26 Oct 2020 11:09:22
On the 29th September I posted the following.
Welsh Gunner, perfectly entitled as he is to his own opinion, laughed his ass off at points (3) and (4) .
I don't claim to have any insight, or knowledge, just commenting on what I see with my own eyes, but another month on and I see a pattern or three emerging.
I am not going to start calling for Arteta's head or anything remotely as reactionary, but why do we persist with things that patently don't work:
i. e.
* Granit Xhaka - at least, GX with A. N. Other defensive midfielder.
* SEVEN, count 'em, seven defensively minded players per starting XI
* Dani Ceballos. Can somebody please, please explain to me why he is seen by some as the answer to our creative midfielder prayers? I never thought I'd see the days when I wondered whether we should re-sign that other serial under-achieving Emperor's New Clothes, Jack Wilshere
* Aubameyang on the left. Sure, he can cut in like Thierry did, from the left, but sure, he can super-anonymous, as he has been, curiously since he signed his pensions-sorted new contract. Ring any familiar bells, Arsenal Board?
* Lacazette - I mean I really, really, really want to love him, but. he hasn't cut the mustard for months! Years even.
My points (1) - (6) may not all need answering anymore or be relevant time-wise, but nothing deeply seems to change.
To be balanced, it took Klopp some while to sort out Liverpool and Guardiola didn't win anything even with his billions in his first season at Citeh, so I get that things are neither automatic nor immediate in any sport, but man, can't we EVER change?
"Not meant as an over-reaction to last nights fairly dismal performance, but I have a few genuine questions that I'd appreciate comment on here:
(1) Is Saliba injured? I know he wasn't an Arteta purchase, but why has he barely appeared even in the squad so far this season?
(2) What does Saka have to do to get in the team aside from being our most exciting youngster since Paul Merson?
(3) I did read somewhere that he was top of all the stats lists post lock down, but am I the only one who doesn't think that Ceballos is all that good?
(4) Is Bernd Leno not quite as good as Martinez was?
(5) Why don't we sell Mustafi, Sokratis, Chambers, Lacazette, Bellerin, Kolasinac, Guendouzi et al and just buy the two players we are allegedly after?
(6) Is it too much to expect Hector Bellerin to know how to do a throw-in by now?
Puzzled.
Cannon Max Farnham.
26 Oct 2020 13:15:23
Amazing that there are more questions than answers despite it being his second season and him familiar with epl, our issues and worked under Pep and Wenger.
He backed Granit last season - first issue. Plays him as a CD rather than shifting to a back 4 or playing Mustafi. did same stupid mistake with Tierney as a CD.
I think he should play AMN and Partey as the 2 CDM. Don’t think we need another CDM on top of those two.
So we have 7 defensive players and a screwed up front line. No surprise we struggled. Amazing that we still got caught with 1 at the back on the counter. Remind you of old issues?
Not a fan of Dani. Just another vanilla midfielder for me who was free so we signed him. Again - a Mikel signing so only got himself to blame. Seems liteweight so can’t pair with Partey and not creative enough for me. Poor signing at best. Would rather see ESR given a chance or even Pepe in the hole in from of these two.
Playing PEA out wide is crazy and a waste. He isn’t a winger, can’t cross and is a little lazy. What he can do is score but instead we play Willian or Laca or even Eddie in the middle. wtf are you thinking boss. Is it stubbornness, poor man management or cluelessness. No idea but he needs to wake up.
Even Freddie saw Laca and PEA isn’t a dream solution in a front 3. Play a front two in a 4 4 2 if you want both or put Laca on the bench.
(1) Is Saliba injured? No idea but we should just play him as can’t be worse than Mustafi
(2) Saka - he’s young so needs protecting but him along with - Gabriel, Partey, PEA, Tierney should be first 5 names on the team sheet home / away without even thinking.
(3) Don’t really care about his stats in that weird period
(4) Leno Vs Martinez - Emi all day long and this decision has been questioned by a number of pros. Leno should have been sold but that’s done and dusted. Leno is still a decent shot stopper but we need a goalie than commands his box and bosses defence.
(5) Why don't we sell Mustafi, Sokratis, Chambers, Lacazette, Bellerin, Kolasinac, Guendouzi et al and just buy the 2 - I guess we had no buyers for Mustafi, Papa, Chambers and Kola.
(6) Is it too much to expect Hector Bellerin to know how to do a throw-in by now? I’d rather he learned how to tackle, defend and cross. Let someone else take the throw 😂.