How time flies? It seems like only last month that I was writing a Leicester preview. In fact on checking I find that it was last month for a Carabao Cup tie that we won handily 2-0 at their place. This time of course it is a Premier League fixture and, as we showed against Liverpool, the result in one can have little bearing on the other. Looking at our team from the Carabao night in Leicester, probably only 3 or 4 players from that victorious XI are likely to start and I imagine that will be similar for Leicester too. Of more relevance perhaps will be the 1-1 draw at our place last July. A game we really should have wrapped up before Eddie Nketiah’s sending off saw us hanging on for a point at the end of a frustrating night. Time to right that wrong and I am sure we would all enjoy the irony if Eddie came on and scored this time.
Actually, I have been looking forward to this game as well as our next few fixtures because they offer us an opportunity to see where we stand with some of our supposed rivals for a Top 4 spot this season. Over the first five games we have played Liverpool and Man City away, our two toughest games of the season, as well as Fulham, Sheffield Utd and West Ham, who, with the greatest respect as always for their little teams etc. etc., were sides we need to be beating. Now, happily it’s time to see how we do on slightly leveler playing fields. Our next six games include Leicester, Man Utd, Wolves and the Spuds all of whom may be considered by some to be at or around our current level in footballing terms. Not I, I hasten to add, as in my own considered opinion they’re all shit and we’ll wipe the floor with the second-rate lot of them. However, talk is cheap and now it will be up to Mikel and his daring young flying machines to start proving me right.
The Line-up
There are several decisions for Mikel to make this week. However, goalie is not one of them and Leno will start. The whole “we shouldn’t have sold Emi” discussion is now starting to make my eyes glaze over quicker than you can say Mesut Robinson and if only for that selfish reason I hope Bernd will be back to his best after a rare bout of hiccups (hiccoughs for the traditionalists amongst you) in Vienna during the week. Honestly, who amongst us has not made a shoddy pass or two on a European trip? Moving on, options are limited at the back now that Rob Holding is out and you know they really are limited when people talk about rushing the mercurial Mus back into the fold. Recently, it seems to be widely accepted that Mus had improved under Arteta, however personally I believe he was never quite as bad as claimed and conversely I don’t believe he has undergone any miraculous transformation now either. We simply defend better as a team – and that is down to Mikel – and as a result our defenders are less exposed to embarrassing situations. Regardless of the accuracy of that assertion I hope Mikel will stick with the Luiz, Gabriel, Tierney trio this time though Luiz’s lack of pace is a worry in this particular game. Our next Ropey League game seems a better moment to ease Mus back into the side. With Runarsson behind him come to that, as he needs a start too. Back to today and I think we all expect to see Thomas starting in the center of midfield for this game but it takes two to tango so who will he be partnering is the question. Whether ‘tis to be Xhaka, Elneny or Dani will partly be guided by the opposition I wean. Leicester plays a quick counter-attacking game and mobility would seem to be essential as we look to counter the counter. I believe you may see where I am leading here but just to spell it out Xhaka would not be my choice of partner for a quickstep. Though it will disappoint some I know, including me really, I think we will see AMN rather than Saka for this one. Another question is around the front three and Mikel has spoken this week of the need to get Auba more involved although he was careful to say that does not necessarily mean starting him more centrally. I hope we will keep faith with Laca for the moment. Considering that he scored in our first three PL games some of the criticism I’ve read recently seems somewhat harsh. I can accept he has not looked sharp enough in a couple of games but his main job is to stick the ball in the net and three out of five this season ain’t bad. If he is fit then my guess is Willian will start again too, though I hope Mikel has been reading to him from The Big Book of Productivity this week.
My stab at the XI would be…
Leno
Luiz – Gabriel – Tierney
Bellerin – Thomas – Dani – AMN
Willian – Laca – Auba
Considering Saka and Pepe both scored against Sheff Utd and bring a lot to the table offensively leaving them out feels a bit harsh but I can understand why Mikel would do it, especially when we’re bedding in a new central midfielder and have a slightly unbalanced back three.
The Opposition
It’s Leicester. They have had an oddly inconsistent start to the season though they have the same 9 points as The Arsenal. Three wins, notably 5-2 against Man City and 2 home defeats to Aston Villa and West Ham. The good thing about Leicester is we know exactly what they will do and there is no need to go into any great detail. We need to deny Maddison, Barnes and Vardy the opportunity to play though our midfield and get behind our defence, we need to be aware of Castagne and Justin overlapping on either flank, and of course we need to watch out for Vardy’s elbow to the side of the head. Jamie has a good record against us, 10 in 11 games I think though they’ve only won three of those, but the fact is he should have been sent off in about half of them from memory. Perhaps if all our players wear headgear a la Cech the referee might get the message though I very much doubt it. I also don’t doubt that Rogers, a noted toad, will say it’s accidental but he does it against other teams too and it is so obviously not accidental that you would have to be conniving or incompetent not to see a pattern. Rogers is clearly conniving so let’s hope the referee is not as incompetent as Kavanaugh in the last meeting. Anyway, just to be clear, you’re not a master of the dark arts, an old-fashioned battler or any other polite euphemism Jamie, you’re just a cheat. Having got that off my chest, I am sure we will all warmly welcome Leicester today. And of course send them home with nothing.
The Holic Pound
After a good win in Vienna to boost our confidence, let us hope that the visions in blue reap the wild wind of our increased confidence and are sent packing to the strains of a softly sighing lament (That’s enough Ultravox thank you, Ed.). I believe it will be another tactical game with Mikel unwilling to expose us on the counter and so we will have to be patient. But we have learned to be patient over the last few months, so that allied to the fact the Leicester defence is not that great, suggests to me we will grind out another 2-0 win. The odds are a fairly skinny 9-1 but a win is a win.
Finally for this preview, the image at the top of the page is rather an oblique reference to a recent issue. I have read that the game is being screened in the UK at an add-on price of 14.95. That is more than I pay a month in Japan for access to all PL games. Just for one game on top of the pre-existing exorbitantly priced bill of fare. It is a disgraceful rip-off and if they had any sense of shame the PL would be embarrassed to even ask such a sum. It is of course entirely your choice but I do know that I would not pay. I’ll stop on this issue there as this was mainly cheap stream of consciousness thinking anyway.
Have a great day all and I hope we will be celebrating our fourth league win of the season about this time tomorrow!!
Matt
Great preview with lots of your usual commonsense. I particularly like your comments on the utterly loathsome Vardy . We had a discussion in the summer about not picking Spuds or Yoonited players for Fantasy League . I don’t pick Vardy because I think he’s a cheating scumbag. That he won the Golden Boot is mainly because he dives for penalties and as you say Matt he is very handy with his elbows .
I wouldn’t pick Willian who is just back after a knock because that’s an excuse to leave him out . I would pick Ceballos to add some mobility but is hugely risk averse and will go with Xhaka .
I like your 2-0 and believe it will be an interesting and deserved victory
I liked Ure two facts, Midge – Rogers is a Toad and Vardy is a cheat.
I liked your team too and I think you may have nailed the eleven who will take the field. I’d play Saka instead of AMN this time around. I’d also do something Mikel won’t do and go with a front three of Pepe, Auba and Nelson.
2-0? I like the sound of that.
Lesta’s team selection – that means nothing to me. Ultra Who?
Nice job.
Excellent preview Matt! And you said all that needs to be said about Leicester’s talisman.
Just as BtM said, I think a front three of Pepe-Auba-Reiss will be perfect for this game with Auba down the middle and the two wingers cutting in on their favourite feet. To make that work better we may want to put Xhaka as the MF partner for Partey. Granit will stay deep and Thomas will carry the ball forward. If they are pressing on Xhaka he can quickly release it to Thomas. If they are sitting off Xhaka to block Thomas from finding space Granit can then have that extra few seconds to find either of our two fast wingers with his trademark accurate long passes. Leicester I think will be without their excellent Turkish defender and fast interchanged movements by the front three will drag the defense around.
2-0 sounds great. 3-1 will be my guess.
2-0 and a trauma-free home debut for Thomas would be quite the tonic. Great preview, Japan gent.
All Arsenal fans will love this as a thing of beauty
https://twitter.com/hardmandesign/status/1319292559374516225/video/1
That’s a superb preview Matt, with an excellent assessment of the opposition and Vardy’s habitual offensiveness. He epitomises the axiom ‘handsome is as handsome does’. Old man Steptoe was a real shit too, as I recall.
I think your team selection is close to MA8’s starting eleven apart from two positions. I expect El Boss to select Xhaka rather than Ceballos in view of his performance against Shitteh (and the reasons Dr F details) and Saka (if fit) rather than AMN for his creativity on the left.
2-0 sounds perfect to me.
I also love your stream of consciousness.
I have already sent my £14.95 to the charity ‘Islington Giving’ rather than sending more money to Sky Sports. I understand that ‘Islington Giving’ has already received a sum approaching £20k from Gooners of a similar frame of mind. Anyone who feels like doing likewise can do so here:
As a result I won’t be watching the game live as I am no fan of dodgy streams so I look forward to a detailed report in due course. If it’s on a radio broadcast or is being ‘broadcast’ as an audio experience by Arsenal TV, I will relive the experience I most frequently had to rely on for games I couldn’t attend in person.
Bravo Matt!
Good preview. Agree with all on lineup; except Nelson for Willian – (who needs a shake-up)
Hoping Thomas and Gabriel will sharpen their elbows before meeting Vardy.
MA8 needs to save some big guns for Thursday – so Saka will be on bench Sunday😉
Dundalk may be a problem for our U23’s; and I think Willian is eligible.😂
Excellent preview as normal Matt, you have covered all the angles. I think your team is spot on apart from Saka for AMN.
Continuing on with your Vienna theme, Vardy is the Ultrafox in the box and if we can prevent him from his normal dive gaining penalty your 2-0 scoreline looks where my pennies will land. Barnes & Maddison are also dangerous players – they will need careful watching.
Excellent preview Matt,
two in a month against the same opposition is no mean feat. Meanwhile Vardy has two very mean feet which he constantly employs to kick the calves of defenders and throw himself to the ground. Cheat sums him up nicely.
One little bugbear is the comment on the Martinez vs Leno issue. I agree that it’s a bit superfluous but Emi’s departure is still very recent and it’s not surprising to still be drawing comparisons. I actually haven’t done thus far, on a public forum, exactly because it seems to upset people so much. I do think Leno is a very good keeper and said many times last season that I couldn’t understand the huge difference in valuations between him and Allison and Ederson. I do though think Martinez is better in every department and instils more calm in the defence especially with the determination to play out from the back. I will do my best never to mention the issue again although I am surprised at the determination to erase from memory a player who did a magnificent job for us.
And please don’t anyone mention U2 to me. I bought one of their branded SatNavs and the thing has been a complete disaster. The streets have no name and I’ve still never found what I’m looking for.
Come on you Reds – an optimistic 3-1 for me and I would go exactly with BtM’s team.
Trev, I never liked how they were advertised as even better than the real thing, they clearly don’t move in anything but the most mysterious ways, and probably not even in God’s country so I’d really just give it up and be sure not to get lost by running to stand still. 🤨
Cheers all.
Good point on Xhaka Dr F.
And Trev 🙏. My comments
were meant as a defence of
Leno and no disrespect to Emi
was intended. As you say he did
a great job.
An excellent preview Matt. I will be watching on a stream, having donated my £15. The last one I watched was excellent, HD quality and little buffering. The only problem is that they run well behind the live action (sometimes by as much as a minute) so turn off notifications on your phone. I prefer Dani (as Matt has it) to Xhaka (as Bath has it) and would play Saka rather than AMN. We are at home goddammit and need to get the swagger back. Eddie for Laca is tempting. James Maddison has been, IMHO, the best English midfielder in the league for the last two years. Partey vs Maddison in midfield is a match up I’m looking forward to.
There’s an opportunity to make multiple changes on Thursday. This one is big and maybe pivotal.
I have already sent my £14.95 to the charity ‘Islington Giving’ rather than sending more money to Sky Sports.
Laudable, but Sky don’t make any money from providing the games and neither does BT. They are merely facilitators for the broadcast and all profits go to the clubs. You pay your cash using the broadcaster’s system for PPV, because that was all in place for other events, but the clubs get all the money.
Good point Cynic. In that case my ire is for the PL clubs who decided to gouge the fans for the extra money. I exonerate the saintly Sky Corporation. Perhaps I’m being naive but I trust that the people whom Islington Giving are supporting are more in need of my cash than the PL clubs who seem to be doing OK in comparison to other sectors of society.
Another top-notch preview, OM. I like the look of your team, but agree with those above who say Arteta will start Xhaka over Dani.
Cynic@13 and bath@14: The clubs will get the PPV fee net of the broadcasters’ ‘production costs’. I suspect Sky Sports and BT Sport insisted that these PPV games went through their PPV ‘box offices’ in order to keep viewers on their platforms rather than as a convenience to fans provided out the goodness of their hearts. They know that this first-ever Premier League PPV, which covers up to five games per match day that would typically not be broadcast (UK rights, unlike international rights do not include blanket coverage of all games), is the thin end of a wedge that could end up with them being cut out of the process all together if clubs are able to stream games directly to fans. The negotiations for the next round of UK broadcast rights, from 2021-22, is going to be most interesting with signs that saturated viewership could push down the value of the rights by at least 10% and the league and the clubs looking to make that up — and more — somehow.
Cynic, good point – thanks.
Just read the same thing in the paper.
And agree with Countryman re team selection.
Thursday can wait – we could do with a confidence building display with, as he says, a bit of swagger. Hopefully Thomas can start to drive us forward with a lot more intent. I would like to see Reiss Nelson carving them up again – not sure why he’s had so little playing time really. I’m sure Mikel is though and that’s what matters. In for Lacazette in my book who seems to be lacking something.
@16
Ned,
As an Arsenal fan I am fine with
the club streaming games directly
and cutting out Sky, BT, Amazon
etc. I ask myself why not and can’t
see any good reason to pay a
middleman.
As an international viewer I suspect
I will pay more for less in the long
run.
Everton 2-0 down at Soton.
Ings and co making hay
against a soft centre
Matt
I think that there has been a slight overreaction to Ancelotti . He was outcoached by Emery eighteen months ago and he didn’t pull up any trees last season. He looked a bit past his best at Bayern and Napoli. The key to Everton seems to be James who has been sensational
Trev
I was raised by Wolves supporters
The in-Dignety of it all.
For history’s sake, #22 was uttered in my brain because Digne got a red card for the media’s new darling club, for whom their starting fullback and leading assist maker will be unavailable for the next three league matches. But as Trev says, never explain your puns.
We’ve seen the best of James so far. Today we saw the bad side. He doesn’t work back to help his defenders. Today that left Ben Godfrey, who was playing out of position anyway badly exposed and Southampton targeted him. Talented as James is, I can’t see him in an Arteta team.
James’ career trajectory to this point does seem to have several interesting similarities to that of Mesut Ozil. Just sayin’ and not wishing bad stuff on anyone.
I left it hanging out there wondering who might take the bait. The right honourable gentleman from Minnesota didn’t disappoint!
C100
I think that’s absolutely fair. He very nearly didn’t make it into Kentish Magicians but a large under the counter payment sealed the deal . In this day and age people make snap judgements and six games is a little early . The two best football teams so far this season have been clubs I loathe. The Totts and Leeds- but nobody has been really consistent . Several teams are clearly better ( on early indications) than last season – West Ham , Villa, Everton and Southampton – but none of those look likely to sustain that firm throughout the season.
Several teams have disappointed . We’ve done almost exactly what you woukd have expected
Just checked TTG’s Wolves / U2 joke –
Sorry if I’ve missed any others but I’ve a) been swimming and b) I’m not at all a fan of U2 so apart from my own puns I’m living in ignorance of any others 😉
Good evening, all. Just caught up now. Thanks once again for all the kind words and good wishes for me and my country.
Very good preview, OM. The quality and diverse styles of writing this blog offers is yet another reason for Dave to be proud of this community he built.
On to today’s game, I feel a bit jittery about our chances. Three points today would be so massive for our chances and, I suspect, team confidence. The jitters I feel aren’t because I don’t think we can win, they’re rather because I think we are our biggest challenge tonight. If we make no silly errors, take our chances and don’t give the officials a chance to screw us, we should have enough to win easily.
I complained in the past about how unpleasant our recent games have been to the eyes. Right now, I would take more aesthetical unpleasantness and 3 points if anyone offered. COYG.
Your final paragraph sums the situation up nicely Cent.
U-2? Was that not a Merkin spy plane?
Nice preview Matt.
I like the look of your starting 11.
3 nil to the good guys. Partey to get a yellow at some stage.
Merkin- isn’t that a modesty patch for ladies?
Leno, Bellerin, Luiz, Gabriel, Tierney, Partey, Ceballos, Xhaka, Saka, Aubameyang, Lacazette. Subs: Runarsson, Maitland-Niles, Mustafi, Elneny, Willock, Pepe, Nketiah
I like it! A back four, Dani and Saka, with Xhaka and Partey holding. Saka on the right ?
That’s a real 4-3-3
That looks like a 4-2-3-1 but Saka’s role is not clear . LWB or Right attacker ? Strong bench too
Upset by the criticism on this blog, Vardy on the bench.
Very excited to see this team and formation, whatever it is. COYRRR
looks like maybe a 442/433 flex, depending on need.
A fine preview, OM. Totally agree about Vardy being a cheating c*** and his manager being a toad. The whole team is full of those who wouldn’t think twice about cheating if it ensures a win for them, but Vardy is particularly nasty. His kick to Mustafi’s face last season was terrible but he gets away with it time and time again.
They have some fine players with Maddison being a fine talent and the one we will have to stifle if we are to win. It will be a tense match and I would be happy with any win; 2-0 would be a bonus.
Astro Super Sports tonight eh? I like those pretty ladies they have on there. 🙂
Goal!!! But off side, shit.
Did VAR take a look at it? No they haven’t have they?
how was that offside? no one was diverted to play auba.
Laca was so close to scoring.
We have created so many chances but not converted. Hope we don’t come to rue it. They have started running at us and Bellerin has been booked.
One of our players (Xhaka) was supposed to be blocking their goalie, Scruzgooner.
what a first touch by saka!
that would be a foul, then, ksn, offsides was called.
Half time 0-0. COYG.
laca’s first touch has deserted him.
Xhaka was offside and since he was blocking the goalie he was supposed to be active and, therefore, offside was called.
Lesta’s keeper was moving toward his right hand post and AWAY from Xhaka. Poor decision IF that was the basis on which the goal was disallowed.
Another game in which we’ve had sufficient chances to put the game to bed and have been unable to take them. If only we had someone in the squad with predatory instincts through the middle.
Half way through the half, the very excellent Bellerin plays a superb ball across the six yard box. Laca is another six yards behind it.
After seeing the replay everyone (commentators) is saying it is not offside. We have been robbed again.
I thought maybe Auba touched it last on our disallowed goal, although it wouldn’t have changed things because he looked offside. Am I the only one?
Btm
I agree re Laca. He also had two close range chances which he mullered.
I thought Fuchs might have been guilty of dangerous play and therefore we should have had a pen . We don’t have great central creativity ( who knew?) and Ceballos seems to have lost the art of kicking the ball crisply . Luiz is switching to Tierney beautifully
We dominated that half. Lesta happy to sit off us and wait for breakaway goal.
The rodent is sitting in the stand. The Toad is holding him for a late second half gnaw at Gabriel’s leg.
Keown thinks the goal was disallowed because it ‘must have’ (he doesn’t know) touched Xhaka on the way in. I didn’t think it did.
Cute anchor on Astro Supersports. Listen to Keown. Watch her.
we wuz robbed, need to keep
at it 2nd half and exploit
Fuchs.
Decent first half and even though we were the better side we have nothing to show for it.
Laca should have scored on that cross from KT, we are working extremely hard and I hope we have the legs to do it for another 45 minutes. Leicester will certainly have a go at us in the second half that is why it’s so important to take your chances when they present themselves.
The other positive is shots stat we are definitely trying harder.
COYG….
until vardy comes on i think we should push partey up, he has confidence on the ball and strength in tight spaces. keep dani and xhaka back towards the center circle, let them play a more defensive game.
Luiz off Mustafi on
Gabriel makes his first big blunder but Leicester fluff their lines. Lucky.
Luiz is out and Mustafi is coming on.
Luiz going off for Mustafi – the rodent is licking his two front teeth.
Luiz has played some beautiful cross-field balls. is kind of game. Pity to see him go off.
Fofana nearly fofucked Saka there!
Serious foul on Saka and the c—- Fofana gets only a yellow. Masters of the dark arts.
In the curious absence of Nelson, it’s now time to bring on Pepe for Laca and move Auba off the right wing and into the middle. Please.
Saka is limping badly.
Time to get Pepe and Nketiah. But Arteta will send in Elneny, probably.
The commentators are so biased.
The cheat is about to come on and Pepe for us.
Rodent out from his rat hole.
We are lucky the ref didn’t send off Bellerin. He was stupid to slide in like that.
Only Saka prepared to run at their defence with the ball. Needs to do it more.
They are rolling around trying to send off one of our players on yellow card, Laca or Bellerin. Got to be careful.
Must be concerned about Saka’s wellbeing. Laca should be going off, not him.
Brilliant move, great effort Hector.
Cheat scores. Our shit show is done. As BtM said there is no one running at their defence. Third defeat for Arteta.
One chance. Vardy scores.
We have had many chances and failed to take one. A story we’ve heard and a movie we’ve seen all too often.
Not over yet, ksn, but we won’t win by continually passing bak and across the half way line.
We just don’t have the athletic, speedy players who can progress the ball into the opposing third. We pass the ball around slowly from side to side and have no chance against massed defences.
More atmosphere on the moon than in this bar.
Even when we are supposed to be counter attacking we slow the play by passing back and sideways and give them a chance to reorganise themselves.
They are smiling now, the fuckers. They have done their hatchet job on us again.
Vardy almost gets a second.
Arteta looks a beaten man. He is an intelligent guy and will learn something from it.
Oh well
Nobody told Mustafi that he should stick close to Vardy? He was 15 yards behind him when he scored.
Good drinking with you, ksn. Good night. Don’t dream of rodents!
Well that showed us where this team stands. I reckon 6th place tops. Lacks drive and guile and movement up front. The longer the second half went on the more obvious the ending became. Suckered again. By David Brent too. Very disappointing. We are what we are. We need another couple of good windows to sort this out. Mikel is good but he’s no magician.
going back to bed. what a bastard
More atmosphere on the moon than in this bar.
Well as I wouldn’t ever buy PPV, don’t do streaming and the radio was a double fembot job, I watched a combination of Indy Car and Red Zone, with the occasional flick to SSN to keep an eye on the score.
Meh to it.
I won’t mention Emi 😉
I only managed to see the second half but it looked turgid in the extreme. We are still very much a work in progress. We have major issues with some big money, big names who quite simply, just aren’t good enough. There are more than question marks over the likes of Xhaka, Pepe, Bellerin, Mustafi and Laca. Plus others. Gabriel and Partey are obvious upgrades but I will never understand why we have no be of the top strikers in the world, and don’t play him up front.
I know there are those in this bar who ridicule Vardy, but I’ve always wished we had signed him when we were in for him. He’s a natural finisher and an outlet for any side.
Not great. Not great at all.
I just don’t get why we can’t play a front three of Saka left, Auba centre and Pepe right?! That seems to be our best bet against low block defences. Leicester came for a draw and left with a win – that’s the most disappointing part. We just didn’t show anything in the second half. If we are saying that tiredness is the reason for our flatness then what’s the point of having such a humongous squad? Let’s get a look at Reiss Nelson and Joe Willock by giving them starts. They have to play amongst the big boys if they ever have to make it at Arsenal – about time that they do. It was also infuriating to see Saka play on for 6-7 minutes even after it was clear he was hobbling. And in the closing minutes we had Pepe playing on the left which is not his usual position – another strange thing when you are chasing a game.
Arteta will know that teams will notice this and just sit deep against us in the hope of a sucker punch. Tonight we had the great chance to score early and make Rodgers’ tactics look stupid. Instead we have made him come out of this game looking like he had a cunning plan. Massively disappointed but in a way it’s good that this problem is becoming apparent early on in the season. Am hopeful that Arteta will solve this problem just like so many he has solved in his short tenure. Next league game against United becomes even more critical now.
Forgot to mention the incompetent VAR officials who robbed us of a perfectly valid goal which would have changed the course of the game completely. Are these people accountable to anyone?
This passing from left to right reminds of Wenger days when we couldn’t break oppositions, yes we have definitely improved under MA but yet again the same omens are creeping up and it’s evident to see with your own eyes the same pattern is forming. Play three, four at the back same result, playing Laca up front yet again proves nothing so why continue the same way? We keep grinding the same setups that bear no improvements, is it really that hard to grasp and try something different?
We have zilch creativity in the middle and that will haunt is as the season develops, we will not be brave and adopt a more risky strategy because Arteta doesn’t like this style of football, to me not giving it a proper go is a major disappointment. Tonight we were yet again taught a lesson.
Xhaka’s booking in the 94th minute sums the man up. Petulant, unnecessary and totally devoid of anything constructive. If he is still seen as a regular on a team sheet then I would suggest that tells us where we are with project Arteta
Just seen the offside goal and it’s the correct decision. Complaining about it, as Arteta has been doing, smacks of deflection for what was, by most accounts, a pretty wretched display.
Oh well.
Steve
You are absolutely right about Xhaka tonight . The bloke is extraordinarily limited , temperamentally suspect, stupid and one paced. And that pace is verrrry slow ( and in reverse gear ) . Big test for Arteta with United next week .
Cynic. Agree totally re the offside goal. If we had been on the receiving end of that then I dread to think of the outrage. Bellerin was unbelievably lucky not to get a second yellow. I hope those that constantly think that the entire complement of officials are all corrupt and bent against us remember this decision.
TTG. I’ve just seen their goal again. Mustafi and Xhaka are slower than pedestrian. How on earth we ever expect to compete at the highest level is players like that are in the side is beyond me.
The reality is, that if we try to build from the back, our most creative player is Luiz. It’s too early to see what Partey will bring to the table, but there is zero creativity in the middle of the park if Dani is not firing.
I’m an old fashioned type of guy, Steve, but I grew up on offside laws that made sense.
If you’re a couple of yards offside, almost on the goal line, dead centre of the goal, it’s offside.
The new fashioned offside law clearly states that if a player in an offside position is not interfering with play then the goal stands. The linesman is absolutely correct to call it offside from his viewing angle. The VAR and his assistant sitting in the studio then have the benefit of multiple angles including the one from behind the goal which clearly shows that Schmeichel had move towards the near post and Xhaka was nowhere in his line of sight and not even close to impeding him. Xhaka does his bit by moving out of the way and not touching the ball thereby ensuring no interference with play. Since the ball was already dead after it entered the net, VAR had enough time to correct the decision but as usual they dithered from correcting the on-field call which is precisely the reason they have been appointed for. The modern game is all about fine margins – it is the reason teams appoint set piece coaches and even throw in coaches (Liverpool) in some cases. Analysis of these finer margins from multiple camera angles is what necessitated the need for VAR. If they don’t do what they have been appointed for then it’s incompetence and Arteta is absolutely right in calling it out. That of course is no excuse for our toothless display especially in the second half.
Steve T@95, the Leicester player jumps over sliding Bellerin and there’s zero contact between the two. It’s in the territory of a striker getting a knock in the box but deciding to not go down and therefore not getting a penalty. It could have been carded but it’s not a clear cut one and comes to the referee’s discretion. There’s also a hint of Bellerin pulling out of the challenge by keeping his feet as low as possible – the only marginal option once you have committed to the slide. And I am not one who thinks that the entire compliment of official is corrupt and bent against us.
Desi. Must say that I couldn’t disagree more. I also think that if we had been the recipient of both incidents then there would be people here screaming blue murder. I genuinely can’t see how a player standing on the goal line, in front of the keeper, jostling with the keeper, at a corner, can be anything but interfering with play???? I can only start to imagine the uproar if that is Vardy on Leno.
No one else is up so sod it.
Get in there.
If you’re standing in that position and judged not to be interfering then the law is plainly wrong. We had the Z lister pundits on MotD2 last night arguing that it was a goal because the keeper went the other way.
Well… did they ever consider he went the wrong way as he couldn’t see anything and had to anticipate, because… Xhaka was in his way. In an offside position?
Arguing for a goal on something like that shows how fucked up the current law is.
I’m finding myself agreeing with Cynic nowadays which surprises both of us . I thought Bellerin on a yellow was extremely lucky not to be yellowed by a pernickety ref like Pawson and while the ridiculous offside law is a complete farce I could entirely see why it was disallowed. It would have completely changed the game as the one thing we needed was for them to release their low block earlier .
We will debate the lessons from the match after Dr.F’s Report but I found that game profoundly depressing because it set me thinking about whether a
Arteta can produce a more creative side. Certainly I find the current football being played sterile , predictable and overly cautious .
I hope we ring the changes for Dundalk at home . It would have been a perfect game to blood Saliba. Interesting that one of Leicester’s best players ( albeit very cynical) was a 19- year old signed from Saint Etienne!
Agree with TTG…
Everyone was really looking forward to have Saliba play for us, suddenly we have him he’s available to play and he’s not featuring at all. Cup games a definitely a way to phase him into the team and find out what exactly he has to offer and how he can handle himself under pressure. I hope he’s not going to be one those promising signings and nothing comes out of it in the end.
Steve T@99, agree about crying blue murder regarding the Bellerin one had we been on the receiving end. I was just pointing out that it was still a grey area albeit a dark grey one where the referee could still be justified in not giving a yellow card but just a foul which is what he did.
I agree with Cynic’s larger point about the current offside law not being as clear cut as the old fashioned one but we can only debate the present law as it is. I disagree with his view however of the fact that Schmeichel moves in the other direction because he could not see anything because of Xhaka’s presence. If you have seen the replays, both Xhaka and Schmeichel are besides each other facing the incoming corner and can clearly see the flight of the ball and the subsequent header from Laca. The reason he moves towards the front post is because he wrongly anticipated that Laca would be flicking it towards the near post. His movement in that direction had nothing to do Xhaka’s presence and neither was his line of sight impeded by Xhaka during the entire trajectory of the ball from corner to goal.
We don’t get Motd here in India but the coverage here had Ian Wright and Alan Shearer as studio guests and ex-referee Dermot Gallagher was also a remote guest. After the debate in which Dermot Gallagher agreed that VAR should have corrected the on-field decision and given a goal, there was a virtual POV replay from Schmeichel’s position just to demonstrate that Xhaka didn’t impede Schmeichel’s line of sight in the slightest. But yeah I agree that the laws shouldn’t be such that a goal feels almost like rocket science.
I would amend the offside law slightly by tearing it to pieces and going back to the old law, where offside is offside 🙂
Although more seriously, I think if they made it so that anyone in the six yard box who is offside is given offside, it might help. If you’re in that particular part of the pitch you must be interfering with play IMO.
As for a more creative side, I think part of the problem is that we don’t have the players to be so. We have to sacrifice creativity in midfield because we’re no good at the back (including the keeper who nearly gave away another gift early on) and the midfielders we do have aren’t top drawer.
We have a good centre back in Gabriel, a mercurial one in Luiz and a couple of pure makeweights. We have one really good left back and a couple of players who can do a job at right back (or fill in at left back at a pinch)
Midfield? Partey might turn out to be the best signing we’ve made in ages, once he settles, but he needs the right partner. We need someone who can go when he sits and vice versa, and that isn’t Xhaka or Elneny or even Ceballos. We need a Petit for his Vieira.
Up top we have more problems than you might think. I don’t think Pepe will ever amount to much in this league and should be sold. Saka is all promise, Lacazette is too bulky and slow and should go. I also have big doubts about Nketiah, because he doesn’t look like the sort of striker who lives for goals (I know, U21 record holder blah blah but meh to that). I hate seeing him pass when he can score. Stick it in the net ffs. We have to hope that Martinelli comes back strong from his injury, as he’s the real future for us.
Apart from that everything is great. 🙂
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/football/54687020
I was unable to see the game and eagerly await Dr F’s match review. The commentary so far seems to have a disturbingly familiar ring: a dominant first half that failed to provide a half-time lead followed by an increasingly frustrating second half rounded out with a goal conceded to a counter-attack.
Teams seem to have worked out how to frustrate the Guardiola-Arteta style of football. Master and pupil both need some creative new tricks.
This analysis of Borussia Dortmund’s implementation of the Guardiola-Arteta approach is worth a read as it provides pointers to the elements we are missing to make it work:
Mustafi has rejected a new contract and will leave on a free next summer .
That transfer window where Wenger brought in Xhaka, Mustafi and Perez at a cost of about £85 million was a disaster for the club and as Steve points out earlier two of them are still playing- very slowly !
We were in a bind with so many players determined not to move because their current contracts won’t be replicated by any other clubs but we needed to be much more effective at selling in the last transfer window . We should have parted company with Sokratis and Mustafi saving their salaries even though we couldn’t get much of a fee for them .
I would prioritise Saliba, Holding , Chambers and Mari this season with Luiz and Gabriel. If Mustafi wants to piss us about he’s hardly good enough to force us to play him. But we seem to need to have about 7 CBs to be able to field 3 !
TTG, Between those three players Perez must be the only one whose reputation did not plummet during their time at Arsenal, even if only because he never made it into AW’s first team. But a very bad transfer window overall, no doubt. 🙁
Some interesting info/ stats from our friend in the USA
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