Sorry, I don't care what sport you are playing, when you have unusual conditions you get unusual results. We should not have even tried to pass the ball around last night, but we don't have the players to play kick and run. Lacazette couldn't even beat that big defender in a foot race. Our team against their team on a night like that we will lose 9/10 games. You go out and get players that are going to win games like that and you will lose most games against the big teams. Some of our losses this season have been terrible and the team deserves to be slated, but that one we just chalk up to bad luck and move on.
So basically if it’s poor weather then it’s ok for Arsenal to lose as you don’t have the right players to perform in a bit of rain? Surely the best teams adapt to the conditions?
When Kanu scored that famous hat trick vs Chelsea, we were 2 nil down in the pouring rain! Our team looked weak. Regardless of weather the Swans wanted it more than we did.
Let me see if I can put it in a different way. In golf, John Daly crushed St Andrews back in the day, because the course was susceptible to being overpowered. He wasn't preordained to win but he had a better chance than his rivals. Arsenal were not preordained to lose, but the Swansea team were better suited to the conditions. We are losing away from home because our team are woefully poor at playing in conditions where the surface is not perfect. Not really their fault, they mostly play and train on a perfect surface. On this particular night Swansea were favorites to win, not Arsenal. That is all I am saying. Arsenal fans are particularly upset about this loss because Swansea are the bottom placed club, but this is the sweet spot of this team's season. When the conditions improve they are going to go back to losing. All I am trying to say is that this was not "Shocking" to me as badly as we played. We have suffered more "Shocking" defeats away from home than this one.
whilst i don't disagree that the pitch and conditions help swansea more than they help you, to call swansea favourites is laughable. Their forwards are all midgets (dyer and ayew are tiny). The bookies also hugely disagree with you
Xhaka has good games. He was excellent against Chelsea for example. When was the last time Ramsey had a great game?. That Season he had where he scored 15 odd goals was the qworst thing to happen to him. Since then he changed from a young playmaker into a wanna be Steven Gerrard. His progress has stalled. For me Elneny and Ramsey can both go. I would keep Wilshere and Xhaka.
you serious? Apart from the odd wonder goal, xhaka is very average. He's got a good range of passing but then occasionally passes to the opposition on the short range stuff. He's not exactly playing any super through balls. He can't take a man on. He doesn't have great energy and his speed of though isn't exactly at einstein levels. He's very 1 footed and his tackling is hit and miss. His set pieces aren't too bad but he's a glorified ball shuffler. The thing you bought him in for was to hold (i believe) yet either he's a lazy ****er or he can't spot the danger. This isn't the first time he's let the opposition wonder off free for them to score. Clucas, Wilson just in recent weeks. My arsenal mate describes him best as a 30m charlie adam. Honestly you are better off putting elneny in there, works harder and is more solid. Admittedly he doesn't have a creative bone either but at least he does the defensive side to the game
No. He has a better range of passing and is technical superior to Elneny and Ramsey. Ramsey gives us more energy but he just leaves massive holes in midfield as he runs around like a headless chicken. Elneny cant pass for **** - sideways or back to the defence. He doesnt give it away much - but he has NO creativity. It's a toss up between Xhaka and Ramsey for me. I think Xhaka is technically better, he's also physically stronger and is a bit more varied in terms of distribution - so he gets the nod. Wilshere has been better than either of them. For me he's an automatic starter now.
Sorry, but I couldn't disagree with you more. I can count the number of good performances Xhaka has had on one hand. And even then, if you analyse those good performances, it is because opposition give him ample space and time on the ball. Whenever any player puts him under the slightest bit of pressure, he makes a mistake or is forced to pass backwards because he can't shift the ball quickly enough. He can also be too slow to make a decision, and this penalises us, especially when we're trying to play quick combinations/counter-attack. He hasn't created many goals for us. He doesn't protect the back four either. His passing range is good, but his execution of these passes can be erratic. His set-pieces are decent, but that's not why we spent £35m on him. He has no tactical intelligence and has been directly culpable for a number of goals we've conceded this season, whether it be a miscued pass or failing to read the danger. Ramsey provides energy and links the midfield with attack. His passing can also be erratic, but at least he has the work-rate and stamina to get back into position and defend when he is asked to. His late runs into the box provide us with another dimension in attack. The only reason why he might 'leave massive holes in midfield' is because there is no protection for when he roams forward. If Wenger has asked/encouraged him to play in that style, that isn't Ramsey's fault. Ramsey provides far more useful qualities to our central midfield than Xhaka ever has. If we continue to play Xhaka regularly, we will continue to see poor results. I'd rather start Elneny for his discipline, pressing and ability to keep possession. I'm not his biggest fan, but he is one of the best defensive options in midfield that we have.
Agree. Xhaka is very ineffective. He's not total ****, but for a top team he doesn't offer enough. Also for a deep lying midfielder he is terrible as tracking runners and basically lets them glance past him. His positioning and general reading of the defensive game is very poor. As mentioned, I'd rather play Elneny in there. He's not very dynamic, but at least he offers more defensively . Ultimately though, this is a position that needs to be addressed by buying a top quality CDM in the summer.
Our midfield is really in a bad state. For me as it stands Jack and Elneny have to start. Elneny is not there to get forward. Just keep things ticking along and cover everyone. I haven't seen AMN play there enough to make a call. But of what I have seen of Elneny, until we get an Ndidi, or Seri type player, he has to be in the side.
I agree. Keep it simple for Elneny and keep him back protecting the back 4. Ozil/Mkhi, Wilshere and Elneny for me. Xhaka is confused at what he wants to do. Whoever partners Elneny need to play well and not just run forward at any available oppo. We have enough creativity and flair with Ozil and Mkhi, so need some defensively astute midfielder there. Elneny is the closest thing we have.
John Terry-esque. He'll hobble on for lady minute of a Europa final victory when we're l already 6-0 up
**** me ...that's harsh Poor ****er has had horrific injuries and now is compared to a **** of the highest order
