PL: Wolves v Arsenal | April 24, 2019 | KO: 19:45 BST

[Rimaal]

 

[krackpot]

nothing unexpected. time to move on.

 

[NZgunner]

Disappointing, but given the way we've played in the last few weeks hardly surprising - I expect us to fold against Leicester as well.

Hard to pin that first half performance down - the team was pretty much the strongest that could have been picked, but it just didn't work. Leno wasn't at his best for 2 of the goals, but you can't rely on your keeper to keep bailing you out. Xhaka had 3 assists, 2 for them, one for us, and Torreira wasn't a coherent part of the defensive screen.

It looked obvious that after half time we were content to keep it at 3-0, there wasn't any great urgency or desire from Emery or the players.

If they weren't already, almost all the eggs are in the Europa League basket - the only saving grace in the league is that Chelsea and Utd have to play each other, but I can't see us winning all our remaining games. Contrast how the top two have been consistently winning and how the next four have been looking decidedly average - there's a much bigger gulf between City/Liverpool and us than there is between us and the next tier down.

Today was probably a demonstration of everything that is wrong with the current squad. On paper we've good enough good defenders, but our defence has been appalling all season - we need an organiser. The midfield doesn't work with either the defence or going forward. Attacking midfield options are almost non-existent

We need world class players in defense and midfield, but unfortunately we will be hamstrung for another couple of seasons with Özil's massive wage bill - just as well Emery is a Europa League specialist.

 

[Flying Okapis]

I think something happened to the scouting department at around the same time, up until then we’d been hitting gold almost every window for years.

Fàbregas and Clichy then RVP, Eboué and Flamini then Hleb, Walcott, Song, Adebayor and Diaby then Diarra and Sagna then Ramsey and Nasri then who?

How many young players that we’ve signed post 2010 have actually been successes? Oxlade-Chamberlain maybe? Holding has shown promise I guess.

Every other young player has completely flopped. One of the only successes is Gnabry who we sold when his value was at rock bottom.

I think a lot of the change has came from technology, I'm not going to pretend to know the ins and outs of how a scouting operation works but I imagine pre 2010 our success was having contacts in France, Spain etc, any young kid coming through we would be tipped off early, get a flight out and move quick.

These days I reckon the tip offs are to the highest paying contact, compilation videos are forwarded all the time, progress reports etc and there is 'scouts' looking at any potential talent in the world.

There is just so much profit to be made and money to be saved in signing up talent to academies instead of buying. Hudson-Odoi for example; hardly played but you've seen the figures quoted.

Look at Chelsea in how they went about signing young talent from all over and moving them on.

The competition is fierce these days, everyone seems to be looking for the next profitable player to add to the academy.

Brentford - shut down their own academy as all the local talent was ending up signing in Manchester etc.

Barcelona have English kids in their academy, they moved Messi into their academy at a really young age.

Young talent just seems a lot harder to source these days as everyone is looking to get in there first.

The talent that has featured in league games etc is costing upwards of 30mil, Dembele, Mbappe, if a young player now has first team experience the price is 30mil minimum for most.

I really think something needs to be dome with the game and youth, Money is controlling too much, too many clubs are hoovering up any sign of potential and starving the lesser clubs.

Saying all that I think there is also problems with our coaching methods, our young players don't seem to progress past a point, a lot of them in my opinion get to the level of 'fringe' player but cannot reach the level to be a first team regular. We here a lot about the prospects coming through then when they kind of get there they just seem to stall?

Sorry for the long post!

 

[Jasard]

At least Im not angry this time. Just bored and fed up.

 

[TornadoTed]

I have watched a lot of Wolves games over the last couple of seasons, nearly as many as Arsenal games as my family are from Wolverhampton and all fans.

They are almost the exact opposite of Arsenal, they are organised at the back, get into shape quickly and very direct. Not direct as in longball/hoofball but direct in get it to your most dangerous players as soon as possible. Even to the point that last season Saiss who is left footed played on the right of the midfield 2 and Neves who is right footed played on the left. The reason being that receiving a pass from your midfield partner they could play the ball a fraction of a second quicker out to the wingbacks/ wide forwards than having to wait for the ball to cross their body to their stronger foot.

I am not saying that Wolves are a better side than us, we are 2 places and 15 points better off than them despite them having their best season in 40 years for a reason. However I would love us to try to incorporate some of their strengths into our game, particularly the organisation at the back, solid shape and the ability to mix it up and be more direct when needed.

 

[HollandGooner]

Wolves are bloody tough.

Nah we were just awfull they just counter attacked us thats not something new to us its just dumb tactics even Brigthon did make life difficult for Wolves tbf.

 

[yorch44]

Is not about the players, the whole problem is about the lack of a manager with a proper coaching, with no tactics. They are pro players, it is impossible they are without passing by the outside. Passing and moving to the space or between players, breaking lines instead of passing always to the player next to you. That’s what a team does when they don’t know how the teams plays, a every player does what he thinks it’s better. It’s like they weren’t training every day.

 

[HollandGooner]

Is not about the players, the whole problem is about the lack of a manager with a proper coaching, with no tactics. They are pro players, it is impossible they are without passing by the outside. Passing and moving to the space or between players, breaking lines instead of passing always to the player next to you. That’s what a team does when they don’t know how the teams plays, a every player does what he thinks it’s better. It’s like they weren’t training every day.

Emery have saved the arses of our players enough, they need to show they are up for it or move to another club, I am really fed up with these kind of performances.

This team this core are letting Emery down big time they did the same with Wenger.

 

[freeglennhelder2]

A lot of people have Lacazette as their player of the season, I’m not so sure. For all his quality, he doesn’t score anywhere near enough goals. He has 6 away goals in the league since he joined. Today, his movement was shocking. If his last minute dash in behind didn’t work he was either offside or fresh out of ideas.

On TV it looked like the entire team was static except for Laca who was constantly showing and making runs. The commentators, who had no love for Arsenal as usual, said he was our only decent player.

Short term: We’re running on empty.
Long term: At least 4 of these players need to go.

 

[Flying Okapis]

Emery have saved the arses of our players enough, they need to show they are up for it or move to another club, I am really fed up with these kind of performances.

This team this core are letting Emery down big time they did the same with Wenger.

Agree with a lot of this, the root is set deep in our club and that needs changing, the mentality which has been awful and pretty obvious at this club needs addressing. We've changed manager, its helped somewhat but that pathetic rollover mentality is still there, I thought it was gone with our improvement against the big clubs but its just moved over to our away form.

I literally have no idea how you get rid of this rot in the club, I would think it could start by sacrificing technical ability with pure work horses and then adding to it.

A complete clear out, something is weak and has a pathetic influence in the club that we cant seem to get away from.

 

[Rex Stone]

I think a lot of the change has came from technology, I'm not going to pretend to know the ins and outs of how a scouting operation works but I imagine pre 2010 our success was having contacts in France, Spain etc, any young kid coming through we would be tipped off early, get a flight out and move quick.

These days I reckon the tip offs are to the highest paying contact, compilation videos are forwarded all the time, progress reports etc and there is 'scouts' looking at any potential talent in the world.

There is just so much profit to be made and money to be saved in signing up talent to academies instead of buying. Hudson-Odoi for example; hardly played but you've seen the figures quoted.

Look at Chelsea in how they went about signing young talent from all over and moving them on.

The competition is fierce these days, everyone seems to be looking for the next profitable player to add to the academy.

Brentford - shut down their own academy as all the local talent was ending up signing in Manchester etc.

Barcelona have English kids in their academy, they moved Messi into their academy at a really young age.

Young talent just seems a lot harder to source these days as everyone is looking to get in there first.

The talent that has featured in league games etc is costing upwards of 30mil, Dembele, Mbappe, if a young player now has first team experience the price is 30mil minimum for most.

I really think something needs to be dome with the game and youth, Money is controlling too much, too many clubs are hoovering up any sign of potential and starving the lesser clubs.

Saying all that I think there is also problems with our coaching methods, our young players don't seem to progress past a point, a lot of them in my opinion get to the level of 'fringe' player but cannot reach the level to be a first team regular. We here a lot about the prospects coming through then when they kind of get there they just seem to stall?

Sorry for the long post!

Yeah I understand that top level young talent is very hard to buy. Thing is we never really did that, we specialised in misused players and under the radar players in their early 20s.

The likes of Kante, Mahrez, Doucoure, Coutinho and Tielemans before they moved to the Premier League were the type of players we’d have been all over a decade ago.

 

[Yousif Arsenal]

I have watched a lot of Wolves games over the last couple of seasons, nearly as many as Arsenal games as my family are from Wolverhampton and all fans.

They are almost the exact opposite of Arsenal, they are organised at the back, get into shape quickly and very direct. Not direct as in longball/hoofball but direct in get it to your most dangerous players as soon as possible. Even to the point that last season Saiss who is left footed played on the right of the midfield 2 and Neves who is right footed played on the left. The reason being that receiving a pass from your midfield partner they could play the ball a fraction of a second quicker out to the wingbacks/ wide forwards than having to wait for the ball to cross their body to their stronger foot.

I am not saying that Wolves are a better side than us, we are 2 places and 15 points better off than them despite them having their best season in 40 years for a reason. However I would love us to try to incorporate some of their strengths into our game, particularly the organisation at the back, solid shape and the ability to mix it up and be more direct when needed.

Will make things easier for you thier club got ambition to be better ours are happy where they are. Next season the gap will get closer if we keep doing same s**t

 

[Mark Tobias]

I am not saying that Wolves are a better side than us, we are 2 places and 15 points better off than them despite them having their best season in 40 years for a reason. However I would love us to try to incorporate some of their strengths into our game, particularly the organisation at the back, solid shape and the ability to mix it up and be more direct when needed.

Wolves are currently a better side and they were definitely the better side last night. Great post. I felt the same after the game last night.
The way they ran at us when they had the ball was incredible. I miss watching us instill fear in teams on the break. We're so timid it is embarrassing.

 

[Ashybashy86]

Easy 3-1 win

I like this type of prediction. I’m sure you meant for Wolves

 

[krackpot]

I have watched a lot of Wolves games over the last couple of seasons, nearly as many as Arsenal games as my family are from Wolverhampton and all fans.

They are almost the exact opposite of Arsenal, they are organised at the back, get into shape quickly and very direct. Not direct as in longball/hoofball but direct in get it to your most dangerous players as soon as possible. Even to the point that last season Saiss who is left footed played on the right of the midfield 2 and Neves who is right footed played on the left. The reason being that receiving a pass from your midfield partner they could play the ball a fraction of a second quicker out to the wingbacks/ wide forwards than having to wait for the ball to cross their body to their stronger foot.

I am not saying that Wolves are a better side than us, we are 2 places and 15 points better off than them despite them having their best season in 40 years for a reason. However I would love us to try to incorporate some of their strengths into our game, particularly the organisation at the back, solid shape and the ability to mix it up and be more direct when needed.

comes down to what the manager wants you to do.

Wenger, and now Emery seem to be rigid in how they want to play.

 

[Taylor Gang Gunners]

I know its hard to notice but did you notice if the defense talk to eachothers or someone acting like leader??

Kos was pretty loud, from where I was I could still hear him. Sokratis is the silent strong type I assume. But yeah, there was a lot of pointing and gesticulating from Kos but it fell on deaf ears apparently.

 

[Taylor Gang Gunners]

Lost a lot of respect for you here. No one should park illegally.

And from a Trusted Member too. Can't be having that.

I was running late and almost missed kick off! Gimme a break

“Sacrifices have to be made.” - Wilson Fisk.

 

[Taylor Gang Gunners]

On TV it looked like the entire team was static except for Laca who was constantly showing and making runs. The commentators, who had no love for Arsenal as usual, said he was our only decent player.

Short term: We’re running on empty.
Long term: At least 4 of these players need to go.

The quality of his runs were poor. Short bursts in behind every now and then. Wolves’ back three were comfortable.

He showed a tremendous bit of skill and strength in the first half, skipped around Boly and Coady I think it was, then completely blazed into row Z.

 

[Rex Stone]

The quality of his runs were poor. Short bursts in behind every now and then. Wolves’ back three were comfortable.

He showed a tremendous bit of skill and strength in the first half, skipped around Boly and Coady I think it was, then completely blazed into row Z.

That was right before they scored the second, so frustrating.

Angle was against him, got to be squaring that for Iwobi to get a tap in.