Mikel Arteta: Defending Champion 🤴

[Red London]

I've actually realised we don't play that defensively or conservative it's just the other team pack out their box and don't let anything through.

We get hit on the counter really easily because we send so many players forward, I mean we see Saliba and Gabriel playing as midfielders and the fullbacks in the opposition box how is that defensive?

We’ve been seeing really clear data all season which lends to this.

As of a few weeks ago, we had the highest average defensive line in the league + playing against the deepest average defensive lines in the league.

It’s a really simple and clear data point that should have been discussed by the likes of Sky Sports but for obvious reasons, is not.

 

[bakaboo]

I just realised that how can a team be called defensive when they got possession of the ball most of the game and Saliba is in the opposition half putting balls in for the forward and Timber is in the box.

If we wanted to play defensively the other team wouldn't have a chance on the counter but almost every game you see moments where we get hit on the counter pretty easily because so many players are committed forward. Luckily Gabriel, Saliba, Zubimendi and Rice are great at recovery runs.

Hopefully Arteta will adjust his tactics accordingly in CL from now onwards. Previously we got destroyed when good team like Munich/PSG managed to break the press and surged forward.

 

[GDeep™]

Let’s go Micky, Wembley will be red and white tomorrow evening when you pick up that trophy.

 

[viktor]

 

[grange]

Let’s go Micky, Wembley will be red and white tomorrow evening when you pick up that trophy.

Poor form to hedge like this

 

[ArsenesCoatMaker]

100% agree with Henry. We are playing ugly football, its very similar to Mourinho like I mentioned previously but we just need to win at all costs and get over the line. The style doesn't matter at all.

It's clear we are wasting a lot of time before corners and if we are champions we would be remembered as the first set piece champions. But who cares?

 

[Clrnc]

Tbf if you watched the video, Henry and co was analysing and the % of our goals from set piece vs total goals is the highest in history.

 

[OnlyOne]

Go get that trophy, King.

 

[Gooner Zig]

We’ve been seeing really clear data all season which lends to this.

As of a few weeks ago, we had the highest average defensive line in the league + playing against the deepest average defensive lines in the league.

It’s a really simple and clear data point that should have been discussed by the likes of Sky Sports but for obvious reasons, is not.

The counter argument is that we move the ball too slowly (at times) and can be very risk averse in accessing the center which is why teams find it easy to just sit back because our ponderous play allows them to.

As usual, the truth is always in the middle - Arsenal can and should be a bit more braver with their ball movement while the majority of teams we play in the PL have absolutely no interest in playing against us.

 

[Gooner Zig]

Tbf if you watched the video, Henry and co was analysing and the % of our goals from set piece vs total goals is the highest in history.

IMO what does it matter ? Liverpool had Salah while City have Haaland. Our super power is the set piece.

 

[Clrnc]

IMO what does it matter ? Liverpool had Salah while City have Haaland. Our super power is the set piece.

I didn't say it matter, I said in my initial post it doesn't matter at all. We just need to get over the line.

 

[Gooner Zig]

I didn't say it matter, I said in my initial post it doesn't matter at all. We just need to get over the line.

Ya wasn't aimed at you more the narrative with pundits. It's our competition advantage like they have Haaland and Salah.

 

[wirey279]

Anyone thinking today might make take more risks is massively mistaken....he will double down in the negative tactics in hope of limping over line in league

 

[Vinci]

If we don't win the PL or CL, he simply has to go.

Can't let him keep wasting the best squad we've had in 20 years.

 

[boonthegoon]

Should have started raya and Calafiori (especially when starting trossard in front)

Very disappointed.

 

[UkrArsenal]

 

[Tomb Bomadil]

Should have changed the team earlier and with the changes from Martinelli and Jesus we lost balance.

 

[MikelHadADream]

Arteta season 7

 

[GDeep™]

Car crash evening. Stoke tactics didn’t work.

 

[Bloodbather]

This one is squarely on him. Watched them take control and dominate the second half like a spectator.

Why would you stick with Hincapié on a yellow while Cala is on the bench? Why persist with a Trossard doing nothing while having a counter threat like Martinelli on the bench? Why persist with the two big men set up when it's clear that it's not working? Where is Eze?

If he wins the title and other trophies, he'll do that in spite of himself. His risk aversion gets in his own way. I'm sick of him "respecting" sides like City and Liverpool when they're not even that good.