I thought this was a really interesting thread and backs up what I've been observing in Arsenal this season:
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Arteta - The Process
- Thread starter Jayramfootball
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I don't agree that we go long too often, I don't think we do it enough, not even close. We pass too much but its mostly pointless passing, slow ponderous and pointless most of the time.
I think the point is that our midfielders don't play through the lines , so we end up passing long.
I think that is true - though I also agree that we aimlessly pass it sideways and backwards a lot before we realise we have to go long.
I think we have grounds to be concerned if this is still the case when our technical attackers are back. If we're able to start consistently playing a fit Odegaard, Eze and Saka and they can get their form back, then I feel like we'd get some of our swagger back (but this is based on hope more than anything - but Sunday gave me hope too). Add Nwaneri (hopefully/maybe) and Dowman to the mix in a year or two when they mature a bit and we're starting to have more technicians again. But we need offensive technicians in the Summer. Get rid of deadwood or four (Trossard, Jesus, Nelson, Vieira) and fund a technician or three (Alvarez, Monga, Diomande). We'd still have athletic oafs in Martinelli, Havertz (semi-technical, semi-oaf), Madueke (semi-oaf) and Gyokeres but at the moment, when all you've got primarily is athletic donkeys (or two donkeys and two semis) up top all playing together, it no doubt lends itself to the players playing behind them to be slightly more reticence at playing through the lines into them if they don't think it will stick, and just come straight back at them as a counter.
I honestly think it's more simple than all of that.
Play simply breaks down too often because we're weak in duels and no team , no matter how technical or talented, can operate if they are weak on the ball. These are basics, nothing fancy. Shield the ball, hold off defenders, allow time for runners. In the PL that is the number 1 differentiator for an attack, not technical skill or anything else. Everything else springs from that. I think Havertz is probably the only player we have who demonstrates that he can do this.
The above actually breaks defences and creates space.
The other way of doing that is by having players who can take players on and beat them - ESPECIALLY in the middle of the pitch.
We don't have that either.
Can;t remember the last time a midfielder went on a mazy run. Maybe as far back as MLS when he did it, which led to a goal by Martinelli.
Contrast to City - their players were beating our defenders with ease.
We don't go long, that's what I have been saying for how long. Going long gives something for Gyokeres to chase, ok, on the rare occasions we wentong to the player (as opposed to the space for Gyokeres to run into) Gyokeres was terrible and didn't hold the ball up. But there were plenty of occasions we could go long into the channel and make the defence turn and run back to goal - which is what suits Gyokeres' game.
Gyokeres does not have the pace to be useful in a situation where he runs onto an over the top ball.
He's just too slow. We've seen him get a couple of those balls and be caught up and dispossessed.
Paul Scholes was complaining about Martin Odegaard earlier this week and to be honest I agree with him:
‘That game on Saturday [against Newcastle], I didn’t see all of it, I probably saw the first half an hour, but I think Odegaard is a big problem for them,’
‘I love Odegaard, I think he’s brilliant. Technically, he’s great, but he doesn’t play his position properly.
‘Half the time I saw him in the first 20 minutes he was almost the deepest man.
I agree actually - We've seen Arteta address this in press conferences saying: "He lets Odegaard express himself" so wether Odegaards instincts are the problem here or Arteta is actually telling him to constantly drop deep - either way it seems like an easy tactical fix.
He needs to be starting higher a little closer to the striker.
I want to see Eze on the left and Martin as the 10 more often but it really requires Odegaard stop playing quite so deep.
‘That game on Saturday [against Newcastle], I didn’t see all of it, I probably saw the first half an hour, but I think Odegaard is a big problem for them,’
‘I love Odegaard, I think he’s brilliant. Technically, he’s great, but he doesn’t play his position properly.
‘Half the time I saw him in the first 20 minutes he was almost the deepest man.
I agree actually - We've seen Arteta address this in press conferences saying: "He lets Odegaard express himself" so wether Odegaards instincts are the problem here or Arteta is actually telling him to constantly drop deep - either way it seems like an easy tactical fix.
He needs to be starting higher a little closer to the striker.
I want to see Eze on the left and Martin as the 10 more often but it really requires Odegaard stop playing quite so deep.
Its a huge problem. How many times did he literally get in line with the CBs to receive the ball !! We literally have no creativity in the middle.
And if I see him do that ****ty scooped/chip pass forward at the edge of the opposition box again I will bitchslap his mamma!
I will say in all these debates about Arsenal and Arteta - everyone has to bring up creativity and attacking play - like this is all football is.
In truth City have been weaker than us defensively all Season - sure we all know they have some superb attackers but why is the conversation always built around goals and attacking play?
People keep saying we're not a good team because we not playing fluid attacking ball - but the other 50% of our game has been truly elite.
I feel like if we had an English manager this narrative would all be phrased soo very differently by the media.
In truth City have been weaker than us defensively all Season - sure we all know they have some superb attackers but why is the conversation always built around goals and attacking play?
People keep saying we're not a good team because we not playing fluid attacking ball - but the other 50% of our game has been truly elite.
I feel like if we had an English manager this narrative would all be phrased soo very differently by the media.
The Process doesn't have any middle ground and details of style of play, defence , etc is irrelevant IMO.
It's either a massive success with this squad if we win the league or a failure if we don't.
I don't really want to hear - and certainly won't be swayed by - any 'yeah but' commentary.
If we win the league, Arteta has proven every single one of his detractors wrong - oh, and there is NOTHING wrong with just saying 'Well done Mikel, I was wrong about you, my bad" ... or saying nothing and just enjoying the title! Worst thing of all is entrenchment by his detractors.
Still some way to go yet - lets wee whether Arteta and the team can do it.
It's either a massive success with this squad if we win the league or a failure if we don't.
I don't really want to hear - and certainly won't be swayed by - any 'yeah but' commentary.
If we win the league, Arteta has proven every single one of his detractors wrong - oh, and there is NOTHING wrong with just saying 'Well done Mikel, I was wrong about you, my bad" ... or saying nothing and just enjoying the title! Worst thing of all is entrenchment by his detractors.
Still some way to go yet - lets wee whether Arteta and the team can do it.
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We have not been this close to winning the league since 2003/4.
I remember saying back in 2019 when Arteta took over that it would take 5-10 years to win the league and would involve a complete overhaul of the squad because of the mess both Wenger and Emery had got us in.
Praying now that Mikel completes this
I remember saying back in 2019 when Arteta took over that it would take 5-10 years to win the league and would involve a complete overhaul of the squad because of the mess both Wenger and Emery had got us in.
Praying now that Mikel completes this
We have not been this close to winning the league since 2003/4.
I remember saying back in 2019 when Arteta took over that it would take 5-10 years to win the league and would involve a complete overhaul of the squad because of the mess both Wenger and Emery had got us in.
Praying now that Mikel completes this
Yep. 2 wins away from our greatest season in over 2 decades and 3 wins away from immortality in the eyes of the fans.
Whilst I am feeling confident we can win the league now, the CL will be a tall order - especially if Timber is not going to be available. But even 'just' winning the league would be incredible, especially with how starved we've been for 22 years.
Bear in mind it's just the one game and the pressure will not be the same. Sure the UCL is a big game but we've already achieved the number one target. Im hoping we will see the team come out full of confidence.
Careful with that!
We're are still on a knife edge with zero room for error. We still have to beat Burnley AND Palace away to be sure.
One slip up and City are in the driving seat.
Do NOT be surprised if BOTH our next two games are just as tight and nerve wracking as on Sunday.
One game at a time.
I do agree though that if we are title winners going into the CL final our chances of winning it will be much, much better
Winning the league is the main course and we have not finished that yet.
CL is a dessert.
As you say 1 game at a time, as far as we know we NEED to beat Burnley, Palace we don't know yet, only Man City's next 2 results will determine that.
If City only beat City by a goal or two, then we should also be going all out to get a cricket score against Burnley to try and make GD be in our favour for the final day. However, whatever happens, Emery will bend over backwards on the last day so I could easily see City scoring 6+ against Villa.
I assume you mean if City beat Palace.
They could possibly run up a score there.
I would take a 1-0 win over Burnley now (keep in mind that City only managed 1-0 vs them and could have dropped points the way the game panned out)
The idea that we can run up a cricket score is something that is very dangerous.
I would hope our players are not thinking this game will be easy - because it won't.
It is likely to be a very tight game and very nerve wracking.
Forget goal difference - if it goes that then City are likely going to be Champions.
We need to win both our last games - which is why this race is still very much on a knife edge... not the walk in the park that many fans are now assuming after the WHU result.
As for Emery - he's such a dick head he will absolutely send his team out to lose by as many goals as possible.
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