Another article is closed so...

comment by Silver (U6112)
posted 10 minutes ago
Cant believe you missed an option #4
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That would be Xhaka of course,but all he could have done from that position was give it back to Leno . Martinelli would never have played that pass,and everyone knows it. Huge mistake for a manager who insists on playing out from the back. Two excellent goalies,one can,one can't. Arteta chose the wrong for,for that type of game. Weird.

comment by Gillespie Rd. (U18361)
posted 1 minute ago
Doesn't matter if Xhaka himself had been the one who booted the ball straight back into his own net. Or fallen flat on his face and allowed a Burnley player to skip past and score.

It was still a stupid pass from Leno. He had a clearer view of the situation, not to mention an open view of the entire pitch, and all the time in the world to pick out someone else.

It's not the first time we've seen such a boneheaded robotic pass inside our box. And it won't be the last.

We're drilling every bit of common sense out of our players at the altar of stylistic dogma.
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This.

Again, Xhaka has come out publicly and taken the blame. Their is no debate now, he messed up.

comment by PowerkingHenry27 (U18930)
posted 1 minute ago
Again, Xhaka has come out publicly and taken the blame. Their is no debate now, he messed up.
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Of course he has.

It's a system of play designed to allow players to invite pressure, and then simply dump the problem on someone else.

Everyone's bought into it.

Xhaka is only disappointed that his equally stupid pass to Luiz didn't connect.

Doesn't matter that it was a very heavy waist-high ball to Luiz (who was also facing his own goalmouth) that would have taken at least 2 touches to bring under control.

A team like Arsenal shouldnt have players like Xhaka.

League is full of average players getting 6 figures a week. Bit of a joke tbh.

comment by Troy'sTanguyTanganga (U6468)
posted 3 hours, 7 minutes ago
A team like Arsenal shouldnt have players like Xhaka.
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Arsenal are a midtable club now so why shouldn't they?

I have no idea why anyone is blaming Leno. It seriously boggles the mind and I think it's people who have a crush on Martinez.

Leno has played from the back just fine. His passing range I think is better than Martinez although the latter was more commanding in the box. Our goal yesterday came from playing from the back...Leno to Partey.

Xhaka was under no serious pressure. His first touch was poor and put him in trouble..the smart thing would have been to lay it back to Leno for him to walk it. Xhaka also DEMANDED the ball. He looked like he was confident in his ability. Obviously...he messed up. To blame Leno for the bad touch and then poor attempt at a ball ACROSS OUR 6 YARD BOX (criminal) is silly.

Arteta admitted it was his fault for insisting they always play it from the back and that the players did what he has told them they must do.

Also, Xhaka came back and appeared to demand the ball from Leno, then telegraphed his pass (as usual) and played it straight on to the scorer. So he also takes his share of the blame.

Leno while poor in it was doing what he was told to do by the manager and the player in front of him wanting the ball. Poor but not his fault.

comment by Gillespie Rd. (U18361)
posted 1 day, 20 hours ago
Doesn't matter if Xhaka himself had been the one who booted the ball straight back into his own net. Or fallen flat on his face and allowed a Burnley player to skip past and score.

It was still a stupid pass from Leno. He had a clearer view of the situation, not to mention an open view of the entire pitch, and all the time in the world to pick out someone else.

It's not the first time we've seen such a boneheaded robotic pass inside our box. And it won't be the last.

We're drilling every bit of common sense out of our players at the altar of stylistic dogma.
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Leno's poor judgment was the cause of the Burnley goal!