Offical match day thread

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Much much better in the 2nd half. Arteta managed to turn it around at HT because we were very lucky to go in 0-0.

2nd half we matched them for energy and commitment and we were transformed. Started winning the loose balls and turning Leeds around to face their own goal.

We worked really hard and managed that game really well. A well earned win in the end.
 
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Just returned from the Leeds board. They think they played better and we did not deserve the win.

they’re probably right, but I supposed that’s the real difference between Prem and championship. Mistakes rarely go unpunished.
 
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Yeah much better second half. Pretty much everyone put in a better shift.
Good to get another win.
 
Thought Leeds totally dismantled us in the first-half. We couldn't match their stamina, work-rate or energy levels all over the field. Their passing was quicker. They transitioned seamlessly from their half of the pitch to our half. Their distribution was far better than ours. In contrast, our passing was disjointed, players were not getting into position and we were getting dispossessed with ease. Every time they came forward, they looked like causing us trouble. After the first 20 minutes, I thought an upset was on the cards.

Fair play to Arteta for rallying the troops in the second half, though. We pushed further up the pitch, squeezed them from the front and managed to regain control in midfield. Thought we edged the second 45. Based on how the game went, Leeds deserved a replay. However, football's a cruel game if you squander your chances like they did.

Happy to be through. A tough albeit winnable fixture away at Bournemouth next. On we go <ok>
 
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Poor first half, looked tired and like we expected to win. Second half put in a proper shift and got the result. Good to see Ozil and Laca leading the fight in the second half.

Loved Artetas post game interview. He’s determined, happy with the result but already looking at how we need to improve.

Laca made me laugh as well:

“What did Arteta say to you at half time?”

“He shouted...a lot”
 
Leeds looked really well drilled. They are clearly being coached well. Good tactics, hard working and moving the ball well. Think they will get promotion this season.

I actually think this was a good game to get a result in.
 
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afcftw said:
Leeds looked really well drilled. They are clearly being coached well. Good tactics, hard working and moving the ball well. Think they will get promotion this season.

I actually think this was a good game to get a result in.
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Yeah, we worked hard for that win. Leeds were very good and we nullified them in the 2nd half.

We earned that <ok>
 
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BrunelGooner said:
Thought Leeds totally dismantled us in the first-half. We couldn't match their stamina, work-rate or energy levels all over the field. Their passing was quicker. They transitioned seamlessly from their half of the pitch to our half. Their distribution was far better than ours. In contrast, our passing was disjointed, players were not getting into position and we were getting dispossessed with ease. Every time they came forward, they looked like causing us trouble. After the first 20 minutes, I thought an upset was on the cards.

Fair play to Arteta for rallying the troops in the second half, though. We pushed further up the pitch, squeezed them from the front and managed to regain control in midfield. Thought we edged the second 45. Based on how the game went, Leeds deserved a replay. However, football's a cruel game if you squander your chances like they did.

Happy to be through. A tough albeit winnable fixture away at Bournemouth next. On we go <ok>
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Fair assessment, Bamford does so much off the hall, holding it up and pressing but he needs 5 chances to put one away. Only negative for me was the ref towards Xhaki, he could have been booked twice yet first one Klich puts in on him he gets a yellow.

VAR is **** too, it’s just not consistent. Hopefully the players will have gained good experience from this. Good luck for the rest of the season <ok>
 
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ristac said:
Fair assessment, Bamford does so much off the hall, holding it up and pressing but he needs 5 chances to put one away. Only negative for me was the ref towards Xhaki, he could have been booked twice yet first one Klich puts in on him he gets a yellow.

VAR is **** too, it’s just not consistent. Hopefully the players will have gained good experience from this. Good luck for the rest of the season <ok>
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Xhaka was lucky not to get a yellow at least. I think if he'd have got one, he would have curbed it. But he made at least 4 or 5 tackles that could have been yellows.

You were really well organised and very committed in the first half. We were lucky to go in 0-0 at HT. Arteta earned his stripes again at HT and sent the players out with a much better mentality and character in the 2nd half.

And yeah agree VAR is ****. It just adds another layer of subjectivity. Might as well just leave it to the onfield ref.

Anyway, good luck for the rest of the season. Bielsa has got you looking every bit the PL team.
 
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I only saw the second half and highlights of the first half. Leeds could easily have been out of sight by the end of the first half. A team with a clinical striker would easily have punished us. Plenty of work to do, (with the ugly Arsenal side of recent months coming out).We are through to the next round, which is what maters. Some reality check required as well, I suppose!
 
omogooner said:
I only saw the second half and highlights of the first half. Leeds could easily have been out of sight by the end of the first half. A team with a clinical striker would easily have punished us. Plenty of work to do, (with the ugly Arsenal side of recent months coming out).We are through to the next round, which is what maters. Some reality check required as well, I suppose!
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True but I think we could easily have scored more in the second. Once we were up 1-0 the onus was back on Leeds to come forward.
Leeds did not even remotely 'dominate' this game in the way the press are trying to make out.
 
I think they dominated the first half and we dominated the second.

I think the press are saying this is a championship side vs a ‘top 6’ side, so Leeds should have never dominated in the first place.
 
white_gunner said:
I think they dominated the first half and we dominated the second.

I think the press are saying this is a championship side vs a ‘top 6’ side, so Leeds should have never dominated in the first place.
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If it was Liverpool or Spurs the BBC would not be pushing this narrative - instead it would be about toughness and mental strength or about managerial prowess to make the right changes.
 
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PISKIE said:
Xhaka was lucky not to get a yellow at least. I think if he'd have got one, he would have curbed it. But he made at least 4 or 5 tackles that could have been yellows.

You were really well organised and very committed in the first half. We were lucky to go in 0-0 at HT. Arteta earned his stripes again at HT and sent the players out with a much better mentality and character in the 2nd half.

And yeah agree VAR is ****. It just adds another layer of subjectivity. Might as well just leave it to the onfield ref.

Anyway, good luck for the rest of the season. Bielsa has got you looking every bit the PL team.
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Honestly, we see this a lot ourselves. We have had many, many, games where we get kicked about and fouled repeatedly without the other team getting yellow cards, particularly early in the game. It really is a common flaw with English referees.

I can sympathize with Leeds, but until you get that first yellow, as long as you are just committing tactical fouls (not risking injuring someone), if you are not taking advantage of the ref's generosity, you are not doing your job.
 
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ToledoTrumpton said:
Honestly, we see this a lot ourselves. We have had many, many, games where we get kicked about and fouled repeatedly without the other team getting yellow cards, particularly early in the game. It really is a common flaw with English referees.

I can sympathize with Leeds, but until you get that first yellow, as long as are just committing tactical fouls (not risking injuring someone), if you are not taking advantage of the ref's generosity, you are not doing your job.
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Yeah I agree with that. For years teams have been told to go out and 'kick em' against us. And I like the way that we gave Leeds back some of what they were dishing out in the first half. It might not be a side of the game that we've been very good at in recent years, but I can see with Arteta that he's instilling a much tougher mentality in these players.
 
I think the yesterdays game showed again the squad isnt fit enough to play this style for a full 90 mins.

Also Torreira was superb until he was taking off -I hope the injury isnt too serious.
 
TheBear said:
I think the yesterdays game showed again the squad isnt fit enough to play this style for a full 90 mins.

Also Torreira was superb until he was taking off -I hope the injury isnt too serious.
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I also think some of these players, though they have improved, still aren't at the required level for where we want to be. Certain positions need to be upgraded either now or (more likely) in the Summer. Torreira coming off definitely contributed to us losing control in midfield. Overall though, I thought we did well to fend Palace off with 10-men. Under Emery, we would have lost that game.

Palace are a hard team to play against especially as they are a very well-drilled and organised outfit.

Aubameyang's tackle was reckless and horrible - he's going to be a huge miss for the next 3 games, including Chelsea away.

Lacazette really needs to get his shooting boots on now. As does Pepe.

We've scored 12 goals away from home in the league. 9 of those 12 goals were scored by Aubameyang. Other players need to start chipping in too.

The only positive from that bad situation is Martinelli will get more game time.
 
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Agreed, the reliance on Auba goals is insane.. Dont really know where the goals have gone within the team! However, given where we were a few weeks ago, fretting about relegation, I am grateful, so I will take anything now.
 
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