Match reaction. Newcastle v Arsenal 15/09/18

[Globalgunner]

Another 5 mins and it would have been deja vu all over again

[SMatthews]

Masterclass. On we roll.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Delighted to be wrong about them nicking a point. Up the arse!

[Master Splinter]

Picking up points while being generally crap is a positive I suppose, although the second half performance was mostly solid.

Sokratis had a good game mopping up for those around him.

Torreira very promising again.

Xhaka didn't make a colossal error in a game for once and contributed to both goals.

The lack of ruthlessness from both Aubameyang and Lacazette could become a more serious issue down the line, but Laca's performance was decent. Maybe give them both some starts in the cup games to build the relationship and confidence with some easy +1s.

[GP]

Easy

[Letters]

Another 5 mins and it would have been deja vu all over again

Nah.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

The second half was remarkably easy but for the final 5 minutes. It's the kind of cock up we've made before so was happy to not see it unfold this time.

[Letters]

The Newcastle goal was just a good goal. It happens. There were a couple of minutes after it but I thought we controlled possession well during it, I didn’t feel we panicked and we never looked like conceding again.

[Xhaka Can’t]

We’re killing it against the teams in the relegation zone.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

It was obvious they switched off. When you're that in control of a half you shouldn't be making the game a contest again by switching off with 5 minutes to go.

[Ernesto]

Just come back from the game.

The Geordies are good hearted, tbf.

Anyway, a win's a win. Hopefully we keep going and build up a head of steam ahead of the Liverpool game in a few weeks time

[Letters]

It was obvious they switched off. When you're that in control of a half you shouldn't be making the game a contest again by switching off with 5 minutes to go.

I don’t agree with this. The Newcastle goal was just a good goal, not because of any sloppiness on our part, although the marking in the box could have been better.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Fine, each to their own.

[Marc Overmars]

All par for the course so far.

Nice to pick up 2 away wins on the bounce though. :faint:

[Chippy]

Just come back from the game.

The Geordies are good hearted, tbf.

Anyway, a win's a win. Hopefully we keep going and build up a head of steam ahead of the Liverpool game in a few weeks time

Thats three wins in a row. We should all be happy about that.
Emery, unlike Wumger, does not wait until the 89th minute to try and change things on the pitch. That is a big positive. COYG!

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

I'm not a big fan of habitual half time substitutions and despite how the game played out after.....didn't think Guendouzi was especially bad.

[Penguin]

I don’t agree with this. The Newcastle goal was just a good goal, not because of any sloppiness on our part, although the marking in the box could have been better.

It was a good cross but Newcastle had two men free on the far post and got a free header. Clarke was free because Mustafi decided to mark the same player Sokratis had covered, and the other one was free because Bellerin couldn't be bothered to defend.

There was even a warning a couple of minutes before when they got a free header again on the far post because Mustafi misjudged the flight of the cross. The guy can't defend aerial balls.

Honestly the mistakes we're making are some of the first things they teach school kids and teenagers. Professional international footballers should not be making them.


I'm not a big fan of habitual half time substitutions and despite how the game played out after.....didn't think Guendouzi was especially bad.
Ideally we want to get the starting XI and tactics right so we don't rely on early subs, but I'll take half time subs to Wenger's way of leaving it as it is and hoping for the best. I didn't watch the game but I heard that Torreira made a big difference when he came on so it was a good decision.

[Marc Overmars]

I’d consider giving Guendouzi a breather and letting Torreira start a few games now.

[Özim]

First half e looked very uncomfortable, Cech and Mustafi again showed the passing game is a struggle for them, not sure why we still persist with them to be honest. 2nd half was better though, Torreira makes a big difference and Lacazette again performed very well, our best forward at the moment.

I think rather than sticking to the same players every game, Emery needs to explore other options some players just don't fit in and aren't good enough. Still think Leno should get a shot to be honest to see what he can do, otherwise I just don't see what the point of signing him was. Mustafi should be out as well and we should give one of the young CBs a go. Still not convinced with the pot shot specialist, poor in the 1st half, better in the 2nd and scored but IMO just not good enough.

Happy to see Lacazette and Aubameyang, but the latter hasn't got going this season yet.

[Mac76]

I’d consider giving Guendouzi a breather and letting Torreira start a few games now.

Yeah after yesterday i'm willing to consider Torreira (a must to start) but with Xhaka, with Granit having to be less defensive as that's the worst part of his game, and maybe give Guendouzi cup games

And would atill like to see mavropanos or holding come in for mustafi

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

The half time substitutions are fine, but feeling the need to bring Torreira on at half time in every game is just screaming that he should be starting. So just cut to the chase and start him. Player's coming off at half time is a little humiliating and confidence denting for them. Because it is at half time, we don't get to see the theatrics of them being annoyed at being hooked, but that doesn't mean they are not. Every player wants a chance to play better after half time.

Not especially bothered who is sacrificed for Torreira starting, as long as he starts. Xhaka had a good game overall but I'd have no problem if Emery starts Torreira and Ramsey in midfield or Torreira and Guendouzi. I thought Ramsey was pretty poor actually.

Didn't think much of our forwards yesterday neither but I think the formation isn't best suited to the players and circumstances.

The fact Leno is sitting on the bench.....a huge chunk of a very tight summer budget is why you must never remove or sever the link between the manager and the recruitment of players. Not exactly the most harmonious team planning.

[dazthegooner]

Think we signed Leno because he was available and the cost of keepers has been rising rapidly so who knows what he would cost next season.

[Özim]

Think we signed Leno because he was available and the cost of keepers has been rising rapidly so who knows what he would cost next season.

Thing is Kepa and Alisson didn't sign till much later, so we didn't know the cost of keepers was going to rocket.

It's pretty unheard of for a club to spend that kind of money on a keeper and not make him number 1 to be honest, seems to me Blink may be right and that Emery didn't sign him, on top of that Cech has made a number of basic errors this season (as well as some good saves of course) and he still hasn't had a game.

[Marc Overmars]

At least we should see Leno a couple of times over the next week or so. Even if it is only against that trash in the Europa and then Brentford in the cup.

[Power n Glory]

The half time substitutions are fine, but feeling the need to bring Torreira on at half time in every game is just screaming that he should be starting. So just cut to the chase and start him. Player's coming off at half time is a little humiliating and confidence denting for them. Because it is at half time, we don't get to see the theatrics of them being annoyed at being hooked, but that doesn't mean they are not. Every player wants a chance to play better after half time.

Not especially bothered who is sacrificed for Torreira starting, as long as he starts. Xhaka had a good game overall but I'd have no problem if Emery starts Torreira and Ramsey in midfield or Torreira and Guendouzi. I thought Ramsey was pretty poor actually.

Didn't think much of our forwards yesterday neither but I think the formation isn't best suited to the players and circumstances.

The fact Leno is sitting on the bench.....a huge chunk of a very tight summer budget is why you must never remove or sever the link between the manager and the recruitment of players. Not exactly the most harmonious team planning.

Hallmarks of Wengerism and I’m not impressed with how Emery keeps on picking the same underperforming players. I get that the players need time to click but good performances should be rewarded, poor performances punished and I’m not seeing that at all. We still don’t press teams with as much urgency as we should, still gaping holes in certain areas of the pitch that leave us exposed but I’ve yet to see Emery really shake things up with this team. Torriera should have started this week if fit enough to sit on the bench.

[Özim]

Got to say what Emery has brought is hardly revolutionnary, I know it's early days but I was hoping for a more obvious change in the way we're trying to play, likewise with the players, the former managers players seem to be again getting free passes into the team, very little has changed.

Liverpool for me are the blueprint, pressing football with really purposeful play, all achieved in under 3 seasons which is amazing, I really don't want the same old stuff as the previous manager and his team selections thus far have been a little concerning for me, kinda proving that if you don't perform you will still start the next game which really isn't the way to motivate player to perform IMO.

We've picked up a few results since the 2 defeats, but we haven't really played particularly well and to be honest those are all games we should be winning anyway.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Hallmarks of Wengerism and I’m not impressed with how Emery keeps on picking the same underperforming players. I get that the players need time to click but good performances should be rewarded, poor performances punished and I’m not seeing that at all. We still don’t press teams with as much urgency as we should, still gaping holes in certain areas of the pitch that leave us exposed but I’ve yet to see Emery really shake things up with this team. Torriera should have started this week if fit enough to sit on the bench.

Unless we start playing Ramsey in midfield I don't really see the purpose of having him at the club and so I am becoming more indifferent to him. I'm absolutely baffled by the pressing. I've seen very little of it in the last 3 games particularly and really expected more in this regard. We obviously have the distance covered stat in our favour but I don't think the way we have pressed is actually especially better than last season.

I didn't expect us to beat Newcastle so I'm glad we did but I think we have a scenario where we are getting the best out of very few members of the first team....and that can't be a good thing. Very disappointed we haven't seen more of Iwobi too.....to the point of him not even making the bench at times.

[Power n Glory]

Unless we start playing Ramsey in midfield I don't really see the purpose of having him at the club and so I am becoming more indifferent to him. I'm absolutely baffled by the pressing. I've seen very little of it in the last 3 games particularly and really expected more in this regard. We obviously have the distance covered stat in our favour but I don't think the way we have pressed is actually especially better than last season.

I didn't expect us to beat Newcastle so I'm glad we did but I think we have a scenario where we are getting the best out of very few members of the first team....and that can't be a good thing. Very disappointed we haven't seen more of Iwobi too.....to the point of him not even making the bench at times.

I’m hoping we some really good performances in the UEFA Cup to force Emery to make a tough call. So far, he’s keeping it safe, benching players that don’t deserve to be benched and trying to accommodate weak players in the team because of their seniority.

Agree on Ramsey. Mkhitaryan or Iwobi can play there. Or move either of those players to the wing to give Bellerin more support and get Ozil off the wing. That’s going to be an area that gets targeted.

Still early days but it’s a concern.

[Marc Overmars]

At least the fact he's been hooking the same players suggests he's aware of the areas in the team that need strengthening. A mate of mine thinks he's giving the tried and tested players enough rope to hang themselves with before enforcing his changes.

Ultimately he knows this season is a bit of a free hit so he has enough time to take a good look at everyone and still probably have enough to make a crack at 4th.

[WMUG]

A mate of mine thinks he's giving the tried and tested players enough rope to hang themselves with before enforcing his changes.


There's something in that.

[Power n Glory]

I doubt it. Is he waiting for us to lose again to pull the trigger? Is that a good idea? Being able to spot the problem is one thing but we really needed someone to command authority and not accept bullshit performances from anyone. Based on the performance Torreira had before the International break, he should have started this weekend.

Iwobi has been frozen out of the team despite a solid performance. In just 2 games he has a goal and assist but he's dropped completely from the team.

Mkhitaryan has a goal and assist yet he's been benched.

Ramsey hasn't scored a goal or assist in 5 appearances. Ozil only has that one lucky goal he scored over the weekend. I don't see any fairness in the team selection at the moment.

[Özim]

At least the fact he's been hooking the same players suggests he's aware of the areas in the team that need strengthening. A mate of mine thinks he's giving the tried and tested players enough rope to hang themselves with before enforcing his changes.

Ultimately he knows this season is a bit of a free hit so he has enough time to take a good look at everyone and still probably have enough to make a crack at 4th.

Why does he need to though, he's the manager he picks the team, if he doesn't think a player is good enough then he can just not play them, I don't see the logic in letting players mess up so he has a reason to get rid, if he doesn't rate them then he's entitled to drop them and never play them again.

I don't reckon we'll get 4th personally, reckon 6th is probably where we'll end up behind Man City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Spurs and Man U, we just haven't strenghtened enough to get 4th.

As mentioned though, right now all looks a bit too familiar to the previous managers team and play, thought PSG played good football when he was there, however it turns out that Neymar was the boss there and not him so hard to tell how much of that was Emery.

I'm hoping we see something a bit different in the next few months and see certain players dropped and eventually sold (or released if we can't sell), though I can't help but worry that they won't when I see his starting lineups.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

I think there could be something to it....but honestly, I just think he actually rates Xhaka and a few others.

If he is giving them enough rope to hang themselves, then he should be careful they don't use that rope to hang him with rather than themselves. Even if this season is a free hit, he has his reputation to restore (even if unjustified and knowing PSG are a basket case). He will also know that he will not earn himself much goodwill for seasons to come if we neither finish top 4 nor win the Europa league and come anywhere near any of the cups.

[Marc Overmars]

We’ve won 3 in a row now, something I’m not sure we even managed to do last season. It’s not been particularly convincing but we have responded to those opening 2 defeats. There are plenty of sterner tests to come but if he can manage to get results while he’s finding his best team then that is a small crumb of encouragement.

I want to see certain changes as well but I accept that those are not easy decisions to make when the team is winning.

[Özim]

I want to see certain changes as well but I accept that those are not easy decisions to make when the team is winning.

Granted, but he really didn't make those changes when we were losing either.

[selassie]

I doubt it. Is he waiting for us to lose again to pull the trigger? Is that a good idea? Being able to spot the problem is one thing but we really needed someone to command authority and not accept bullshit performances from anyone. Based on the performance Torreira had before the International break, he should have started this weekend.

Iwobi has been frozen out of the team despite a solid performance. In just 2 games he has a goal and assist but he's dropped completely from the team.

Mkhitaryan has a goal and assist yet he's been benched.

Ramsey hasn't scored a goal or assist in 5 appearances. Ozil only has that one lucky goal he scored over the weekend. I don't see any fairness in the team selection at the moment.

I read that Iwobi is injured, I also read that Emery really likes him so I think he will get regular game time when he is fit.

I do think dropping Mkhi is weird, but then you could argue he has made way for Laca who has arguably been our best player this season.

I totally agree re: Ramsey & Ozil, both are being picked on reputation only IMO.

Im still sitting on the fence with Emery, one thing I do like about him is that he is proactive but he has made some very questionable decisions with team selection in every game so far.

[Power n Glory]

I read that Iwobi is injured, I also read that Emery really likes him so I think he will get regular game time when he is fit.

I do think dropping Mkhi is weird, but then you could argue he has made way for Laca who has arguably been our best player this season.

I totally agree re: Ramsey & Ozil, both are being picked on reputation only IMO.

Im still sitting on the fence with Emery, one thing I do like about him is that he is proactive but he has made some very questionable decisions with team selection in every game so far.

Is he proactive if he’s waiting on a bad result to drop certain players? That seems reactive. Same goes for half time subs. That’s more of a reaction after a slow start and it’s telling that we’re winning games with goals in the 2nd half rather than a quick start and killing games early. We have a good vibe around the camp at the moment and my guess is that everyone is enthusiastic because of the changes they see. I’d argue that is also helping us to get good results because this team is battling it out to win and prove a point. I don’t think we should wait to be guy punched before changing things around. Set the standard high early on, drop certain players and cultivate an atmosphere that suggest the manager will change things around if you’re not playing up to the standard required regardless of the results.

The Mkhi decision is weird. The problem. It's probably the result of playing Lacazette but this is the sort of thing that used to annoy me about Wenger. As a result of not wanting to ruffle the feathers, we've shifted Aubameyang and Ozil into wide position with Ramsey playing as a 10. I'm not convinced about Ozil playing wide because he always drifts into the middle which leaves the right exposed. I noticed Guendouzi was covering the the right side more during the game. I'm all for such adjustments if it gets the best out of key players but at the moment it's not getting anything out of any of them.

[Özim]

To be honest for me Ramsey should be dropped, I'd give him an ultimatum and ask him if he's going to sign (and if so give him a deadline, though we should have done that before the transfer deadline) and if he isn't not play him, we need to build a team with players who will still be here next season, not put someone in the shop window and keep them fit.

IMO he's walking away for free next summer, so I'd just let him play in the reserves.

[Globalgunner]

Ramsey is not needed in this team. He is occupying a slot that Oil.should fill .and depriving the team of theoption to use Mikhi out wide. He needs to be dropped and sold in December. A wide player would.also.be nice. Xhaka cam also play as AM. Given that he is frankly not a DM. I can't understand Emery' s fascination with Ramsey

[fakeyank]

Ramsey is a HUGE fraud. He wouldnt even get into my Arsenal B team bench.

[selassie]

Ramsey is not needed in this team. He is occupying a slot that Oil.should fill .and depriving the team of theoption to use Mikhi out wide. He needs to be dropped and sold in December. A wide player would.also.be nice. Xhaka cam also play as AM. Given that he is frankly not a DM. I can't understand Emery' s fascination with Ramsey

Yep, totally agree.

[Power n Glory]

Ramsey will start tomorrow. Xhaka will start tomorrow. The team will remain the same.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

100%.

[Power n Glory]

How were Mkhitaryan and Iwobi, Blink? I only saw the highlights and some post match comments.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

I was disappointed with Mhki but then he got into the game a little and influenced it a lot more. Iwobi was very good as most have said and yet I feel guilty for feeling like he can still do more. It's more aspirational than critical though and on the whole I'm heartened by his progress this season so far. A friend of mine ended up giving me his ticket for my birthday so maybe I saw the game slightly differently to normal and wonder if I'd have felt the same watching it on tv....
He's a dribbler and we are a little light on the ground with them this season. His inclusion is very welcome to the squad to me. Hope he keeps really working at his weaknesses because you can see he has tried to work at his game. Really liked Guendouzi's cameo too.

Moved back to London a few months ago so it's good to be close enough to go! Going again tomorrow and actually really looking forward to it despite firmly expecting us to finish outside the top 4.

It's interesting because most have taken Torreira and Auba coming off Thursday to mean they will both start tomorrow....but like you I just have the feeling the lineup will be the same as the last league game.

[Power n Glory]

Happy Birthday! A good time to be close enough to be able to go to the Emirates.

I saw a couple of clips of Iwobi and was surpised to see him dribbling more. I've never thought of him as a dribbler. Under Wenger, he'd usually play one touch / two touch football. Hope to see more of him this season. He has something there. He can be frustrating but hope he's given a proper chance this season. Delivered a good pass to set up the goal.

Saying that, I doubt we'll see much changes to the line up today.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Cheers!

He was a bit more pass and move under Wenger yeah but it seems as if he's using the ability to dribble a bit more, particularly as he can see we a are light on the ground with that skill.

Hope he retains a healthy smart mix because I still feel far too often we don't move the ball around quickly enough and the quick combination play between the wide players and central players doesn't happen often enough.