Mikel Arteta: Top Drawer

[HattoriHanzo]

It always comes back to Arteta and making zero subs until the 90th minute in the biggest games of our season.

I don't think that introducing 18 year old kid 10-15 minutes earlier would make difference.

 

[Trilly]

I wanna see his fans spin this. Losing at home makes first attack sub in stoppage time. Truly being exposed for his inability to coach a coherent attacking team

Still created 2-3 big chances (yes I know PSG created more).

He deserves criticism for building our front line but he also deserves better attackers tbh.

It’s time to go if the attacking problems persist with better attackers but I struggle to look past players like Nelli, Kai and now Ødegaard. They just aren’t good enough.

 

[RunTheTrap]

Would be nice if the gaffer was more proactive and inventive when it comes to fixing long-term problems. PSG aren't even a physical side, and they successfully managed to mid-block us to oblivion. It's an issue that has plagued us for three years, and Arteta's solution is to buy more defenders.

 

[lufere7]

Got outsmarted a bit but I tend to agree that the bigger problem was in the squad building outside the game (his fault). MLS in midfield could've been better but it would've meant a half fit White against Kvaradona, could've been a disaster with how much Timber struggled. Any starting eleven meant shifting at least 2 players around which is not what you want to see on a CL semi.

Otherwise my main criticism this game regarding subs is not putting Nwaneri on for Ode much much earlier, Arteta does seem to be developing an Ode-sized blindspot.

 

[HattoriHanzo]

Still created 2-3 big chances (yes I know PSG created more).

He deserves serious criticism for our front line but he also deserves better attackers tbh.

It’s time to go if the attacking problems persist with better attackers but I struggle to look past players like Nelli, Kai and now Ødegaard. They just aren’t good enough.

They aren't good enough for this level, UCL semi.
For that level you need better attacking players.

 

[RunTheTrap]

Got outsmarted a bit but I tend to agree that the bigger problem was in the squad building outside the game (his fault). MLS in midfield could've been better but it would've meant a half fit White against Kvaradona, could've been a disaster with how much Timber struggled. Any starting eleven meant shifting at least 2 players around which is not what you want to see on a CL semi.

Otherwise my main criticism this game regarding subs is not putting Nwaneri on for Ode much much earlier, Arteta does seem to be developing an Ode-sized blindspot.

Yes, White against Kvara was always going to be a risk, but it was a risk worth taking. We might have conceded one or two more goals, but PSG could not handle the physicality in the middle of the park. Rice and MLS set up chances just by running through the middle.

 

[Blood on the Tracks]

Honestly I'd have had Ødegaard off after 65 for Ethan.

It's asking a lot of the kid but he couldn't have been any poorer than Ødegaard really.

We need to come out more proactively second leg also. Can't hand them momentum like we did tonight.

 

[Bloodbather]

If I wanted to nitpick I’d say that we had 2 weeks and a PL game to prepare MLS for the midfield in this game.

The stage was set for it but yet again we prioritised defence over a potential game breaker in midfield.

Nah, it's a very legitimate point, not nitpicking.

 

[Rasmi]

Still created 2-3 big chances (yes I know PSG created more).

He deserves serious criticism for our front line but he also deserves better attackers tbh.

It’s time to go if the attacking problems persist with better attackers but I struggle to look past players like Nelli, Kai and now Ødegaard. They just aren’t good enough.

Put it this way. He has had a lot of say in how to shape the squad. More than most managers. We will see in the summer what we do in terms of attacking players and if we focus on improving the technical side of the team

I don’t see it happening and I see Berta just like Edu get the blame. This is who he is. We will always be short in attack with him…always

 

[Gooner Zig]

Nwaneri should have come on at 70 minutes. Criminal to only give him ~5 or so minutes at the death.

 

[Yousif Arsenal]

Took us as far as he could with the players available in this year CL. We still in it but you have to be realistic PSG subbing Emery Ramos and Barcola they still have Lee on bench as well. But Ethan should like get 15 minutes I know he young and no experience but Ødegaard wasn't performing well

But he should realize that football is not all about duels have more flair players please

 

[Riou]

If I wanted to nitpick I’d say that we had 2 weeks and a PL game to prepare MLS for the midfield in this game.

The stage was set for it but yet again we prioritised defence over a potential game breaker in midfield.

Albert "With Partey banned maybe we can play the next few games with Skelly in the middle, his mix of technical and physical skills could be a game changer v PSG?"

Arteta "No...I will play Sterling for an hour for no reason v Palace though for sh1ts and giggles!"

Albert *sigh* "Alright, I will go and stick the air pods back in and not do anything..."

 

[lufere7]

Yes, White against Kvara was always going to be a risk, but it was a risk worth taking. We might have conceded one or two more goals, but PSG could not handle the physicality in the middle of the park. Rice and MLS set up chances just by running through the middle.

That's the choice I would've taken too but I struggle to make big statements like that for hypothetical scenarios. Just as likely we end up dominating the midfield but our toothless attack does nothing with it and we get cooked on the counter anyways.

 

[GoonerJay24]

If I wanted to nitpick I’d say that we had 2 weeks and a PL game to prepare MLS for the midfield in this game.

The stage was set for it but yet again we prioritised defence over a potential game breaker in midfield.

So next week you would play Partey- MLS-Ødegaard midfield?

Interesting. MLS certainly has attributes for the cm role

 

[Blood on the Tracks]

They said on commentary that White wasn't fit enough to start the game

Timber struggled at times, a half fit White starting would have had a hard time too.
There would have been both FB's struggling.

MLS was fantastic at LB too.

 

[Jasinho]

I don't think that introducing 18 year old kid 10-15 minutes earlier would make difference.

Ødegaard was actively a detriment to the team. Did you see that lovely skill by him at the edge of the box gifting the ball straight back to psg to nearly create a 1on1?

Nwaneri or even Zinchenko can't have been any worse than he was today.

 

[GDeep™]

Felt he let the game ride out, should’ve really brought on Nwaneri with 20 minutes to go. Works or not is a different matter.

Being 1 down and going away is going to be pretty tough.

 

[Rasmi]

Ødegaard was actively a detriment to the team. Did you see that lovely skill by him at the edge of the box gifting the ball straight back to psg to nearly create a 1on1?

Nwaneri or even Zinchenko can't have been any worse than he was today.

Yeah it was not working and making a sub was a must. You can always make an argument saying there’s no guarantee the sub would have worked. But then what’s the point of having attacking players on the bench if you don’t think they can effect a game. They were changing their attackers despite winning

 

[Yousif Arsenal]

They said on commentary that White wasn't fit enough to start the game

Timber struggled at times, a half fit White starting would have had a hard time too.
There would have been both FB's struggling.

MLS was fantastic at LB too.

Most our squad are in thier last legs look how sharp PSG were and how fatigue we were it make difference the club made big errors this season it shouldn't happen again if you want to win then get quality if you don't then just tell us straight to the face you can't give your manager minimum and tell him to win CL yes injures played big part but having 4 youngsters on bench and no player that can make difference in CL semi final is unacceptable.

He also responsible need to change his mindest we need bigger squad

 

[Blood on the Tracks]

I get why Arteta was fairly conservative and kind of took the 1-0. It's only half time.

But for me you bring Ethan on with 25 to go and if you get the equaliser then momentum changes and you go into the second leg kind of feeling like you're ahead, rather than drawing, from a psychological perspective.