Offical match day thread

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white_gunner said:
Im almost scared to ask this - but could we possibly go down this season?
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We are in relegation form at the moment and sinking like a stone. No club is too big to get relegated, and although I don't think it would happen. We need to address this rot and fast. Because at the moment, we don't look like we are going to get any results going our way.
 
omogooner said:
Only Arsenal hierarchy can fire a manager and not have a plan in place.. We are in real teouble here fellas and as much I want Ljunberg to succeed, this job is too big for him!
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Spurs actually saw the sense in lining up a new manager before firing the existing one.
Arsenal don't seem to be able to look that far ahead.
 
TheBear said:
I dont get why we havnt tried just being ultra offensive.

We cant defend - Even when we play 5 at the back with two defensive mids - we still ship goals.

Just ****ing play Auba and Laca Up Top with Two Wingers and Ozil. Thats what I would do.
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What does Oil bring to a game? In my mind he is more a part of the problem than a part of the answer
 
winifred122 said:
What does Oil bring to a game? In my mind he is more a part of the problem than a part of the answer
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I agree, he is a luxury player at the moment, not one you want when the chips are down, or when we are low in numbers as regards those who want to do the dirty part of the game (like defending, tracking back, putting in a shift etc etc)...In addition to not being able to defend, I think we have some guys in our team, who feel they are actually better than they are, with an over inflated opinion of themselves.

Don't follow the youth setup, but once we reach the magical 40points (if we reach that), I don't see why we do not start bloodying some of the youth team guys particularly in defence into the team - they cannot be any worse than Luiz and co!
 
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omogooner said:
I agree, he is a luxury player at the moment, not one you want when the chips are down, or when we are low in numbers as regards those who want to do the dirty part of the game (like defending, tracking back, putting in a shift etc etc)...In addition to not being able to defend, I think we have some guys in our team, who feel they are actually better than they are, with an over inflated opinion of themselves.

Don't follow the youth setup, but once we reach the magical 40points (if we reach that), I don't see why we do not start bloodying some of the youth team guys particularly in defence into the team - they cannot be any worse than Luiz and co!
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I'm surprised that after endless posts complaining about defense you have settled on Ozil as a potential issue. Particularly as he was not playing for a huge portion of the disaster that has unfolded as Emery's reign as manager.

Personally, I am shocked that we ended up with Sokratis and Luiz as CBs. These are two of the most passive defenders in the world. We need to be more aggressive in defense, and I don't mean just pressing up the field. But I also think we have a problem retaining possession. We are winning the ball, but we give it away far too easily and cannot beat the opposition press and without Ozil, it is always worse.

We make the field far too big when the opposition are attacking. If you go here https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1376055/Live/England-Premier-League-2019-2020-Arsenal-Brighton, and mark the heat map of just the 4 defenders from both teams, see where our defense spent it's time, and see where Brighton's defense spent the game. This is why our defense has problems. They are playing far too deep.
 
ToledoTrumpton said:
I'm surprised that after endless posts complaining about defense you have settled on Ozil as a potential issue. Particularly as he was not playing for a huge portion of the disaster that has unfolded as Emery's reign as manager.

Personally, I am shocked that we ended up with Sokratis and Luiz as CBs. These are two of the most passive defenders in the world. We need to be more aggressive in defense, and I don't mean just pressing up the field. But I also think we have a problem retaining possession. We are winning the ball, but we give it away far too easily and cannot beat the opposition press and without Ozil, it is always worse.

We make the field far too big when the opposition are attacking. If you go here https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1376055/Live/England-Premier-League-2019-2020-Arsenal-Brighton, and mark the heat map of just the 4 defenders from both teams, see where our defense spent it's time, and see where Brighton's defense spent the game. This is why our defense has problems. They are playing far too deep.
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Apologies if my post came out as blaming Ozil. Ozil is not the problem and to be fair as you said he was not present for most of this rut...We all agree our issues are in defence!
 
omogooner said:
Apologies if my post came out as blaming Ozil. Ozil is not the problem and to be fair as you said he was not present for most of this rut...We all agree our issues are in defence!
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No need to apologize, but I do think we have to stop focusing on this player or that player. This is a crisis of tactics and how the players have got into the habit of playing. It is systemic through the entire team, and no one in the team is guiltless. The whole team is dropping off the play once we get in our own half, and just being far too passive. Personally I would play Luiz, Mustafi, and Kolasinac as 3 CBs, Tierney and Bellerin as Wingbacks, Xhaka and Chambers as DM, And Ozil Lacazette and Aubamayang up front. Luiz would be the only defender hanging back.

We would have plenty of pace and could play a high line. As we get the hang of it we can swap other players in, but to start with we have to get the team less worried about balls played through and behind the defense.
 
ToledoTrumpton said:
No need to apologize, but I do think we have to stop focusing on this player or that player. This is a crisis of tactics and how the players have got into the habit of playing. It is systemic through the entire team, and no one in the team is guiltless. The whole team is dropping off the play once we get in our own half, and just being far too passive. Personally I would play Luiz, Mustafi, and Kolasinac as 3 CBs, Tierney and Bellerin as Wingbacks, Xhaka and Chambers as DM, And Ozil Lacazette and Aubamayang up front. Luiz would be the only defender hanging back.

We would have plenty of pace and could play a high line. As we get the hang of it we can swap other players in, but to start with we have to get the team less worried about balls played through and behind the defense.
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No place for Torreira then? Why not Luiz and Torreira as DMs?
 
omogooner said:
No place for Torreira then? Why not Luiz and Torreira as DMs?
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Torreira has the right attitude, but I feel he lacks pace, he lacks weight in the tackle, doesn't pass very well, and he has poor ball retention. He is Ramsey reincarnated, without Ramsey's finishing ability.

Luiz would be OK in midfield, but who is the best sweeper defender we have? In my opinion it is Luiz.
 
For me we have to go all out offensive. Our defence is not going to save us anyway. I would be going for a starting lineup of:
---------------------------Leno----------------------
----------Chambers-----Luiz-----Holding------
--Bellerin-------------Torreira--------Tierney--
--------------------------Ozil----------------------
--Pepe-----------------Auba--------Martinelli---

No use playing Auba on the wings when we have proper wing forwards that can actually beat players and put defences on the back foot. Runners in front of Ozil. Luiz can go long and utilize the pace up top. An extra ST can come off the bench in Laca if needed. Pepe and Martinelli are hungry and have goals in them. Ceballos can come in for Ozil if needed. No need for Torreira making any runs. Just hound it, win it and give it. Back to basics.
 
blukyt said:
For me we have to go all out offensive. Our defence is not going to save us anyway. I would be going for a starting lineup of:
---------------------------Leno----------------------
----------Chambers-----Luiz-----Holding------
--Bellerin-------------Torreira--------Tierney--
--------------------------Ozil----------------------
--Pepe-----------------Auba--------Martinelli---

No use playing Auba on the wings when we have proper wing forwards that can actually beat players and put defences on the back foot. Runners in front of Ozil. Luiz can go long and utilize the pace up top. An extra ST can come off the bench in Laca if needed. Pepe and Martinelli are hungry and have goals in them. Ceballos can come in for Ozil if needed. No need for Torreira making any runs. Just hound it, win it and give it. Back to basics.
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Yeah agree we should attack.. these defensive formations are a disaster

I would go....

------------------------Leno-------------------------
Bellerin-----Chamb-------Holding-----Tierney
------------------------Torreira-----------------------
-------------Guendouzi--------Willock------------
------Ozil---------Aubamayang--------Pepe----
 
I think you guys will be surprised. It isn't going to take a huge adjustment for our defense to work. The line between success and failure is very small. A few tactical adjustments, a little bit of luck and some confidence and it will be fixed.
 
Apart from our issues defending, we are quite poor going forward as well. We need to start scoring goals in open play again.
 
ToledoTrumpton said:
I think you guys will be surprised. It isn't going to take a huge adjustment for our defense to work. The line between success and failure is very small. A few tactical adjustments, a little bit of luck and some confidence and it will be fixed.
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a few tactical adjustments, a little bit of luck, some confidence, new defenders, a manager, a system, a proper holding midfielder. <laugh>
 
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ToledoTrumpton said:
I think you guys will be surprised. It isn't going to take a huge adjustment for our defense to work. The line between success and failure is very small. A few tactical adjustments, a little bit of luck and some confidence and it will be fixed.
Click to expand...
Another one of the rare times I agree with you. The best defences in the world are not necessarily the best because of individuals, but because of tactics, systems, communication and confidence. Of course the odd freak like Van Dijk can make an average defence epic. But otherwise it requires the whole team to play to a proper system.

I feel like for the last few years Arsenal have been managed like I play football manager. Have some fun in the transfer market buying players I don't really need, spending money I don't really have on players in 48 month installments, ignoring tactics apart from a starting XI formation, pressing play then just assuming we'll win 6-0 and being suprised when we play **** football.
 
cini65 said:
Another one of the rare times I agree with you. The best defences in the world are not necessarily the best because of individuals, but because of tactics, systems, communication and confidence. Of course the odd freak like Van Dijk can make an average defence epic. But otherwise it requires the whole team to play to a proper system.

I feel like for the last few years Arsenal have been managed like I play football manager. Have some fun in the transfer market buying players I don't really need, spending money I don't really have on players in 48 month installments, ignoring tactics apart from a starting XI formation, pressing play then just assuming we'll win 6-0 and being suprised when we play **** football.
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A disgraceful way to play football manager.
 
I also think theres been a culture at Arsenal around the players that its ok to not give a ****.

not just that its ok to not win, but compare the players in our side to the players at, say, Sheffield United, who all play for each other and want to win.

there doesnt seem to be any spirit in terms of being a football team amongst our players. And yes, the fans toxicity doesnt help.
 
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