This team is scared as Xhaka said. We are scared to concede a goal and the whole shape plus tactic is to not let goals in. Simply put we have gone from getting beat 3/4 nil to getting beat 1-0 or 3-1 etc.
Listening to Artefa defending how we played does not feel me with confidence. It looks like a Manager defending what he knows is lacking but stubbornly sandbagging.
Is Aouar a creator though? I just like that he can beat a press effortlessly and advance the ball. Never thought of him as a creator.You can see why were chasing Auoar hard.
When we get the ball around the box we have no creativity.
Badly need someone in that pocket that can make things happen.
Maybe it’s a case of trying what works best? We have beaten Man City in a more meaningful game using similar tactics and we beat Liverpool three times using it too. Only a fool would try to fix what’s working.
I’m with Arteta. We were unlucky today. 2 missed sitters and denied a penalty. Games are decided by such fine margins.
What else as he tried to chose which works best? His top scorer has season has had 6 shorts in 5 full games. What does that tell you?
Just to clarify. This is post match analysis. Just in case you think it a “I am not with Arteta “ rhetorics.
Oh my.
Oh my.
We just didn't have anything going for us today other than Gabriel and Saka.
Arteta's put himself in a corner with the summer, as William's good performances come mostly out of the right wing. He has played as an AM to some success, and IIRC left wing is his worse position.
Or was, as a false 9 is obviously not really his thing. He pulled a Pep today and overthought the selection.
We have defensive structure now, at least. Needs to start tweeking the attack soon enough, though and that will have to go through transitioning to 3 midfielders at some point.
Arteta really played our 20 League goals a season striker out wide for Willian at CF
Don't like false 9s. Don't like false player, prefer ones honest about what they're doing. Don't like to be tricked!
@HairSprayGooners We will get battered with that lineup. No balance to the team there.
Only chance to make it work is if you use Xhaka and Partey as a double pivot.
I'd like you to say why you think that side has no balanced?
For starters, Luiz isn’t good in a back 4. Then you make it look like you’re using Ceballos and Partey as two #10’s or two #8’s. If it’s the latter you may as well name all three midfielders on the same row. Thirdly, that front three is light weight. Who’s going to help transition? Who’s going to hold the ball up?
You need some strength in there.