28 Jul 2021 14:06:57
The friendly against Watford is being shown in full today at 3pm on arsenal.com :)
1.) 28 Jul 2021
28 Jul 2021 15:30:44
Thanks SallyðŸ˜.
2.) 28 Jul 2021
28 Jul 2021 15:59:51
For me the game is highlighting that PEA is being played out of position down the centre. Down the left for me and Martinelli down the centre COYG.
3.) 28 Jul 2021
28 Jul 2021 17:51:18
I've been of that opinion for a while now Sussex but left is Saka's territory now.
4.) 28 Jul 2021
28 Jul 2021 18:41:28
Maybe Iceman but when I think of all the good things Saka does they seem to come from the right - for Us and England. I see PEA Martinelli Saka as front three with Pepe and Balogun as cover COYG.
5.) 28 Jul 2021
28 Jul 2021 19:44:03
Funny you say that Sussex as I believe Martinelli will not be first choice and Pepe will be a regular. Also, despise ESR wearing the number 10 he will be used wherever.
6.) 28 Jul 2021
28 Jul 2021 19:50:37
Who is our most consistent reliable performer on the left? In my opinion that's who should play there.
Moving your best performers from thier favoured position to accommodate others is a mistake in my opinion.
{Ed014's Note - more importantly, did you see the calamitous goal we gave away from trying to play out from the back!
Really could have done without seeing it! 🤦â€â™‚ï¸
7.) 28 Jul 2021
28 Jul 2021 20:48:26
PEA can’t play on the left when we have better options. England managers of the past made that mistake and I believe even played Gerard at right back so not to drop him. Pepe, ESR and Saka are in front of him for the left wing. PEA either delivers up front ( are we playing to his strengths or playing slow as from the back, making him play with his back to goal or lobbing balls into the box ) or he’s sold. If you are a business and have 3 great designers but only need 1 but have space for 2 accountants - what idiot sacks his accountant and puts 2 designers in accountant roles. If he’s not delivering up front replace him. If we have better options on the wing - drop him. If he sulks - sell him.
Arteta needs to grow some 🥜 s so we make the right decision for the club and don’t have to sign teenagers so he can man manage them better because they don’t know enough to question his poor tactics and decisions.
I haven’t seen the game and the fact Ed has said we are still p. ing around with the ball at the back is enough to make me not watch that shower of rubbish that I’ve had to put up with from Emery and Arteta while our soft board says - give them more time.
Anyway - I’m right behind Arteta but the guy has to F ing learn and grow a set. We’ve bet the bloody house on an inexperienced manager. That’s a decision that if it goes wrong it’s gross misconduct from the board but if it goes well then GENIUS! I’m genuinely hoping for genius as I love this club despite the crap board and poor manager.
8.) 28 Jul 2021
28 Jul 2021 20:32:50
Playing out from the back is brilliant if your good at it but like you say Ed014 is so often calamitous way to play when your not good at it.
We simply aren't good at it so why not accept this and do things in a way our players can do well.
Arsenes biggest downfall was his refusal to accept that some of his personal ideals simply were not working out time and time again and for the good of the team put aside his personal ideals for methods that worked for the players he had at his disposal.
{Ed014's Note - that’s what worries me, we were horrendous at it last season and looks like we’re doing exactly the same thing again!
9.) 28 Jul 2021
28 Jul 2021 21:00:31
And yet 62 didn`t PEA score tons of goals playing off the left before last season. So not moving him from his favoured/ best position because he scored feck all from the centre last season.
Remember the balls Tierney kept playing for him? Cutting in from left - Very effective. So who is our most consistent and reliable performer down the left because it ain`t Willian, Martinelli barely played and as I stated in my opinion Saka`s best moments are down the right where he kept £73 mill Sancho out the national team, so who?
Also would you keep PEA down the centre when he`s been slaughtered on here for his performances there COYG.
10.) 28 Jul 2021
28 Jul 2021 21:19:16
PEA delivered on the left for two seasons so why not play him there? If he doesn`t deliver drop him simple . I`m not saying play PEA at all costs just not down the middle . Play him in a position he has been excellent in - if he doesn`t try score or add to the team drop him. In racing terms he has form there COYG.
11.) 28 Jul 2021
28 Jul 2021 21:27:35
Also Sy just an observation! When you say in your post Arteta needs to grow a pair, he`s a poor manager, he makes poor decisions and uses poor tactics are you still right behind him? COYG.
12.) 28 Jul 2021
28 Jul 2021 21:29:15
Can’t disagree Sussex but I don’t believe him out wide is great as he’s lazy and can’t cross the ball. I thought that all along and not turning on him. Henry swung out left to score but was still the guy in the middle. I’m happy with that as at the time it meant Pires could play. I wouldn’t have wanted Henry as a left winger. That’s my point.
13.) 28 Jul 2021
28 Jul 2021 21:32:00
That’s what annoys me Ed. That and we still have bloody Leno who is useless at playing from the back. If he wanted to play from the back why sell the better keeper Emi. Wtf.
14.) 28 Jul 2021
28 Jul 2021 21:48:55
I1m looking at it I guess hoping PEA scores the goals this season but can`t see him doing it down the centre. If he`s lazy and continually wastes possession with poor crossing drop him as you say Martinelli Pepe Saka would step up. Not trying to square peg round hole but square peg square hole or bench COYG.
15.) 28 Jul 2021
28 Jul 2021 21:56:08
Why can’t he play the Henry role and exploit holes out wide, inside left or down the middle while actually allowing better wingers to play out wide. If he goes out wide then that should leave space for a David Platt type of run into the box from midfield….
16.) 28 Jul 2021
28 Jul 2021 22:23:26
My point is who's best is that position and all other positions should play in that role Sussex mate.
Tierney is our best LB and personally I want him to play there, yes he can play CB well but LB is his natural and best position so that's where i'd like to see him play and let a CB player CB.
I get your a huge Auba fan mate, but it's all opinions.
17.) 28 Jul 2021
28 Jul 2021 22:50:03
It is all about opinions 62! i'm saying Auba left who you putting there? What is your opinion? COYG.
18.) 28 Jul 2021
28 Jul 2021 23:21:06
Pepe on left with Saka on right or even ESR on left. PEA is not even my 3rd choice
1. Pepe 2. ESR 3.Saka 4. Martinelli 5. PEA.
19.) 28 Jul 2021
28 Jul 2021 23:44:36
My opinion is both Saka and Martinelli offer much more to the team playing there then Pea, if Auba doest score he offers very little else where as both the other 2 can be excellent without scoring.
20.) 28 Jul 2021
28 Jul 2021 23:44:36
My opinion is both Saka and Martinelli offer much more to the team playing there then Pea, if Auba doest score he offers very little else where as both the other 2 can be excellent without scoring.
21.) 28 Jul 2021
28 Jul 2021 23:47:32
Well what can I say but this conversation about PEA needed to be add.
As I said most of last season I think he’s lost so much. The only think keeping him at the club in my OPINION is the new contract handed out when we seemed to be desperate for a talisman.
Out wide he has some pace and may win out in a one to one. But like I said before a good defender will show him down the line where he has no tricks to get back in and will lose the ball or smashed it in hope. So lack a good cross outside the where he can’t pinpoint a teammate.
Centrally he doesn’t hold the ball up well, don’t link the play as well as Laca can and his not a good header if the ball. So will lose out on crosses coming into the box.
So I believe he’s such a liability and it looks dire to me. With MA wanting and insisting on playing out from the back there’s less chance of us playing counterattacking football when he maybe more effective. No surprise we have promoted a player from the youth team yet still looking to buy a young striker in the region of between £40-70m+
If MA was confident the club wouldn’t be sniffing around in the market and apparently now will to half Laca price to get a new striker in. Actions like this will compound the issue for years. Say, for example, we bring Tammy or Lautaro and they’re truly effective where does that leave Balogun development especially in a season without European football?