04 Nov 2023 20:18:57
This reminded me of the City game. A tough game of small margins where chances were at a premium. That game went our way, this didn't. It happens.

What is concerning to me is that we never seem to get into quick and direct attacks through the middle anymore. The only types seem to be long and slow build-ups or long balls over the midfield. Lot's of coverage about the issue on Tifo youtube channel as well. We need to find a way through the opponent block more often if we want to win the league.

Someone said Havertz shouldn't play because of the physicality but i thought he actually relished it. Still think he's a big game player first and foremost. Idiotic tackle though and on another day could have been sent off. Still i think he was one of our better forwards today.

There are obviously other noteworthy performers but i feel like i once again have to especially talk about Havertz. Everyone is always so keen to talk about his weaknesses so when he actually plays well i feel like i need to come forward and point it out. But the defenders all had excellent games too. Think Tomiyasu is in the best form of his Arsenal career at the moment.

1.) 04 Nov 2023
04 Nov 2023 21:32:35
tbf not that he was great nobody attacking sense was but was not our worst player tonight, when Saka and Neketiah were largely invisible the entire game at least he got involved in the battle even though yes he could have seen red. Our best players were Saliba Tommy and Rice which kind of tells you we just did not function atall as team in the attacking sense and our combinations going forward atall just did not happen. Yes the ropey goal decision went against us which you can argue over all night but if Raya had been in a better position were he should have been in first place and not flapped as he done then it would not have been a talking point. We really need to get Rammers back in goal for me why he was dropped I will never know.

2.) 04 Nov 2023
04 Nov 2023 21:51:14
Kai put a few bad tackles in - where’s his physical presence in the box and was pretty useless. What did he actually do apart from almost getting stupidly sent off?

I must of missed something - did he thread some balls thru to Eddie or force a save….

Rice was decent again but we have no energy and continue to pass 1000 times before shooting or playing it backwards like we did against city

It was a dreadful goal and Raya was poor as was var but sorry - squad is weak and Jorginho as well as Kai shouldn’t start. At least Kai showed a little heart but not where it mattered.

3.) 04 Nov 2023
04 Nov 2023 22:09:22
yeah most were are best a 5 out 10's with Saliba Tommy and Rice half decent 7's would say just not good enough to earn the win. Newcastle were poor too tbh but they dogged out a scrappy game and were on the right side of that decision that's all you can say really was 0-0 game all over. We need Rammers back in goal Party back in with Rice in the middle and need to give Saka a rest looks burnt out. We need Toney or someone with presence up front in January without doubt.

4.) 05 Nov 2023
05 Nov 2023 07:25:12
Sy he played a midfield role. Why does he then suddenly need to be a box player? And yes he did slip Nketiah in on the right half space, after first winning a duel and then dribbling into the resulted empty space. And that wasn't the only duel he won and dribble he completed.

I think in the past you have called for him to demand the ball more and influence the game. To me he was answering that call yesterday. Too bad the criteria has now changed and instead he needs to be a box presence.

At this point it seems to me you're negatively biased towards him (whereas i'm positively biased ?) .

5.) 05 Nov 2023
05 Nov 2023 09:42:58
Full credit to Newcastle they did a brilliant job of stopping us just as they did at the Emirates last season.

6.) 05 Nov 2023
05 Nov 2023 10:37:56
Ryan and G62 i think a draw would have been a fair result. But like i said when the margins are small sometimes you end up losing and sometimes winning.

By the way Guimaraes should have seen red. An intentional hit to the head should always be an immediate red card and a lengthy ban in my opinion. It's a serious matter and if it's not dealt with correctly someone will one day suffer permanent disability because of it. We can never remove the risk completely but not reducing it to the minimum with strict officiating is unacceptable. I'm saying this as a medical professional first, not as an Arsenal fan.

{Ed014's Note - I agree on the draw, they looked even less likely to score than us and we didn’t do enough to win it.

Onwards and upwards.

7.) 05 Nov 2023
05 Nov 2023 11:06:56
Hi Iceman, I only saw I poor through ball to Eddie which was a chip that was never a real opportunity as not great execution plus difficult pass. He headed the ball forward to Saka but at corners I think I can expect a lad his size to be a menace and get his head on the ball. Rice gets around the pitch, creates, shoots, demands the ball and keeps it moving. Kai just isn’t doing it but I get trying to find any positive to clap him but look at how Rice conducts himself and leads…

62 - so right, Newcastle had our wingers in their pocket. Our slow deliberate lethargic passing helped. We didn’t help ourselves as we are so slow in attack and have been for a while. Having slow passers like Jorginho and Kai really don't help the speed or directness of play. Again, I don’t thing having White as a fullback helps us attack either. Raya really was poor agsin for the goal and just doesn’t give me confidence which is a shame as I feel we need an upgrade from the keeper so we can play from the back better. BUT, at present I’d rather Ramsdale to reduce the errors at the back.

I’m more concerned about our weird selection, lack of attacking prowess and no plan B. We have soo many players that are similar. Let’s get some directness in our play and stop playing so many bloody passes allowing opposition to put 11 men behind the ball.

8.) 05 Nov 2023
05 Nov 2023 11:39:24
SY Rice is phenomenal. But he's not Havertz and vice versa. They have their own qualities, weaknesses and roles in this team. To me Havertz can be an effective target man and an excellent presser off the ball. Physicality is a strength of his, not a weakness (compared to our other forwards at least) . In terms of technical quality he's good enough for this team as well.

I think yesterday was one of his better games. Won plenty of duels and then progressed play. But to be truly successful he needs to add something more, i think we both agree on that. I'm hoping it will be late runs into the box resulting in some goals as that's what he was able to achieve at Leverkusen. Hasn't happened here yet though. To me it seems like he's improving so fingers crossed.

I think some creativity will be needed though especially if Odegaard continues to be unfit. I'd like to see Trossard given a chance as an 8.

{Ed014's Note - I actually agree on Havertz

9.) 05 Nov 2023
05 Nov 2023 11:48:26
Hi Sy, Eddie Howe got his homework and game plan perfect and his players executed his plan to perfection, credit where its due.

{Ed014's Note - just talking to my other half about this, was our game plan not perfect because other than a goal that wasn’t a goal they did absolutely zero because we nullified them.

Makes me laugh that Howe executed some master plan!

10.) 05 Nov 2023
05 Nov 2023 12:53:04
Howe did in regard of Saka and Martinelli Ed014 mate, and to be fair other than the goal I thought we did enough to get an excellent point away to very difficult opponent. But Raya once again made Arteta look silky and raised questions about his egotistical inability to accept his own mistakes and reintroduce Ramsdale.

{Ed014's Note - I think those two are a little off the boil too which helped and let’s be honest, most clubs try that with those two.

It’s not like Howe tried something brilliant.

11.) 05 Nov 2023
05 Nov 2023 15:33:16
Iceman - I really hope so. We need a player like Platt or Freddie who would specialise in late runs into the box but that requires hunger and a skill. I find Kai always to be a little behind the game and on the peripheral. He did win some ( plenty ) of duels - yes and did put himself about. Hopefully he does more as he should be a pain in the ass in the box. The EPL isn’t the German league and we need to see if he has the skill, hunger, passion etc to bring that to the epl. Hope he does. He’s one of the most odd and not needed signings that I can remember, the article 62 references asks some very good questions of Arteta as we had two obvious weaknesses. We had plenty of money yet we sign an enigma for a problem we didn’t have and created an issue in GK spot.

Fingers crossed for Kai - I would say Jesus presses and is more mobile.

Thanks for sharing and replies - enjoy your Sunday ?.

12.) 05 Nov 2023
05 Nov 2023 16:06:44
I think ESR could fill that role, SY. if he can stay fit!

13.) 05 Nov 2023
05 Nov 2023 16:16:15
Arteta does invite questions about his decisions SY mate, and in my personal opinion we are lucky he's a lucky manager who seems to get rescued from himself extremely often, and long may his and our luck last? Have a cracking Sunday and week ahead mate.

14.) 05 Nov 2023
05 Nov 2023 18:58:07
You too Gunner! Hope he’s forever lucky while he’s our manager.