Silly from Cooper to kill the game but to be fair we have never been in it this 2nd half so far. 81mins
Get the impression we’re not bothered about staying in this competition. We surrendered after the second goal.
Not sure what’s gone on in this second half. Think Forshaw helps in midfield. We’ve lost the movement and interplay from Rodrigo. Drameh did himself proud so pick of the youngsters. Game was gone for the rest of them.
I had a thought. I hear about murderball during training. High paced, high intensity with probably no time to think. I wonder if that helps our forwards because usually when they get near the goal they make poor decisions. Even if they have time they seem to rush it. I wonder if they ever get the opportunity in training to take their time? Do you know what I mean?
Harrison, James were terrible I stand by my earlier view. Drameh had a good game and that will do him good. Think Bielsa had a plan to replace certain players to save them for the weekend. Seems it was all times but he gave Roberts 6 mins before hooking him, so he obviously upset Bielsa. 2nd half was a waste of energy and a waste of turning up with a decent team. We blew it big time.
I’ve been (rightly) insulted many times in my life but “are you Tottenham in disguise?” Thoroughly depressed by that, sulking and going to sleep. Night
I thought Drameh was very solid tonight. His passing was the best of everyone. We were still trying those long diagonal balls even though they were being cut out. Summerville still isn't running at defenders like he does for the U23s. Greenwood looked sharp the time he got into the box. Geldhardt showed his frustration with his snap shot at the death but to be fair to him he had Harrison behind him who, on tonight's form wouldn't have done any better. We had a very tough draw, we blooded a few kids and we didn't get hammered. On we go
****ing about up front and ****ing about at the back cost us, not a bad first half, **** all second on we go we've a relegation battle to sort out
Meslier - 6. Not had loads to do and dealt with most things well. Stood behind his line for the goal. Dramah - 5. Nervy opening. Looked a bit lost a couple of times but settled well. His header back to Cooper has to carry some blame for the second goal. Llorente - 9. Best player whilst on the pitch by a mile. Some classy passes in to midfield and beyond and could have had his deckchair at the back. Struijk - 6. Shocking first 10 minutes. Settled and was a solid foil for Llorente especially. Imo deserves a starting place at the back. Dallas - 6. Kept a lively Pepe fairly quiet in open play. Supported the attacks well. Just not quite where he has been the last couple of seasons. Phillips - 7. A bit shoddy by his standards but was still a solid enough 7. Good to have him back. Forshaw - 7. Passing a bit rusty in tight spaces but looked fit and got around very well. Things certainly looked alot weaker through the middle after half time. Roberts - 6. Solid enough. Worked well with Forshaw. Couple of half chances. Harrison - 7. Excellent first half. Some testing crosses. A cracking shot. Wheels came off second half when he was starved of the ball. James - 7. Solid first half. Arsenal were terrified of his pace but he made a couple of bad decisions at key moments. Rodrigo - 7. Tale of two halves. He ran the Arsenal defence ragged in the first half. Some great runs in behind. No service in the second half and just melted away as time went on. Hooked on 70 minutes. Subs. Klich - 5. Never affected the game. Looked off the pace. We were much weaker in midfield after half time. Gelhardt - 6. Starved of the ball but looked strong and busy. Managed to earn a few inches of space to actually make sure the Arsenal keeper was still alert. Cooper - 5. At fault for the second goal. Otherwise steady enough. Summerville - 5. Very much a Helder Costa performance. Tried his best but couldn't ever get decent ball to get at his man. Well marshalled. Greenwood - 4. Had no effect in 20 minutes. Has a way to go.
Just think he’s very wasteful with the ball. He had a lot of the ball today and I just don’t ever feel like he knows what he wants to do with it. Some woeful decision making and some poor crosses.
2 extremely poor goals in an extremely poor second half.....could have done with insulate moron's blocking off the Emirates!!!
When was the last time we won a scruffy game? We didn’t create much… and They created nothing that we didn’t serve up on a platter. We always seem to lose this type of game. Frustrating.
First half I thought James Left and Harrison right was working okay, I’m not going to say it was fantastic but it was an improvement. My Leeds MOM would be between Drameh and Phillips. I don’t know if the second half was us playing poor or Atetas changes at HT. I think it was one of the worst Meslier has played, what was he doing so far behind his goal and his distribution second half was shocking. I was pleased with Forshaws contribution, I’m bewildered how Phillips couldn’t come off the bench against Wolves yet he played 90 minutes today. I was pleased Bielsa picked a squad that could have won and that so many of the U23s got a decent outing. Gelhardt will be special but he has a bit of learning still to go, when Bamford is fit it’s hard to see where he will get the experience.
Disappointed, but at least we gave it a go. No complaints about the result as defensive errors will cost you goals at this level. Arsenal winning 3 consecutive headers from virtually inside our 6 yard box , Meslier standing behind the goal line and then Calamity Cooper joining the party proved that point. We dust ourselves down and we go again on Sunday.
Thinking ahead. I'd like to see Drameh and Firpo as our full backs, at least until Ayling is fit to compete for a place again. Both are quick, athletic and seem to have that duracell bunny energy that we've been missing lately.
