More Questions than Answers
Decisions to make
Last night’s limp display, on the back of the previous outing at the Amex, left me stunned to be honest. I found myself with so many observations and queries, some linked and some not but I thought I might jot them down. Firstly, doing so might help me make sense of another seemingly rudderless performance and secondly, more in the hope that others more tactically astute may help me ‘get it’.
So, in no particular order….
- Why play the formation with Tommy shuffling to make a three with Tierney so far forward, if the previously flying Scot is going to turn and pass backwards or sideways? It was only a few weeks ago we loved him beating his fullback and whipping in those crosses – albeit often to no one. Instruction ? or a player not believing in the system or himself?
What’s occurring?
- Why revert to a 433, after only one attempt at persisting with the 4231 without Xhaka? Surely, we have a system with ESR, Odegaard and Saka that showed promise, so why give Sambi only one opportunity to play with Partey in a 2?
- And if the manager is unconvinced by the young Belgian or thinks the pressure too much too early then play Elneny, or even Maitland-Niles. Despite his offensive limitations, what Elneny does give you is instant control and quick simple recycling. With the added bonus of allowing a 4231 that gives Partey more licence to influence.
- Partey on his own with 2 8’s put too much pressure on the Ghanaian and limited his offensive influence. It also seemed to impact the influence of ESR and Odegaard. I for one do not like Odegaard deeper as we not only lose his creativity in the final third, but we lose the leader of our press.
- Can someone please tell Ben White that we know he has a good passing range, but he does not have to try the Hollywood pass every time. We were gifting possession and inviting pressure. Is this a subliminal concern at not having Xhaka ahead of him or is it instruction?
- We evidently need a busier centre forward as Lacazette’s cameo showed. It reminded me of prime Welbeck. Constant movement and hassling of defenders is just as likely to create openings as an incisive pass or moment of sublime skill. (Just asked Connor Gallagher!)
Brought energy to the attack
- So, if Laca plays on Friday, as I think he will, does Arteta shift his skipper to the left and adapt the style or could he go back to the drawing board and consider a 352 to play both Aubameyang and Lacazette up front?
- Saka is injured or maybe needs a rest, so the manager certainly has the opportunity to play Aubameyang out left, with Odegaard and ESR (on the right) or might he give Martinelli an opportunity? Certainly, the combined energy and pressure on offer from Lacazette, Martinelli, Odegaard and Smith Rowe would scare any back line.
- It has to be something drastic to change the energy, but it means dropping our best goal scorer, or can he find a way to play Auba on the left, without too much defensive duty? This might bring us back to the possibility of using Tierney as a more conventional left back, only overlapping when the opportunity is clear and forgetting the high starting position he occupies at present.
Not working for team?
- I am not even going there with Pepe. I wanted him to succeed so badly and whilst I know his backers will point to the stats for goals and assists, and say he created our goal, he simply does not work hard enough defensively or in the press. Arsenal at present cannot carry a player who only comes alive when he receives the ball. Currently he reminds me of latter-day Theo, and that is not a compliment.
- On the plus side, Gabriel and Ramsdale were great…….
Apologies for unloading and as I suggested at outset, more questions, and potential solutions than real conclusions 😊
Your thoughts?
Passionate fifty-something Arsenal supporter who has been making the journey to N5 regularly since the early 1980s – although his first game was in 1976. Always passionate when talking about The Arsenal, Dave decided to send a guest blog to Gunnersphere in the summer of 2011 and has not stopped writing about the Gunners since.
He set up his own site – 1 Nil Down 2 One Up – in February 2012, which he moved on in 2016 to concentrate on freelance writing and building Gunners Town, which he launched with Paul in 2014.
The objective of GT was to be new and fresh and to give a platform for likeminded passionate Arsenal fans wishing to write about their team. Dave still of course, writes for the site himself and advises the ever-changing writing crew.
No comments yet.