FA Cup 3rd Round: Blackpool v Arsenal | January 5, 2019 17:30 GMT | BT Sport

[Sapient Hawk]

Reminds me of Sanogo. There are tools there but nothing that makes me think he's going to be a starter here. He created chances against a very poor side. He had to score today.

He definitely did, that long ball from Cech where he managed to get it past the defender was a guilt edged chance. The keeper was beaten at his near post yet he had the audacity to try & put it far. Sadly it didn't pan out as he wanted.

 

[Mo Britain]

Accrington Stanley, Gillingham or AFC Wimbledon in the next round please.

 

[Big Poppa]

Very impressed with Willock today. He not only affected the game when we had the ball but did very well in pressing and competing for loose balls. Maitland-Niles continues to impress me. He's certainly not a right winger, but he's the very definition of a box to box midfield player. Superb acceleration, strength and balance. Passing is of a good standard. It's only his decision making at times that lets him down.

I'd like to see more of the tall lad who came on at left back. Forget his name but as weird as it is to say this (because Sokratis had to bail him out more than once), he has exactly the kind of profile we need to bring stability in defence with his presence. He looked decent on the ball and basically a Mertesacker with a bit more pace. I was just surprised that he replaced Kolasinac at left back and not Lichtsteiner at Centre Back.

 

[MutableEarth]

Very impressed with Willock today. He not only affected the game when we had the ball but did very well in pressing and competing for loose balls. Maitland-Niles continues to impress me. He's certainly not a right winger, but he's the very definition of a box to box midfield player. Superb acceleration, strength and balance. Passing is of a good standard. It's only his decision making at times that lets him down.

I'd like to see more of the tall lad who came on at left back. Forget his name but as weird as it is to say this (because Sokratis had to bail him out more than once), he has exactly the kind of profile we need to bring stability in defence with his presence. He looked decent on the ball and basically a Mertesacker with a bit more pace. I was just surprised that he replaced Kolasinac at left back and not Lichtsteiner at Centre Back.

Zech Medley.

 

[ptrcopp]

Yes, even someone like Bojan who used to score 50 goals per season in Barca young teams. Defending at the top level is entirely different to youth teams, you are given less time and space, and more pressure.

Of course an attacker can also improve by the time, but I think the easiest of all positions to break through is in midfield, as in defense you are punished for every mistake, while in attack you must provide the numbers early on in your career. It seems like it's much more straightforward to recognise a talented midfielder, than a defender or striker (generally, if not talking about Maldinis and Messis).

I think that makes it harder for midfielders, and that’s why most midfield in the top 6 are those that have been given time at various clubs. Including Pogba at Juve

 

[Aevi]

I didn't catch the game but hearing how Lichtsteiner had yet another bad game, I really hope Medley becomes our emergency CB instead of him. Emery needs to stop persisting with that, Medley can hardly do worse and there is plenty of upside to giving him a chance.

 

[Giroud12]

We looked really shaky at the back, against a team far from PL quality. However, Emery really can´t be blamed. It´s unrealistic to expect some kind of defensive stability when he has to play a different back 3/4 every single game. I was clear Lich had no idea what he was doing at CB and that Jenkinson has no kind of relationships to the other 3 guys at the back.

 

[Trilly]

I miss pressing your buttons

I make one post and you’re back on my case, hydro praising me and Rich talking about eating my shoes.

I’m going to try and start posting regularly again.

 

[Makingtrax]

I make one post and you’re back on my case, hydro praising me and Rich talking about eating my shoes.

I’m going to try and start posting regularly again.

We’ll only be the better for it bro Losing sparring partners these days, since all the angry birds left.

 

[rich 1990]

I make one post and you’re back on my case, hydro praising me and Rich talking about eating my shoes.

I’m going to try and start posting regularly again.

I wish I hadn't said that now.

 

[Taylor Gang Gunners]

I didn't catch the game but hearing how Lichtsteiner had yet another bad game, I really hope Medley becomes our emergency CB instead of him. Emery needs to stop persisting with that, Medley can hardly do worse and there is plenty of upside to giving him a chance.

I agree. Lichsteiner has no real qualities to offer us anymore- bar maybe a calm word here and there. Medley is huge. What he lacks in positional awareness he more than makes up for in sheer physicality.

Not only does Lichsteiner regularly fall asleep at the back, he’s weak and slow. Also his crossing makes my eyes bleed.

 

[Beksl]

Not only does Lichsteiner regularly fall asleep at the back, he’s weak and slow. Also his crossing makes my eyes bleed.

Which is strange because crossing was one of his biggest strengths when at Juve.

 

[Aevi]

Which is strange because crossing was one of his biggest strengths when at Juve.

It really wasn't. That's a myth based on the good game he had against Tottenham in the CL.

 

[Manberg]

Lichsteiner was excellent in his prime but he's treating Arsenal as his retirement now.

 

[Beksl]

It really wasn't. That's a myth based on the good game he had against Tottenham in the CL.

Nah, he was good at them, had several seasons with 5+ assists, probably because he had players like Manđukić to aim at.