No.6 would be our system but honestly it may be too defensive. Plus Rice has looked absolutely quality as our DM since he's come in.
I don't think you can leave a fit Thomas Partey out of this team. Him and Rice both play for me. Partey has a wonderful range of passing on him and is so composed on the ball. MF trio of Rice, Partey and Odegaard for me.
Yeah I don't disagree. I think Zinchenko and Timber would be super dynamic playing together on that side. The thing about Rice is he's clearly Artetas long terms choice for the DM position. When Partey was fit Arteta was putting him in at RB rather than moving Rice.
True, but that back 3 with inverted full backs I think was a bit of an experiment to see if we could mix it up with different players. Partey is wasted at RB and that system didn't play Martinelli or Saka to their full potential I hope Arteta doesn't go back to that system I think Partey and Rice in at CM with Odegaard further forward at ACM is the perfect trio for our midfield
I also think we need to sign an actual no.8 this January ideally, but if not, then in Summer. Partey's a great player when he's fit, but the statistics don't lie. He's missed 43% of Arsenal games since he's joined. Whatever people think about his quality, the guy simply isn't reliable enough to be available for a full season. Rumours that we may cash in on him next Summer. Midfield will be an area we need to reinforce anyway, as I doubt we'll be extending Jorginho's contract either (expires in June 2024). So there's potential for both Partey and Jorginho to be gone at the end of this season.
