Houssem Aouar

[OnlyOne]

Can't believe @OnlyOne is allowing some of these tweets to be posted.

Did a reference check, all reliable.

 

[HairSprayGooners]

1/20 on Sky bet to join us now

Juventus 13/2.

 

[Makavelii]

I like you but I’m exhausted with the misconception of Lacazette and his hold up play so please excuse the verbose post.

One would assume a fair indication of effective team play as a striker would be passes per match and big chances created, right?

Lacazette 2019/20

• 30 appearances
• 10 goals
• 4 big chances created
• 4 assists
• 16 passes per match

Aubameyang 2019/20

• 36 appearances
• 22 goals
• 7 big chances created
• 3 assists
• 23 passes per match

Only 3 of Auba’s 22 goals came from Laca’s assists. Nelson’s goal v Liverpool was his other assist.

You might argue that it’s apples v oranges as Auba played a large number of games from the left after arteta came in. Yet this is from 2018/19 when Auba played through the middle in the vast majority of games under Emery

Aubameyang 2018/19 (majority as a ST)

• 36 appearances
• 22 goals
• 7 big chances created
• 5 assists
• 19 passes per match

Not outstanding hold up play but certainly no worse than Lacazette in 2019/20.

And lastly by contrast here’s someone who I think fairly unanimously actually excels at hold up play:

Firmino 2019/20

• 38 appearances
• 9 goals
• 10 big chances created
• 8 assists
• 31 passes per match

Just feel like it’s the default assumption that Auba plays wide due to inferior hold up play when most likely Laca central so that he can press the first receiver (number 6) and block the opposition from getting out. Basically an overcompensation for having midfielders too slow to play high press, and Özil too lazy to do it.

We could solve that by adding a 3rd midfielder like Aouar instead of playing with 3 centre backs and moving 10 yards further up the pitch

I’m always thrilled to have my opinions challenged when backed by the stats.
You’re right, I just made the assumption that Auba plays wide due to inferior hold up play.

I’ll reconsider my view. Great post.

 

[drippin]

I’m always thrilled to have my opinions challenged when backed by the stats.
You’re right, I just made the assumption that Auba plays wide due to inferior hold up play.

I’ll reconsider my view. Great post.

I'm not sure how passes per match or even big chances created are related to hold-up play? Big chances created surely not much at all, can someone explain passes per match? If you pass much, you can hold up the ball?

Arteta relies heavily on the left side in attacking which gives the ball to Auba the most of the attacking players.

 

[Kobi]

I like you but I’m exhausted with the misconception of Lacazette and his hold up play so please excuse the verbose post.

One would assume a fair indication of effective team play as a striker would be passes per match and big chances created, right?

Lacazette 2019/20

• 30 appearances
• 10 goals
• 4 big chances created
• 4 assists
• 16 passes per match

Aubameyang 2019/20

• 36 appearances
• 22 goals
• 7 big chances created
• 3 assists
• 23 passes per match

Only 3 of Auba’s 22 goals came from Laca’s assists. Nelson’s goal v Liverpool was his other assist.

You might argue that it’s apples v oranges as Auba played a large number of games from the left after arteta came in. Yet this is from 2018/19 when Auba played through the middle in the vast majority of games under Emery

Aubameyang 2018/19 (majority as a ST)

• 36 appearances
• 22 goals
• 7 big chances created
• 5 assists
• 19 passes per match

Not outstanding hold up play but certainly no worse than Lacazette in 2019/20.

And lastly by contrast here’s someone who I think fairly unanimously actually excels at hold up play:

Firmino 2019/20

• 38 appearances
• 9 goals
• 10 big chances created
• 8 assists
• 31 passes per match

Just feel like it’s the default assumption that Auba plays wide due to inferior hold up play when most likely Laca central so that he can press the first receiver (number 6) and block the opposition from getting out. Basically an overcompensation for having midfielders too slow to play high press, and Özil too lazy to do it.

We could solve that by adding a 3rd midfielder like Aouar instead of playing with 3 centre backs and moving 10 yards further up the pitch

Thinking about this, people who have seen Aouar say he is best in that LCM Iniesta role in a 433, Auba basically plays like a Guardiola Barcelona winger (Henry. Villa , Pedro) wide in build up but ending up as a striker and Lacazette as a false nine linking up play.
You could maybe foresee us moving to a Pep Barcelona 433 with the wide players making those late pincer movements inside, it isn't that far removed from where we are now, shape wise.
I actually think that the false nine pressing (Firmino/Messi) role could suit Willian quite well, not sure he has the pace for the outside roles.

Something like this:

 

[roz]

1/20 on Sky bet to join us now

Juventus 13/2.

Had a really close friend who used to work in the Arsenal corporate box. Overheard a couple of bigshots talking about Schneiderlin when he was at Everton and how he would fit into our team, they were apparently talking about it like it was a done deal. My pal stuck a ton on him to join us, got something like 8/11. By the end of the day the odds were something like 3/10.

true story, hilarious but not for my friend

 

[say yes]

Exclusive images of Vinai preparing our offer:

 

[HairSprayGooners]

Had a really close friend who used to work in the Arsenal corporate box. Overheard a couple of bigshots talking about Schneiderlin when he was at Everton and how he would fit into our team, they were apparently talking about it like it was a done deal. My pal stuck a ton on him to join us, got something like 8/11. By the end of the day the odds were something like 3/10.

true story, hilarious but not for my friend

Mental how one big bet can do that. Sky Sports are the kings of getting their betting odds up these days. Funny how Sky Sports are probably one of the least reliable sources for info now

 

[roz]

Mental how one big bet can do that. Sky Sports are the kings of getting their betting odds up these days. Funny how Sky Sports are probably one of the least reliable sources for info now

Problem wasn’t just my mates bet, it was all the other people he told to do it
SkyBet are infamous for manipulating their odds on transfers

 

[Big Poppa]

I'll just note for clarity that Firmino played ~3000 min in EPL last season, Auba ~3100 min and Laca ~1900 min. If I count it right, Laca played ~37 % less than Firmino.

Another thing to note is that other plays for a team that dominated the league with 99 points, while the other team finished 8th with 56 points.

Hence passes “per match”

 

[Makavelii]

I'm not sure how passes per match or even big chances created are related to hold-up play? Big chances created surely not much at all, can someone explain passes per match? If you pass much, you can hold up the ball?

Arteta relies heavily on the left side in attacking which gives the ball to Auba the most of the attacking players.

Holding up the ball well will almost always end up as a pass when the striker lays it off.
If a striker has very few passes, you would assume they’re not doing a lot of that.

 

[Big Poppa]

I'm not sure how passes per match or even big chances created are related to hold-up play? Big chances created surely not much at all, can someone explain passes per match? If you pass much, you can hold up the ball?

Arteta relies heavily on the left side in attacking which gives the ball to Auba the most of the attacking players.

I mean it informs how well and often you link up with others in attack. That’s the goal of hold up play no? Whether you receive it into your chest with your back to goal and lay it off or flick on a header for another runner, they all count as types of passes.

 

[Big Poppa]

I’m always thrilled to have my opinions challenged when backed by the stats.
You’re right, I just made the assumption that Auba plays wide due to inferior hold up play.

I’ll reconsider my view. Great post.

And as mentioned you’re a top poster. I’m always thrilled to have mine constructively challenged too. Whether you change your view or otherwise.

 

[lvgh98]

Thinking about this, people who have seen Aouar say he is best in that LCM Iniesta role in a 433, Auba basically plays like a Guardiola Barcelona winger (Henry. Villa , Pedro) wide in build up but ending up as a striker and Lacazette as a false nine linking up play.
You could maybe foresee us moving to a Pep Barcelona 433 with the wide players making those late pincer movements inside, it isn't that far removed from where we are now, shape wise.
I actually think that the false nine pressing (Firmino/Messi) role could suit Willian quite well, not sure he has the pace for the outside roles.

Something like this:

Hadn’t considered this but it looks fantastic. Think Willian would be excellent in that role with his skill set and wouldn’t be too hindered by losing a yard of pace.

 

[drippin]

Hence passes “per match”

Yeah, just clarifying that comparison with Firmino has many things affecting those stats. Like the team in which the player plays, affects how much he gets the ball in a game and passes it to others.

The team behind Firmino last season was from a different planet compared to Laca & Auba. The total minutes played affect those other stats.

Anyway, like I said we rely heavily on the left side so Auba gets the ball most of the attackers.

Passes per game don't automatically mean good hold-up play. Alibi passes go to that stat, and a player can release the ball fast and not be able to protect it in tough situation.

What do you think is the reason Auba plays on the left for most managers in EPL? Especially why hasn't Arteta played him in the center even in counter-attacking games like against Pool? This is something I wonder.

 

[Big Poppa]

Holding up the ball well will almost always end up as a pass when the striker lays it off.
If a striker has very few passes, you would assume they’re not doing a lot of that.

That part.

 

[Big Poppa]

Yeah, just clarifying that comparison with Firmino has many things affecting those stats. Like the team in which the player plays, affects how much he gets the ball in a game and passes it to others.

The team behind Firmino last season was from a different planet compared to Laca & Auba. The total minutes played affect those other stats.

Anyway, like I said we rely heavily on the left side so Auba gets the ball most of the attackers.

Passes per game don't automatically mean good hold-up play. Alibi passes go to that stat, and a player can release the ball fast and not be able to protect it in tough situation.

What do you think is the reason Auba plays on the left for most managers in EPL? Especially why hasn't Arteta played him in the center even in counter-attacking games like against Pool? This is something I wonder.

Me too.

 

[WhatAFC]

I’m always thrilled to have my opinions challenged when backed by the stats.
You’re right, I just made the assumption that Auba plays wide due to inferior hold up play.

I’ll reconsider my view. Great post.

It wasn’t a great post. It’s a terrible post with loaded stats to push his point.

lacazette played 1878 minutes in his 30 apps.
Auba played 3139 minutes in his.
Firmino played 3003 minutes in his.

Auba had played 14 games worth of extra minutes

Firmino has played 12.5 games worth of extra minutes

 

[Dial Square 1886]

Hadn’t considered this but it looks fantastic. Think Willian would be excellent in that role with his skill set and wouldn’t be too hindered by losing a yard of pace.

Don't know about Willian as a false 9.

That position is probably the hardest to play in the whole game, it really is.

 

[Makavelii]

Don't know about Willian as a false 9.

That position is probably the hardest to play in the whole game, it really is.

Agree. It’s rarely ever a formation that’s worked.
Maybe if we had Lionel Messi, Xavi and Iniesta it’s a different story.