Absolutely shocking first half hour. Artetas first task from next season is to start getting us to be more consistent. you just don’t know what you will get with this side.
That's like saying Auba is not a top striker. Leno has saved us on numerous ocassions.. Every keeper has an off day, even Alisson at Liverpool. But what has Arteta done?
Its not like that at all. Auba has proven he's elite by conistently banging in the goals. Lenos has never been conistently great - he's always just been decent.
Agreed - but the keepers that we would call much better (such as Seaman and Lehmann) played in much better teams. I'm not sure of the stats but surely Leno is facing more shots per game than previous keepers due to our poor form/team. Personally, I think he's been one of the better performers the last two seasons (albeit he does have a mistake in him), along with Aubameyang and Saka
We probably could have won it in the end, but so could they. A draw against the 5th best team in the league, having been 3-0 down, isn't to be sniffed at I guess. However, Arteta's rotation and team selection for today deserves a lot of questioning. As well as why we started the game so sloppily. Pepe and Martinelli should have been brought on much earlier. Aubameyang had yet another dreadful game, but he's playing in a position that he's not suited to. Partey isn't looking like the player we got from Atletico Madrid. However, he's had a tough season with lots of niggling injuries and barely had a consistent run of games. I think, injury permitted, next season is where we'll see the best of him. He needs to stop being so clumsy on the ball and control it better. Chambers was excellent, and his crossing was consistently very good. Miles better than anything I've seen Bellerin do for us in however many years. Lacazette had a great game - fair play to him. I still think his recent good form shouldn't be rewarded with a new contract, unless he's willing to accept being a squad player and takes a wage cut (never happening). But at least he's putting in the effort and trying for the team. Positives: we don't have to stew on a loss for the next two weeks and we're up to 9th in the league (sarcasm). Liverpool after the break, followed by Slavia Prague at home. The latter of which is absolutely must win.
Here we go, hoping for a good performance tonight Like the look of the team line up tonight, except Ceballos. He hasn`t been at his best and gives the ball away in dangerous positions... Hopefully he will now play a blinder.. Coyg
Missing five starters IMO Xhaka, Saka, EMR, Luiz and Mari, bit concerned with Partey out of form, Ceballos "say-so" and Gabriel can be erratic at times. Anyway let's step up, get in their faces and have a fast start! COYG!
That was bloody awful, didnt think there was a lot wrong with the line up,,,except Cebellos as said above by Stray cat. we were missing a few who we needed tonight.. I find myself agreeing with Neville on Sky, it has told Arteta what he already thought, a lot of them just are not up to the fight.. Really disappointing to see us not compete, that was like we were for the last few years no fight.. let the clearout continue..
I think that game reflects where we truly are as a club. just absolutely nowhere. The mindset was wrong from the off. trust the process.
We were really bad tonight. Our eggs are truly in the Europa League basket. If we come up short then the manager has to go
What is there to say after a performance like that? Liverpool were in 2nd gear, and still absolutely schooled us from minute one to the end. Should have won by more too. It's remarkable how lacklustre we are without ESR, Saka, Tierney and (dare I say it) Xhaka. We have an £180m front line yet we're relying on the youngsters to bail us out. Look at what happens when they're not here. Huge reaction needed in midweek against Slavia. Am I confident we'll get one? Nope.
