It’s December 2016. My son and I have made the journey, deep in December, to the Etihad. After 5 minutes, Alexi Sanchez puts Theo through and he scores. The visiting Gooners go mad and taunt the City fans. Come to see the Arsenal! You’ve only come to see the Arsenal! Unfortunately they then hammered us, in play if not in the scoreline. It finishes 2-1 to City and it could have been eight. Half time in that game was the last time we led against the Oilers. The year before a Santi Cazorla (I so miss that little man) inspired 2-0 win was the last team we beat a “big six” (I hate that phrase) club away. So we travelled in hope that our newly minted team would travel to the Emptihad, a fine stadium for away fans and considerably better than Old Toilet, and come away with points. Cos’ points mean prizes. Liverpool, Everton and Chelsea all dropping points earlier in the day added to the optimism, together with City’s previous hammering against Leicester.
Before the game the team was announced as Leno, Bellerin, Holding, Gabriel, Tierney, Saka, Xhaka, Ceballos, Willian, Auba and Pepe. On the bench Runarrson, AMN, Luiz, Elneny, Partey (as thought, 36 hours with the team wasn’t enough to get him in the starting XI), Eddie, Laca. However as kick off approached it was announced that Holding had been injured in the warm up and Luiz took his place.
For City it was Ederson, Walker, Dias, Ake, Cancelo, Bernado Silva, Rodri, Foden, Mahrez, Aguero and Sterling. No de Bruyne, which was a bonus because he always seems to play well against us.
It looked like another of Arteta’s fluid formations, with real attacking options on the flanks. Auba through the middle looked like the way of the future, but, in a surprise Arteta tactical move he played on the left in the first half, with Willian playing a false nine.
In the first ten minutes, the sides matched up like mirrors. Both playing out from the back, both pressing high. Mahrez was looking dangerous, once with a left foot shot and once with a right footed cut back that Aguero headed over. He should also have been booked for a cynical shirt tug on Pepe as we broke. Two minutes later Rodri was booked for the same offence on Saka.
20 minutes gone and we were looking organised at the back but toothless up front. Saka was looking lively in midfield but the false nine wasn’t working and Walker was effectively bottling up Auba. However on 23 minutes, an excellent pass from Mahrez left Aguero running at our defence. He slipped in Foden, who turned Hector and fired in a shot which Leno could only parry to the penalty spot. Sterling fired in the rebound.
23 mins. City 1-0 Arsenal (Sterling)
We came back well. Saka danced into the area, beating Cancello and then hammered in a shot from which Ederson made a fine save, pushing the ball over for a corner. From the corner, some ping pong left Willian free on the right and he whipped in a cross which Pepe headed wide. A spirited response.
On 35 minutes, for the first time our play out from the back broke down and Leno had to save well from Foden. Something was not right up front. Auba was not getting a kick and Willian was ineffective and easily brushed off the ball. Saka was the only one demanding the ball and Pepe was getting isolated. However on 39 minutes, KT3 won the ball on the edge of their area and after a couple of passes Saka was left 10 yards out with only Ederson to beat. Again he hit it well but close enough for Ederson to turn over. The tattooed keeper was having a fine game. A moment later Auba was finally put through but yet again Ederson saved. Auba had been flagged offside but replays showed that it would have been overturned by VAR (we hope). Those five minutes, and Ederson’s contributions coupled with our (marginally) less than clinical finishing were to prove turning points in the game.
Right on half time Xhaka found Saka in space on the left and the ball was fizzed across the six yard box with no-one on the end of it. From the ensuing corner Kyle Walker had a very high foot which brushed Gabriel’s head. I remember being at the game and seeing RVP being sent off against FC Thun at Highbury in the Champions League for the same offence (but milder) in midfield and Gary Neville was convinced it was a penalty but nothing was given and VAR seemed to ignore it. Mane’s elbow at Anfield, now this, we weren’t getting the breaks against the big clubs away. Still we were making chances and seemed very much in the game. Half time and a restorative dram was needed.
HT City 1-0 Arsenal
The half time review showed just how good the Ederson saves were – our boys hit the target each time. Praise the keeper don’t blame the striker. No changes at halftime. We started well with the ball swept left to Auba who whipped in a lovely cross to Pepe who rose like a salmon but headed the ball straight at Ederson. Make no mistake, the chances were there to win this game. Pepe seemed to jar his knee in landing after the header but after treatment was able to resume.
On 63 minutes, Cancello raked Tierney’s Achilles with a rather nasty foul. Correctly another yellow card was given. Pep’s team can play some lovely football, but they don’t eschew the dark arts either.
In his first game since June, Aguero had looked very dangerous but was subbed on 64 minutes for Gundogan. Interesting. A central midfielder for an out and out striker. Was Pep moving to what we have we hold.
On 67 minutes there was yet another yellow for City as Saka (again) was chopped down by Diaz. Unfortunately Luiz took it and fired over. With free kick specialists Willian and Pepe on the field why was he allowed to take it? Why do all Brazilians think they are Carlos Alberto?
Immediately following this Willian came off for Laca. In the first half of the second half we were definitely the better team. Could we press on and take advantage?
On 76 minutes it was almost the David Luiz Etihad horror show take 2. Cancello (who played rather well, so he should for £60m) turned Tierney into a pretzel before fizzing a ball across the box. Luiz stuck out a despairing foot and the ball just, just, went wide of the post. Phew!
With ten minutes to go, we were looking a bit leg weary and lacking in ideas. Kyle Walker, finally beaten by Auba brought him down on the edge of the box. Pepe and Laca prowled. Pepe fired over. Another chance gone. Perhaps we need to work harder at these free kicks?
On 82 minutes, 10 million Twitter accounts tweeted Partey time! From Madrid to Manchester via Ghana, Thomas made his first appearance in an Arsenal shirt, on for Xhaka. Pepe came off for Eddie. We were huffing and puffing but just couldn’t win the ball back. Were we playing too deep? Yet another DM came on for City, Fernandinho coming on for Foden. Four minutes of added time shown but City efficiently kept us at bay.
FT Manchester City 1-0 Arsenal
I thought everyone played well (excepting only Willian, who was ineffective) and it was a competitive match. Saka our best player, but honourable mentions for Xhaka, Gabriel and Tierney. I haven’t seen the stats but I felt we matched them in good chances made, with Ederson key to their win. I thought a draw was probably the fair result, but them’s the breaks. The defence now looking good but we need to work on that front three to find the best blend. Partey will make a difference in midfield. The two hardest away fixtures are now out of the way. Thursday night is Europa night. See you there.
Cheers Countryman!
Fine match report on a funny old game. Our finishing was not up to it but our opportunities weren’t that many really. Distracted by Ederson’s tattoos perhaps?
And yes, all Brazilians do think they are Carlos Alberto. Can’t be helped.
An excellent report, C100. Very much the game I saw. Second best in slick constructive passing and goal scoring but we crafted several good chances which were sadly thwarted by excellent goal keeping. It is frustrating not to have taken something from that game but that is far, far better than feeling grateful to leave with a 3-0 defeat rather than a 5-0 drubbing.
The match does emphasise some clear areas for improvement. We need to speed up our movement of the ball from defence to attack (please stop pissing about around the 18 yard box), add a creative link from midfield to attack (that’ll take at least one more window) and get Aubameyang much more involved at the front of our attack.
Saka is a gem. We need to protect him.
C100
I really miss your incomparable away reports ( special favourites of CBA) but this is the next best thing . This is an excellent , balanced and fair recounting of a very decent performance. I agree with the plaudits you handed out . My friend Xhaka did a good job in keeping a decent midfield shape as did Ceballos but as Bath pointed out in the previous drinks we don’t get up the field properly against a team as good at keeping possession as Citeh and our passing is too slow. Welcome Partey but we will need even more than his considerable presence to really challenge the big teams . Willian is a worry . I think we may have been Joorabchianed .
I have an awful concern that our neighbours are likely to be very strong this season if Bale takes off . It’s such an even season that I think teams like Villa and West Ham will be surprise packets . Let’s hope we can solve this creativity issue .
And by the way I don’t think I’m Carlos Alberto ….I’m Spartacus !
BTW, point of information in para 1, it was Lesta who gave Shitteh that drubbing not Villa. Villa gave the Dippers a lesson in football.
Thanks Bath. My error, but principle remains. Interesting that many bloggers today, which I didn’t read before writing the report, are putting the defeat at Arteta’s door for a tactical error in making Willian a false nine and not playing with a target man, either Laca or Eddie. I am still confident that we can do Spurs, Chelsea or United away this season. But I think the false nine can be tucked away into the “tried it but it didn’t work” file. We need a centre forward, be it Auba, Laca or Eddie.
Our ladies are 3-0 up against the Totts after 18 mins . Women against girls …if you know what I mean!
By the way, I’m not with Bath on the playing out from the back. I like it and feel we do it well, although Leno is not as adroit as Martinez with the ball at his feet. It’s the best way to play through a high press and without a Giroud type number nine, pumping it long only leads to the ball coming straight back at you.
@TTG Agree about Willian. Apart from performance against a very average Fulham he’s not looking that clever at all.
Thank you for an excellent report on a game I wasn’t able to see, C100. Like TTG, I was a devotee of your pre-pandemic away reports, and you have adapted to the new circumstances admirably.
The tenor of the season seems to be that we are drawing or winning games that for a couple of seasons of more past we would have lost, and staying in with a shout to the end in those we lose, whereas we would have been thrashed previously. That is progress of a sort. But nine points from five games is a measure of how much more there is to do.
It seems from C100’s observation that we should have got at least a point in Manchester. Somehow keepers always have their game of the season against us.
Some thoughtful analysis from gunnerstown
Bath, C100, I see no reason not to play out from the back. It is how top teams mostly start an attack and play through a high press. A long ball out is just clearing your lines unless there is a forward free and able to break (and the keeper has a strong enough kick to reach the opposition’s defensive third).
I note above that it took 35 mins until possession was lost for the first time playing out from the back, whereas the first hoof from the back would have been at best a 50-50.
However, I don’t thank that Martinez is better with the ball at his feet than Leno. Emi improved no end in that regard, no question, but would go long at the slightest sign of risk in passing short. Nothing wrong with such prudence but Leno will play short under greater pressure.
Cheers to everyone in the bar! I have not been able to comment much lately but have been reading the fine stuff posted in the reports, previews and waffle section and also the top notch discussion in the drinks. C100 keeps up the consistency with another excellent match report.
Even I have read opinions today suggesting that Arteta should have played Laca or Eddie instead of Willian in a false 9. I differ with that opinion and I think Arteta missed a trick by not playing AMN in the hybrid wingback/midfield role and playing a front three of Saka, Auba and Pepe. Saka’s guile & variety would have given Walker a lot more trouble and Auba through the middle would have been a threat all game. Also AMN would have controlled Mahrez much better. Mahrez had a good game yesterday and got away from Saka quite well.
Agree completely with Ned’s point about Leno’s willingness to play it short under greater pressure. I personally think that the comparison of Emi and Leno is completely unnecessary now that the former has left Arsenal but if comparisons have to be made then it must be remembered that Emi’s best performances came in games where we were defending very deep and looking to just play on the counter. The number of bodies in front of him in that scenario offered a natural shield. Leno has played plenty of games where he is isolated or has scarce support from defenders. Even yesterday, City’s goal came from a passage of play where our defence was turned and facing our own goal. His save in a one v one against Foden was top class. His anticipation and positioning is something that often goes unnoticed but yesterday in the second half when our defence had moved up, City tried two or three smart over the top passes but Leno played the sweeper keeper to perfection and those situations did not develop into anything threatening. Having said that, yes he should have parried the ball which led to their goal away to the side but that is something I wouldn’t criticise him too much for when he has made a save at full stretch from a close range shot.
Overall it is a sign of big progress to see us so well organised in defence and also competing strongly with City during the entire stretch of the game. If we had turned in one of our chances then it would perhaps have become a more eventful game rather than a tactical tussle. The unavailability of De Bruyne and our cup win against them also made City more circumspect and less gung ho. It was good to see them bring on defensive midfielders for attackers and forming deep banks of four in some spells in the second half when we were in the ascendancy. The fact that Arteta has got us so well structured in such a short time with the hectic game schedule post lockdown and almost no pre-season is even more remarkable.
Some excellent points Desi. My only point on Leno was that he often takes a touch before passing, which enables the opposition to put defenders under pressure. I’d prefer him to pass first time if he could, which would create space.
I was disappointed with us yesterday but can’t quite articulate what I mean. If just felt so predictable from going 1-0 down, never really expected us to get back into it. And we didn’t. Yes we looked tidier and more organised, but that was about it really. Probably a good thing – reality check for now.
Excellent report Countryman! Even without your signature atmospheric description of the journey and the locale of these far flung places like Manchester, the match-day report has all the flavors we have become so used to expect.
I have rarely seen Pep’s team play with so much deliberately defensive focus. They didn’t try too much to play out from the back with Ederson kicking long, Walker essentially man marked Auba and Pepe was double-tagged quite often, and even when attacking in numbers they kept 2-3 behind the center circle to protect against counter-attacks. The game looked cagey all throughout as it was highly tactical and at the end their noticeably better quality in passing and movement in the attacking third made all the difference.
They had 15 shots with 5 on target, we had 11 shots with 3 on target. I think the possession was 58% to 42%. Even when we beat them at Wembley in the FA Cup Semi they bombarded our goal as they laid siege and we played a perfect counter-attacking game with two absolutely world class finishes. All the three saves by Ederson was excellent yesterday and if one of those goes in we would have felt very different.
If we are to go by Arsene’s famous jazz metaphor — we now have a robust and muscular rhythm section, and the entire band plays with consistent harmonic shape. What we don’t have yet is the ability to speed up the tempo and the skill and understanding to play thrilling collective improvisations.
Leno was excellent under the press, made good 1:1 saves, and played very well especially as a progressive sweeper keeper that allowed us to push up in numbers. We still lack the telling pass through the lines especially when transitioning from defense to attack.
Cheers C100,
Good write up – and glad to see the mention of City’s dark arts which they employ constantly. A better referee than yesterday would have been sterner with them but…. is there a better referee.
We should have had a penalty for Walker’s high foot into Gabriel’s head and the ex-Spud would have gone if the van Persie criteria had been applied.
We do have to move the ball quicker and more positively though to address the lack of clear chances we are creating. Credit to Ederson for some great stops yesterday too.
C100 @8 & Ned @12, I am not against playing the ball out from the back, I am against pissing around in the 18 yard box. If you compare City’s playing out from the back, it is generally crisper, swifter and focused on getting the ball forward much more swiftly than we do. I accept City’s midfield and forward press makes finding the first choice midfielder difficult but that is where giving each man in possession at least two options can speed up the whole process of getting the ball out of our defensive area and to the feet of our attackers.
Poetically put Bath. Alles Klaar ! 😂😂
klar 😉
Kleinigkeitstraemer! 😂😂
Immer ! 😆
Spurs up 3-0 draw 3-3.😃😂 The gift that keeps on giving.
Spurs 3-0 up. The Messiah Bale comes on. Ten minutes later its 3-3. Can’t laugh without them.
Instead of being one point ahead of us, they are one point behind.
Bale comes on at 3-0 up and they end up drawing 3-3. Have they issued the DVD yet? 😂😂😂😂😂😂
I switched over to watch the Browns at the Steelers at 3-0 early in the second half with Wet Spam looking unable to match the quality and strength of a tin of the pink stuff. I don’t believe that scoreline. Utterly hilarious.
Ausserordentlich himmelreich!
We are very lucky to have Spurs as our “rivals”.
Some excellent debate in the bar, exactly what this blog was designed to promote . Nice to see Desi back , his contributions are always excellent .
Re the playing though the press I dispute that you have to fartarse around passing across your own goal. It is not the only way to beat a high press it is the currently fashionable way to beat the high press . It is also one of the reasons our build-up is so slow .
Controlled chips up to players further upfield or the sort of balls Tierney played at Wembley in the semi and final make the opposition unsure about how high to press . Push players wide in more advanced positions to receive the ball and get defenders and defensive midfielders to turn . I’m not advocating a ‘ lump it’ philosophy from Leno ( who was bought mainly because he was one of the best young goalkeepers at playing with his feet ) . But you have the ultimate quarterback in Xhaka , and two excellent long passers in Luiz and Gabriel as well as the aforementioned Tierney . And we have pace to burn upfront which we don’t use . Playing out from the back is the Emperor’s New Clothes
I watched the Totts.
They were brilliant in the first half . Son and Ndombele were excellent and Kane was sensational. But Sanchez and Alderweireld are very slow and Aurier is well Aurier . They fell apart n the second half failing to deal with quality delivery from the left.
I looked at Akan earth at the end . I swear you could tell it was dawning on him that he may have to leave this club to get a winner’s medal . But they are a very dangerous team going forward . Much more so than we are
Finally got around to reading your match report and the ensuing drinks. Excellent job with some wonderful builds. I like your very positive observation that our two hardest away games have passed by, I share your concern that they’ve done so without a single point in the bag from either. It could have been rather different. On another day, one of the several excellent chances you describe would have resulted in a game changing goal, but such is football.
Willian and Pepe are ghost pressers not real pressers. They run close to their opponent, shout ‘Boo’ and then back off (Iwobi was a master of the same technique). There is never an intent to win or block the ball in the style of Laca/Eddie. Neither defend effectively. Yesterday, neither really contributed much at all to our attacking play. To have both on the field, playing at that level, is an unaffordable luxury.
I expected a half-time change featuring the arrival of Thomas for Willian, Auba to CF and Saka wide left. I think that would have improved things, Mikel (I know you read GHsF 🙂 ).
Kieran Tierney will ponder his defensive performance yesterday and learn much for the future I think. Xhaka may think he could have moved several balls left more quickly, to KT or Saka, than he did.
I’m now enjoying watching us play out from the back. I’m impressed by the players skill and composure and few teams do as well/better than we do. The days of good ol’ Unai putting the bejabers up Sokratis (and Mustafi to a lesser extent) to do something that they were completely incapable of doing are, very happily, behind us. They caused me to lose sleep.
@31, TTG, agree with all of that. Harry Kane gave a masterclass performance on how a CF, lying deep quite frequently, should press, defend, create, head clear at corners and still find time to score a hat trick (but for a bit of wooden post preventing his third). Son shows what real pressing looks like too.
Still, bloody funny to see them slump to 3-3 at the end, wasn’t it?
Caveat emptor when Real Madrid come peddling used galácticos.
TTG @31. Akan earth has me baffled. A creature of the spillchucker?
@35 bt8, it took me a couple of mos to figure that one out too.
Bath – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hsld0k4TzU&feature=emb_logo
Enjoy folks.
Akan Earth is the Cyborg version of Harry Kane. Don’t you guys know anything?😃😃
When I pressed send on my iPad it did actually say Harry Kane . Apologies or as it will read when you get it A@hrtbfet
I resent the arrogance of the Bindippers but feel very sorry for VVD who is close to irreplaceable for them and a very fine player . They will find it immensely hard to win the title from here . Its extra sad that that flashy , wildly overrated git Pickford should escape punishment of any kind. Over the weekend we saw two huge VAR errors – this one and the Walker challenge on Gabriel. Yet United get the softest penalty in history- the fourth ? of the season . I’m not a conspiracy theorist but the dice is loaded hugely in favour of United .
Thanks Cynic @37. A most enjoyable experience.
VAR was never going to work. They’ve taken a bunch of blokes whose judgement on the pitch has been atrocious for years and allowed them to apply their own flawed way of looking at the game to replays. They should be making better decisions with video evidence to look at, but if they don’t understand what they’re looking at, they’ll make terrible decisions whether it’s in the flesh or on a screen. I’ve always believed getting better officials was the way to go rather than VAR, even if it took a few years. Bad refs are bad refs.
On top of that, they’ve them added a load of other officials with little or no experence of top flight football to the mix and let the whole system be run by that schlemiel Mike Riley, who was one of the worst officials in the game before retiring.
Cynis @41, I couldn’t agree more. Video reviews by competent individuals can only help reduce errors by the match officials but the operative word is competent. That is a minor subset of the current referee cohort so further errors are inevitable. Riley is an extremely inappropriate person to head up any system let alone one dependent on integrity and competence.
Still someone knocking them in for us:
Vivianne Miedema became the first player to reach 50 Women’s Super League goals as Arsenal thrashed Tottenham.
Schlemiel is a new word on me. I looked it up. Spot on.
Liverpool were extremely lucky with injuries last season, which played a big part in sustaining the momentum of their run to the league title. If VVD is out for the season, that could be the difference between a successful title defence or not.
I went to school in an area with a very strong Jewish population and some of my school friends ( most of whom I am still regularly in touch with ) taught me many Yiddish words which I often use .
I would describe Riley as a tuches or a shmendrik but schlemiel covers it very wel, too.
I agree with you Cynic – with poor referees making judgements on and off the field the system is doomed .
For an insight into how a good referee interacts properly with off pitch video refs examine Nigel Owens in the European Rugby final yesterday.
Riley is the worst kind of schlemiel, as is Dean.
Great report C100 and some
excellent drinks to catch up on.
Good to see Desi in the bar again
too.
Not much to add really as the
drinkers have covered it all.
Well one thing to add now that
I remember – MA did say that
he told the players to wait for
someone to commit to tackling
them before passing when we
play out from the back.
That may link to our passing
looking more ponderous,
although it also has benefits
too as a tactic of course.
it’s only polite to raise a bat
as it’s been open a while
When you then add a reluctance to second guess their mates on big decisions and the arrogance of someone like Mike Dean openly disagreeing when a colleague does have the audacity to award something he’s missed, it’s a shit show that’s doomed to fail and ruin the game for everybody.
We’ll no doubt get more tampering with the laws to “clarify” things in order to suit VAR, when the laws were fine before all the tinkering. I cannot think of anything that’s been done in recent years to improve the game, apart from the goal line technology. The ideas being put forward by Arsene Wenger (and they’re not rubbish just because it’s him) to supposedly improve the game would be funny if they weren’t so likely to be adopted.
best of luck to Welbz who just
signed for Brighton.
And to Harry Clarke who has gone
on loan to Oldham. As Oldham are
bottom of the league I think Harry
is going to need some good luck.
The only way is up Harry!
A very sensible analysis of MA8’s tactical approach in the Shitteh match and other top 6 games:
Arteta’s big game gameplan doesn’t pay off – this time
If we’re looking for appropriate terms to describe Mike Riley, I’d propose Arschloch.
Which reminds me of an ancient joke.
The time: sometime in the 17th Century; the place: somewhere in the Pale of Settlement around the borders of modern-day Poland/Lithuania and Russia. The local authorities have decreed that the Jewish population should no longer be know as Isaac son of Joshua, but should adopt the Personal Name/Family Name style used by the rest of the community. Schlomo returns from town having been allocated a surname.
“Well, what is it, how are we to be known henceforth?”, asks his wife.
“Aschloch[1]”, says Schlomo.
“Aschloch!? What kind of name is Aschloch? Schlomo, he’s a local government official, couldn’t you…?”, says Ruth rubbing her forefinger and thumb together.
“Offer him a bribe?”, cries Schlomo. “You should know how much it cost to get him to drop the ‘r'[2].”
[1] From Asch – ash tree and Loch – hole.
[2] Look it up!
Well in for the half-ton, OM. Patiently waited for then tucked away unostentatiously.
Pangloss,
You’ve spent a weekend in Wales and they are licking the place down!
Cynic
I’m panicking mate I think I agree with you again about the lack of improvement in the rules . I think VAR is the main reason we are seeing so many goals because it has ruled out the ‘ dark arts ‘ of defending . If that it is the case it has achieved something but it is very poorly implemented just as you would expect if the dolt Riley has had a hand in it .
Looking at the Walker incident in our game I think it was a stonewall penalty and possibly a red card. Yet it wasn’t even properly reviewed . That wouldn’t have happened at Old Trafford
Sorry PG- I meant locking but you know my spillchucker ! You’ve closed the place. My PA has gone there this weekend too. But I’m not drawing any false conclusions about you nipping off with her . That would be defamatory
bath@53: thanks for the link. A very level-headed point of view from She Wore.
It is inexplicable, to my mind, that those bewailing the defensive chaos of the Emery-era are now bemoaning that Arteta plays defensive football because he has got the defence organised.
In the taking a sensible view department, here is another gauge of the progress under Arteta. In the previous league game away to City, we managed three shots with none on target. On Saturday, we had 11 shots with three on target. At the other end of the pitch, we cut their shots from 20 (12 on target) to 13 (five on target).
Ned,
I think the disappointment at not
getting a point is the best sign of
progress. After the Ropey League
the home game against Leicester
will be another good test of our
progress.
TTG@56 My companion denies strongly that she is your pa. ‘Nuff said, I think.
I’m a bit concerned about the way the U23s and U18s are faring ( and being handled ) this season. The U18s lost 5-0 at home to Brighton on Saturday and I’m told they can’t defend to save their lives .
The U23s are next to bottom in the league but appear to have had an interesting game at Manchester United on Saturday coming back from 3-1 down to draw 3-3 . Balogun who has stayed on with Arsenal scored twice and ESR and Nelson started as did Cedric . We have brought in a number of players who haven’t pulled up trees with other clubs . We also have 18 loanees out with other clubs .Given the habitual strength of our academy and the need to grow our own players this is a bit worrying . Clive keeps a close eye on this aspect of the club and I’d be interested in his thoughts .
Cheers Countryman. Typically excellent report.
Great comments from everyone.
I like the passing around at the back.
Mike Riley is a tit. Extremely inept. His team of muppets ruin VAR, which is decent technology.
I’ve got no idea why they did not review a blatant penalty foul from Walker.
BtM. Ghost pressing. Iwobi learned all he knew from Feo.
Aschloch @54 🤣
Spillchucker seemed to know there’s was no “r” but was confused though, suggesting “As hooch” for what that is worth. 🤔
Thanks GSD. Great comments. Totally agree.
Balogun and Azeez have been included in our Europa League squad as B-list players (ie born after Jan 1, 1999 and two years on the books).
https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/clubs/52280–arsenal/squad/
Six goalkeepers named.
Ned,
Thanks for that.
It is extraordinary that we appear to be leaving out players who cost us over £500 k each week . The Ozil thing is regrettable in the extreme but how can we have mismanaged tye Sakiba and Sokratis situations so badly? We are haemorrhaging money in a pandemic
With regards to passing out from the back it occurs to me that as we see Partey nail down a starting place he is likely to provide another option for Leno and the back line to escape the press, so it may be good that they are already practicing playing out of tight spaces. I hope Partey proves to have the ability to turn with the ball under pressure and release it upfield. Xhaka is no good at this, Elneny not great, making Ceballos our only current option.
Feo wrote the book, GSD, Iwobi studied each page and elevated the art. Son’s book is at the printers and Mourinho has mandated its consumption an imperative by all Spuds.
Yep, VAR works perfectly and in an entertaining way in several other spots. On-field referee comments add instructive, entertaining interest in rugby. VAR saved us from a ridiculous defeat on our last visit to the Old T when, laughably, Auba had been ruled off-side when he was two yards on. “We need competent refs to make it work”. Who knew? 🙂 No shit Sherlock.
More seriously, the current hand-ball rule mess isn’t a function of VAR. Pre-VAR, many ‘eye-balled’ offside decisions were visibly wrong (like the Old T example above). Improved precision on off-side decision is a great thing. Decisions to rule on the basis of a pubic hair (which the technology, with small refinement, will enable) are not.
Pubic hairs don’t win games. Even small brains though should be able to marry improved precision with a more reasonable interpretation of the rule book which increases speed of decision making and an outcome on which the vast majority agree and think fair. The ruling against Liverpool at Everton was neither.
In most walks of life technologies are tested hard for flaws prior to implementation. Warts, scars, pox and all the rest are identified and eliminated prior to implementation. Riley and co are doing the testing phase of VAR in situ. Surprised?
To underline the VAR + incompetence = the mess we have now theme, the VAR official for the Bin Dip Derby on Saturday apparently did not know he could review the Pickford incident, therefore provided no assistance to on-field referee Michael Oliver.
He was also the on-field referee last night when a Wolves player tried to kick a Leeds player in the bollocks, missed and then rolled about as if he was the one who’d had a crack in the nadgers. The VAR official who should have called attention to this? Michael Oliver.
TTG@62: The U-23 and U-18 set-ups bear scrutiny, though perhaps from a different angle than you imply. We have half a dozen under-23s in the first-team squad and another 18 out on development loans. That doesn’t suggest the conveyor belt of young talent out of the Academy has broken down. But with more than 22 youngsters unavailable, the U-23s are effectively playing their 3rd XI in competitions. At the same time, several of the U-18s are having to turn out for the older-age-group team, weakening their own ranks. I will give the new management the benefit of the doubt that this is all to plan, and that immediate competitive success at both levels is being subordinated to longer-term goals. It would be interesting to hear from those who follow the U-23s and U-18s closely what they think the intention is. I cannot believe that this has been done without Arteta’s blessing, and probably at his direction, so some thought will have gone into it.
The Telegraph is reporting that UEFA is considering significant changes to the Champions League for its next three-year cycle, starting in 2024-25. Proposals include expanding the competition to 36 teams and introducing a new arrangement to replace the group stages. Each club would play ten others chosen by a seeding system to ensure equitable fixtures lists, the same basis as the league structure used by the NFL in the US. The Telegraph says a single-leg single-city knock-out tournament, similar to the one used this season, is being considered for the quarter-finals onwards. The proposals give the big clubs an embryonic European superleague and potentially more broadcaster-friendly early games against other big teams, but the fight will between the Big Five leagues and the next tier down over rights to the expansion places.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2020/10/19/exclusive-uefa-ready-consider-expanding-champions-league-36/
By single-leg single-city knock-out tournament, similar to the one used this season, I meant this year, but last pandemic-disrupted season.
TTG @ 67: I thought we did try to sell/loan out at least two more NHG players to avoid this situation but there weren’t many takers. Sokratis apparently was even willing to take a pay cut to go somewhere to play.
About Saliba — I think his price tag is unfortunately and unnecessarily making the situation look much worse than it actually is. He is a highly talented player. But he is 19, a central defender who had an injury interrupted last season, and going through personal bereavement… he can still play in the domestic competitions if need be. But I think being cautious and patient with him with a long term vision is a good idea.
Ned @ 73. I hate this idea with a passion.
Thanks Ned.
I liked the bit about getting rid
of the group stages and I also
liked a single leg, single city
knockout basis for the last 8.
But it’s only one proposal I noticed.
I’d rather expand to 64 teams and
have straight knockout all the way
but that will never happen.
Also I can’t think of a finalist this
century apart from Porto who’ve
come from outside the top 5 leagues.
There is no point really and there’s
certainly no romance in the CL.
A straight knock out for 32 teams,
the Top 6 in the 5 leagues plus last
seasons Ropey League finalists.
No top 5 league teams in the Ropey
League – that would at least give the
second tier nations a chance to win
it.
of course @78 will never happen
either, it’ll be some compromise
that makes no one happy as
UEFA are a waste of time.
It’s like waiting for the Reformation.
The title of this article (“Most … of the season”) is not particularly hopeful, making it sound like they are wrapping up the entire season in anticipation of another Covid closure.
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/54594216
OM@77: A straight knockout was what it was in the old European Cup days. And teams had actually to be champions then.
The replacement for the group stage would sneak in four more games for each club before the knock-out phase started. The Telegraph did not go into any detail about how this first round of 10 games would be organised. The core idea is to use what is known as the Swiss system, which is used in chess, croquet, curling and other tournaments, but there seems to be many variations of both the format and the seeding. You can wager your granny on it that the big clubs will only agree to a version that all but guarantees them progress to the last 16.
It looks like FIFA want a slice of the CL pig trough with proposals for a European Premier League by invitation only, led in this country by the Dippers and Manure and funded by JP Morgan. I expect a strong response from UEFA who have the most to lose from this. Is this FIFA’s revenge in response to UEFA trampling on their lawn by creating the Nation’s League?
Up to 5 of the big 6 in the UK are said to be proposed as founding members for whom there will be no relegation for 20 years!
I can’t say I would shed a tear for the CL which has become too large, too long and fails to offer a neutral any matches of interest until its QF stages.
bath@82: Indeed. Every nose is in the trough — and I suspect none will come up smelling of roses.
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/54621189
Some big money and names are swirling around in the background. Liverpool’s owner, John Henry, is in discussions to take his Fenway Sports Group public in an $8 billion deal that involves a partnership with RedBall, an investment vehicle created to acquire sports, sports media and sports analytics assets. A New York venture capital firm, RedBird Capital Partners, and Billy Beane, the baseball executive best known as the subject of the book/film Moneyball, jointly control RedBall. RedBird’s board includes former Premier League boss Richard Scudamore. In July, RedBall took a controlling stake in the French second-tier side, Toulouse. If the deal to take Fenway Sports goes public through a merger with RedBall, that will let it go an acquisition spree in European clubs. So what better time to be promoting a European super league and put in place the groundwork to replace leagues run by the UEFA blazer brigade with leagues run by the club owners?
The La Liga chief isn’t a fan of this idea.
😂
From the bbc article:
La Liga president Javier Tebas said: “The authors of that idea – if they really exist, because there is nobody actually defending it – not only show a total ignorance of the organisation and customs of European and world football, but also a serious ignorance of the audiovisual rights markets.
“A project of this type will mean serious economic damage to the organisers themselves and to those entities that finance it, if they exist, because they´re never official. These underground projects only look good when drafted at a bar at five in the morning”
i wonder if their competing fantasies of world domination are just backroom arguments outed by proxies… what a load of shit, either proposal.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>