Something really has to change in the way we're approaching games. In the first 13 games of the season, Arsenal were the top possession team in the PL and the only team averaging over 60% possession in games. In the last 13 games, Arsenal have averaged less the 50% of the ball in games. These days, it doesn't matter who we play. We can seem to control territory and the tempo of games and it allows teams to keep coming at us. It seems funny to point out that even when we thumped Villa 5-0, they had more of the ball than we did.
We may want to point to our form to say that this change in tactics is working, but it's a simplistic way of looking at it. In those first 13 games, we had a host of poor results against the likes of Leicester and Man U where we were the better team but were unfortunate to lose. The reverse is the case in our last 13 games. Our results have flattered us and teams like Liverpool, Leicester and Palace haven't punished us. In our defeat to Spurs, we finally met a team who did. Call it luck or whatever, but our results recently simply flatter the way we're playing. People criticize Man U for how they're playing, but we've gone under the radar with how sloppy and disjointed our performances have been for a while now.
Palace have averaged the LOWEST possession in the league this season and in their last match game against 'Pool, they barely had a kick for long stretches. They also had half the attempts 'Pool had. How is it that a midfield of Ledley, facking Mutch and Puncheon overran us like that today while our midget technicians kept giving it away sloppily? What has happened to our passing game?
I don't like THIS Arsenal
posted on 22/2/15
"You are an absolutely awful poster, constantly moaning crying and slating the team you support while bum licking every other team. You even did an article praising spurs not long
ago. When I first saw your posts I 100% thought u were a spurs
fan just wumming but it's clear you are actually just a massive c. unt Altho I often disagree with the
likes of genius, Castor etc I don't dislike any of them but for you it's a different story. You just seem like such odious person, a
black hole of negativity. I bet you're fun spend time with"
Of course I'm fun to spend time with. A t'riffic family man, gleaming with charm. Would those be the same Spurs fans that think I'm an anti-Spurs, obsessed, deluded Arsenal fan? The very fact you think being an Arsenal fan should preclude praising a rival team shows your mental maturity.
Not my fault you're clearly not cut out for what an opinion forum entails. You certainly have no opinions, so how could you understand debating opinions? Always wondered what the point of your existence here is. It's clearly way above your head and you're a fish out of water.
I'm sad to know you dislike me and you know enough about me to call me an "odious" person. I'll go cry into my pillow now. You can't win them all.
posted on 22/2/15
"Giroud plays a lot of little through balls and flicks so just judging it off pass completion doesn't show everything, he gets a lot of assists. His technical ability and all round game is underrated"
On the contrary, his link-up play is highly overrated. Watch Ibrahimovic or Benzema or Costa or Mandzukic and the likes hold up the ball and bring teammates into play. They average more chances created per game than Giroud, but they are nowhere close to being as sloppy in their passing. The guy's pass completion average is in the low 60's, ffs. The lowest in Arsenal and one of the lowest in the division. The amount of times promising Arsenal attacks break down when the ball gets to Giroud is unbelievable at times. He OCCASIONALLY pulls off a brilliant flick, and people wax lyrical and forget all the needless times he gives. Sometimes, you have to hold it up and make it stick. His obsession with one-touch lay-offs is irritating.
posted on 22/2/15
The lack of possession is definitely a result of a tactical switch.
To use yesterday's game as an example, in the first half we had more of the ball and most of the game was played in the midfield or palace thirds of the pitch.
However, at half time and having secured a 2 goal lead we changed tactics and tried to play on the counter attack. This meant sitting deep and giving up possession in order to entice palace forward and leave spaces behind which we could run into. To some extent this worked with a couple of very good opportunities created which we failed to convert.
We were only worried in the last few minutes when we switched to a back 5. We lost any attacking threat which meant Palace could afford to send both fullbacks forward, whilst our CBs looked uncomfortable working together as a group of 3.
posted on 22/2/15
comment by Mr Chelsea ✪ (U3579)
posted 1 hour, 28 minutes ago
comment by Gunnerthru (U6675)
posted 13 hours, 40 minutes ago
comment by Sheriff John Brown - bring back David Dein (U7482)
posted 17 seconds ago
Giroud is a good passer on the ball
-------------------------------------------
No, he's not. That's total nonsense. Giroud is the sloppiest outfield player we have in his passing. The myth of Giroud and his link-up play is a huuuge myth.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You are clueless. There is no other striker in the whole PL who has more assisted than him and missed 3 month due to injury.
You are just a pathetic hater. Fack off.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
GT you just said on the other thread that I need to learn to debate with respect
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Well......read what I responded.
posted on 22/2/15
comment by Sheriff John Brown - bring back David Dein (U7482)
posted 1 hour, 55 minutes ago
"Yeah Bayern kept the ball so well against Donezk and Barca soak
up Malaga's pressure so well that they lost the game at home. Impress yourself on results you
clown."
Sarcasm doesn't suit you. You sound ret.arded. I'm not sure what Bayern drawing and Barca losing have to do with the fact they keep the ball very well and dominate their matches. Keep digging.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I am not being sarcastic. It's a fact but I think you cant handle the truth. From my side I have nothing to add. If you like you can keep going.
posted on 22/2/15
comment by Sheriff John Brown - bring back David Dein (U7482)
posted 2 hours, 3 minutes ago
"You come up with myths and assumptions without
substance and think you are right and know something about the game and your opinion is
more worth than others. Idiot."
Stop repeating the word "substance" in every post. You might think it makes you sound clever, but it doesn't. I think my opinion is worth more than others? Not really. But I put the opinions out there and can dispute and debate. I don't jump in like an obnoxious cretin the way you've done. I'm not sure what your problem REALLY is, but you've been an odious lout from your first post on this thread. An inexplicably moronic reaction.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Well you didnt really add something new to your post before only packed it in different words you clown.
posted on 22/2/15
On the contrary, his link-up play is highly overrated. Watch Ibrahimovic or Benzema or Costa or Mandzukic and the likes hold up the ball and bring teammates into play. They average more chances created per game than Giroud, but they are nowhere close to being as sloppy in their passing. The guy's pass completion average is in the low 60's, ffs. The lowest in Arsenal and one of the lowest in the division. The amount of times promising Arsenal attacks break down when the ball gets to Giroud is unbelievable at times. He OCCASIONALLY pulls off a brilliant flick, and people wax lyrical and forget all the needless times he gives. Sometimes, you have to hold it up and make it stick. His obsession with one-touch lay-offs is irritating.
_____________
I just read back again. This is top class analysis and I really pity you for this.
posted on 22/2/15
Look Giroud is scoring goals, previously that was his biggest criticism. Now he's showing that even when he plays bad he can score, that's what you want from your striker. Around this time every year he's performances start do dip, it shouldn't this season as he was out for 3 months. But for like a month now, he's not been great, but as I say he is scoring and that's the main thing.
He does need to pick up his general performance quick however, because him giving away ball constantly invites pressure.
posted on 22/2/15
comment by Sheriff John Brown - bring back David Dein (U7482)
Don't think it has anything to do with that? Barca and Bayern have tons of players who can hurt the opposition. Yet, they keep the ball so well, it's very difficult to press them. And impossible to do so on the front foot. We're easier to press, cos we're sloppier on the ball and play with little intensity, not because the opposition are too frightened of our attacking players.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Why are you comparing us to Bayern and Barca. They're two of the top 3 or 5 teams in the world. We are not, its arguable were even the 3rd best team in our league. We've tried it their way and won nothing, I'm glad were finding a new style that wins us games.
posted on 23/2/15
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator