First things first. This was never going to be an easy game. But Arteta really should have managed that game better over the final 30 minutes.
We were ahead at the hour mark thanks to yet another lucky goal from midfield, despite hardly laying a glove on Pickford in goal. And Everton had already seen 2 goals chalked off.
Xhaka was clearly struggling for match fitness and already on a yellow. Lacazette's 60-minute batteries had already run out. And Saka had been pretty much kicked out of the game.
And what does Arteta do? Make unnecessary changes and ruin everything, of course.
We were pretty much playing with 8 men by the time Nketiah came on. And it goes without saying that bringing Nketiah on took us down an extra man.
I'd have brought Elneny on for Xhaka to see out the remaining 30 minutes and take some of the heavy lifting off an isolated Partey's shoulders. I'd have also hooked Saka for Pepe to keep possession and offer an outlet. And hooked Lacazette for someone who can run at Mason Holgate.
In-game management.
posted on 6/12/21
Had to be Sambi on, what is Elneny going to offer you when you need a goal? Sambi plays forward and drives with the ball to beat players plus can pick a pass.
posted on 6/12/21
‘I'd have also hooked Saka for Pepe to keep possession and offer an outlet’
Was going to pick you up on this point (Pepe is done at Arsenal, offering neither of these things being the main reason) but tbh wtf would be the point.
Arteta facked it up again. Details schmetails.
posted on 6/12/21
comment by You Can't Buy Class ¯\_/^v^\_/¯ (U12019)
posted 3 minutes ago
Had to be Sambi on, what is Elneny going to offer you when you need a goal? Sambi plays forward and drives with the ball to beat players plus can pick a pass.
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We were away from home, a goal up, and playing a side desperate for a result.
Elneny would have given the side (half of whom were already gassed by the hour mark) some piece of mind.
posted on 6/12/21
Are you are talking about when we were a goal up. I was talking about when we were 1-1 or 2-1 down
posted on 6/12/21
*Ah
posted on 6/12/21
We just needed to play the way we have the majority of the season so far. But Arteta has decided he wants to go back to last seasons way of playing.
If he is going to make the team play that way then no amount of in-game management is going to stop results being losses and draws. This team can't play effectively that way and even Pep himself couldn't make them and he wouldn't be stupid enough to be trying. But then Pep actually knows how to identify his players strengths and weaknesses, how to pick the right starting lineup and knows how to choose and implement the correct system for his players to play in. SUCH an effing shame that he never taught Arteta how to do that before lumbering us with him.