Country: South Africa
Player:Nketiah
Did City not lose 4 points to them last season?Not a swashbuckling destruction job but a solid win away at a tricky ground. Started very well, still concerned with how we played after going 1 - 0 up, players seemed to lose their composure as if unsure whether or not to go for the kill or protect the lead. After half time we largely ceded territory and had a tendency to park all 11 men behind the ball, at one point Jesus was on the edge of our penalty area with the rest of our players camped in or around our box. If it works it's effective but it very easily could not have done today. It's obviously the manager instructing them to play this way.
Looked more a team pushing for a 4th spot than pushing the "big two" in City/Liverpool. Most fans will be happy with that but I see no reason why we can't strive for something more than 4th, with the most investment in Europe and the elite reinforcements we've had come in. Even that Super Mik Arteta song sort of implies the only goal is CL/4th.
Perhaps the team/manager just wanted to grind out the first win which is understandable, our style of play will definitely improve in the coming games.
Are you winding me up? That stat tells you little to nothing as two managers competed and won major competitions domestically and in Europe. Arteta has one FA cup when Auba was unconscious. What have Klopp and Pep added to the trophy case which doesn’t get counted in this stat?
Which is why I said it's a solid win away at a tricky ground City also had 93 points. Just in my view if a City/Liverpool go 1 - 0 up against them, or midtable sides in general, they go for the kill rather than look to defend the 1 - 0 lead. We have a tendency to defend the lead first. More of a pushing for a top 4 mindset than a elite one, and has cost us in previous seasons.Did City not lose 4 points to them last season?
Ah I see what youre saying.Which is why I said it's a solid win away at a tricky ground City also had 93 points. Just in my view if a City/Liverpool go 1 - 0 up against them, or midtable sides in general, they go for the kill rather than look to defend the 1 - 0 lead. We have a tendency to defend the lead first. More of a pushing for a top 4 mindset than a elite one, and has cost us in previous seasons.
Mikel Arteta has us top of the league!First manager in the Prem to win a game this season, elite stuff from El Boss!
This retreating into our own half stuff is not by design. It’s what people said when we went 1-0 up to Everton away last season yet watch the half time team talk on all or nothing, Arteta was angry and wanted us to attack.
It’s the opposition forcing us back.
In these circumstances away to Palace with their tough atmosphere and compact pitch (and considering the level they played at with a fully fit squad) it’s not possible to dominate them for the majority of the game.No it not, it’s us retreating back and allowing the opposition back into the game.
The reason we were so dominant in the first 30 minutes was because we gave little to no time to Andersen and Eze to cross the ball into the spaces behind White and Zinchenko, where Zaha and Ayew were. That came from us pressing from the front and taking out their number one game plan.
The longer we force teams back with our pressing and positional play, the longer they stay pinned back in their own half. That’s what we should be doing for 60-75 minutes at least against any opposition.
White is going to get game time. He was very good last night at RB. Competition and versatility are good things. There is no need to create this Saliba vs White narrative.Good win Mikel, but you've still got to address a few things:
What are you going to do with White if Saliba's fit, he's no better than Chambers at right back. When Tomi's fit, play him.
Stop this sitting back at 1-0, it's not healthy. We did it a lot last season and started the same.
Tell Ramsdale once and for all to stop messing about with his feet and clear the ball quicker.
Tierney is better going forward than Zinchenko, you've got a dilemma there.
Nah, watch this excellent tactical analysis. Arsenal dropping deeper caused the problem. It was the same in numerous games last year. Arteta needs to address this.White is going to get game time. He was very good last night at RB. Competition and versatility are good things. There is no need to create this Saliba vs White narrative.
We didn’t sit back at 1-0 … the game changed because Palace put 4 up top! When a team does that you have to cover it. We just didn’t have the midfield to capitalise on the space. Combination of personnel and below par performances in the centre of the pitch.
Ramsdale is going to keep playing out from the back… it’s the right thing to do and it will lead to mistakes from time to time, but the pay off is better.
Again there is no dilemma with Tierney, just healthy competition.