Disappointing game last night. Granted, it was against a side who had beaten us in the league 10 times in a row. But still disappointing nonetheless.
Predictably, there's been a lot of focus on our profligacy in front of goal. Lots of talk about Nketiah fluffing his lines, and Martinelli ghosting practically every game he's played this calendar year. But I won't dwell on that today.
One fact still remains. If those chances had gone in, we'd still have been talking about a 3-3 or 4-4 draw at the end of the day.
There's just no way you send such a powderpuff Starting XI out against a club like City. I wouldn't even start that side against Leyton Orient.
Our defence had zero protection last night. 4 men across the back 4. Plus 6 other outfield players, none of whom could be bothered to track back. (Pretty much the same criticism levelled at Solskjaer's Man United on many occasions.)
Martinelli, Nketiah, Saka, Xhaka, Jorginho and Odegaard. Zero defensive contribution from all of them.
"Georgie" is simply another Xhaka. Does everything it says on the tin. He'll offer you an outlet should you find yourself under pressure in possession, and then he'll simply just give the back to you. (Some will point out the glorious 85% pass-completion stats for the two of them last night ). Add one or two tackles for the match highlight reel, job done.
Odegaard's free role requires him to go off on his merry creative adventures. So that's another gap.
Both Saka and Martinelli have had a brilliant record when it comes to tracking back. But those days are long gone.
All this makes you appreciate just how much heavy lifting Partey does each game. He'll put in a decent shift in central midfield. He will protect the defence. Track back and offer himself as an outlet for possession to the defence. And offer defensive support to both fullbacks out on the flank. At least 4 jobs in 1.
And as if that wasn't enough, Partey will also find a way to help out in attack.
Our back 4 was basically hung out to dry last night. A far cry from the "George Graham Arteta" days when he would have probably thrown Robert Holding into the mix at 1-1.
I'd go as far as saying we hung our defence out to dry against Brentford, Everton and in the Cup game against City. Basically since Partey's fitness predictably started having a wobble.
I'm at a loss here. Elnenny's definitely out of the question. Both Zinchenko and Kiwior have a bit of history in midfield, don't they? Sounds good in theory, but we all remember how our experiment with David Luiz in midfield went.
Maybe a 3-5-2 with wingbacks either side of a 3-man midfield? Wingbacks who would then fall back into defence when under pressure?
Maybe a dip into the U21 pool? .....Matt Smith? That Cottrell midget?
I know it's easy to sit here and type out moany articles. But something clearly has to change while Partey sorts his fitness out.
You always build out of a solid base. No shame in being pragmatic and sending out compact defensive sides and hitting opponents on the counter. Especially when you find yourself a couple of key men short.
" You can't fire a cannon out of a canoe." (Pun intended)
Tracking Back.
posted on 16/2/23
"One fact still remains. If those chances had gone in, we'd still have been talking about a 3-3 or 4-4 draw at the end of the day."
hmmm i dont see the logic in this , yes if you had taken those chances it may have been a draw, ,if man city had taken more of their chances it would have been more also....
If a team score 1 chance it doesnt mean that the other chances that follow it would have been created. Goals change games, there is no gurantees.
posted on 16/2/23
comment by whodunnit (U22710)
posted 6 minutes ago
"One fact still remains. If those chances had gone in, we'd still have been talking about a 3-3 or 4-4 draw at the end of the day."
hmmm i dont see the logic in this , yes if you had taken those chances it may have been a draw, ,if man city had taken more of their chances it would have been more also....
If a team score 1 chance it doesnt mean that the other chances that follow it would have been created. Goals change games, there is no gurantees.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Both sides had almost the same number of "shots" last night. Arsenal -10, City -9.
Out of this, City hit the target 6 times. Scoring 3 goals. A very decent return.
Arsenal's only shot on target was the penalty. The official record says that Ederson didn't make a single save last night.
And it's not as if we spent the entire game pinned back inside our own box either.
posted on 16/2/23
comment by Gillespie Rd. (U18361)
posted 5 minutes ago
comment by whodunnit (U22710)
posted 6 minutes ago
"One fact still remains. If those chances had gone in, we'd still have been talking about a 3-3 or 4-4 draw at the end of the day."
hmmm i dont see the logic in this , yes if you had taken those chances it may have been a draw, ,if man city had taken more of their chances it would have been more also....
If a team score 1 chance it doesnt mean that the other chances that follow it would have been created. Goals change games, there is no gurantees.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Both sides had almost the same number of "shots" last night. Arsenal -10, City -9.
Out of this, City hit the target 6 times. Scoring 3 goals. A very decent return.
Arsenal's only shot on target was the penalty. The official record says that Ederson didn't make a single save last night.
And it's not as if we spent the entire game pinned back inside our own box either.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
you didnt spend the entire game pinned in your own box, you did spend large periods of time there in the 2nd half once Man City had figured out their triggers to press.
what was the XG for the game ? I think you get 0.75 XG for a pen.
Only one team looked like winning that game last night IMO. first half was even, city dominated the 2nd half.
posted on 16/2/23
^^
We had too many passengers in the lineup last night.
posted on 16/2/23
"Zinchenko and Kiwior have a bit of history in midfield, don't they?"
Zinchenko was initially an attacking midfielder, got his first team chance at left back due to injuries & did well there. He'd occasionally switch off & get caught out, but overall way more good performances than bad, always gave 100%.
We were sad to see him go, but arsenal were his boyhood club so once they came in for him that was it.
Might be worth giving him a go in front of your defence, he'll put the work in where others won't.
posted on 16/2/23
comment by Abiggidybiggidybong (U5313)
posted 6 minutes ago
"Zinchenko and Kiwior have a bit of history in midfield, don't they?"
Zinchenko was initially an attacking midfielder, got his first team chance at left back due to injuries & did well there. He'd occasionally switch off & get caught out, but overall way more good performances than bad, always gave 100%.
We were sad to see him go, but arsenal were his boyhood club so once they came in for him that was it.
Might be worth giving him a go in front of your defence, he'll put the work in where others won't.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Seen him provide some steel in midfield for the Ukraine national side a couple of times. Well worth the risk.