Match Reaction v Burnley (home)

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Another win against the Premier League's foremost farmers.

Dyche has lost the lot against us but we struggle physically against them. :sarcy:

Ceballos was very good.

Auba. :bow:

Lacazette. :bow:

Top of the league. :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Dyche through his tears: "I don't want to cry about it".

"I'm really worried about the game of football. Falling and diving over the place here today".

What an utter twat.

[SMatthews]

Dyche :haha:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Ceballos to Mkhitaryan with the long ball gesture. :haha:

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

First of all, we've never had a front two as dangerous as these 2 and AW gets the plaudits for this.

I think this match was more about the youngsters we've got and if they will be able to make the step up and help us be competitive again.

Easily Ceballos and Willock were the stars. I must say I'm impressed with the R.Madrid youngster, his close control and composure got me reminiscing fondly of Santi- and that alone is high praise. He was really good and behind almost everything good we did in attack today. A great home debut.

Willock continued from where he left of last week, industriious, confident and everywhere. I thought Guendozi was sub par today, and clearly he cant handle that anchor role by himself unless he has someone babysitting him. AMN, hit and miss. But it was Nelson that disappointed me the most again. We were dispossessed a lot in the first half and if you look back you'll see he lost the ball more than anyone and almost always failed to get it back. He does seem to have the intelligence of a good player but if he cannot deal with the physical demands of the premiership and a novice like Ceballos can, then he only has himself to blame when we ship him off for another loan. I'm disappointed as I thought he would be the youngster to make that difference this season.

As for the rest of the team, its all about our defending again. Luiz, was ok on the ball but poor defensively. It got me thinking of what Zim says about playing him further up. Anyway I still prefer him in the team than out of it.

I also think that always playing the ball from the back is a mistake- I think we should mix it up a bit and realise that when we take the lead, the other team is going to come out so we can afford to clear our lines and look for through balls to kill the game. Funnily when you look back at the match our most dangreous attacks were actually when we dispossessed Burnley or someone lumped it forward (same for Burnley too).

All and all, an ok game and good to have 6 points. But we really got to think of the next game now and what to do about our defending.

[I am invisible]

Dyche through his tears: "I don't want to cry about it".

"I'm really worried about the game of football. Falling and diving over the place here today".

What an utter twat.
Sorry Dyche, it’s the natural defence against the hard-man tactics, I’m afraid: if you agree that it’s acceptable to send your teams out to go in hard on opponents to rattle and intimidate their players, then the other side is well within their rights to use it against you and draw attention to it.

Of course we could all just agree to drop both shitty tactics, and play each other in a fair game of football, but I doubt you’ll agree to that.

[Gooner23]

Ceballos is very good. Think he'll be a mainstay in midfield for us this season, either at 8 or 10. Ozil could find himself sidelined more often than not.

[Mac76]

Sorry Dyche, it’s the natural defence against the hard-man tactics, I’m afraid: if you agree that it’s acceptable to send your teams out to go in hard on opponents to rattle and intimidate their players, then the other side is well within their rights to use it against you and draw attention to it.

Of course we could all just agree to drop both shitty tactics, and play each other in a fair game of football, but I doubt you’ll agree to that.

Dyke is truly one of the biggest cunts in football, and that's saying something...

[I am invisible]

Got a horrible feeling I’m going to get very attached to Ceballos over the next year - what are the chances of him enjoying his stint here so much that he wants to stay?

[SMatthews]

Keen to see what a Torreira/Ceballos midfield would look like.

[dostoy]

First of all, we've never had a front two as dangerous as these 2 and AW gets the plaudits for this

Wenger signed Lacazette but I think Auba was forced on him.

I remember him being asked about Auba and whether he was going to arrive and Wenger replied with an emphatic 'NO'

Wenger signed far too many idiots, some of which are still here, for him to deserve any credit whatsoever.

He put this club back years in his last 2/3 years here.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

He also said he didn't know who Cazorla was, we signed him about a week later. :lol:

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Just pay the first instalment of whatever the fuhk Ceballos is going to cost now. Seriously. Watching him from the North bank I did, wonder whether how good he was would quite come across on tv. That was a daft notion....

Reiss, disappointing again and it was the right decision to take him off. Not because he's an accident waiting to happen or he's going to lose us the game, but what we are on the brink of is building a culture and side where in his position you get it it because of what you ADD to the team and not based on providing assurance that you will not cost us the game.

Monreal is at the end of his career but honestly, he and Ceballos were in perfect harmony. Effortlessly finding and understanding each others actions and movement.

I thought when Pepe came on we looked absolutely scintillating without actually managing to score. Pepe looks like he really does have all the skills we have been missing. If only John Terry was still playing so we could see him put Terry on his arse.

Leno still a bit unsure at crosses which to my mind has always been the weakness in his game. I actually think he just needs to learn to really shout, so that everybody is shocked into getting out of his way. Far too quiet and generally a lack of communication between the backline at times.

If nothing else Ceballos has shown the profile of player we really should have our eye on. You don't necessarily need an all singing dancing, assisting and scoring midfielder to run games or really improve. I hope that if we don't sign him, which in all likelihood we probably won't, that we keep our ears to the ground on a player in this mould.

Great result and lovely to be top of the league if only for a moment! Up the Arse. When you are that technically gifted and clever, you needn't be a big bartarrd in midfield. He was the best player on the field from pretty much the start.

Up the Arse!

[I am invisible]

I really think we might have lucked out with Ceballos and Willock this year - those two look like they can both switch between playing as an 8 or a 10 without breaking stride, and that’s gonna give us a lot of in-game, tactical flexibility in the middle. Impressive work rate from the two of them too - we’ve got the foundations of a good engine.

How did Guendouzi look today? I’ve read some say that he was a bit meh, and others praising his distribution (90% pass completion rate with 50% of them going forward). Easy to forget that he’s only a kid himself, after the amount of game time he got last year...

[GP]

Guendouzi is a gem of a player. He's still a bit rough around the edges but he's still so young.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

I thought he was a little on the fringes at times but didn't mind that as Ceballos really took control in midfield. I thought Willock wasn't as involved as he could have been too, but again, didn't mind that as others took centre stage as they should have.

[Unai Tea]

I actually laughed out loud watching Pepe make fools of Burnley lugs.

[I am invisible]

I thought he was a little on the fringes at times but didn't mind that as Ceballos really took control in midfield. I thought Willock wasn't as involved as he could have been too, but again, didn't mind that as others took centre stage as they should have.
Yeah, I expect Willock will be a little deferential to begin with. Fabregas was the same in his first senior season - the consistency was there immediately, but he kept things simple and would usually move the ball on to a team mate rather than attempting anything audacious.

Probably not a bad thing, tbh - if Ceballos is looking like the midfield general then you probably need players around him to be a little deferential when he’s pointing and barking orders. Doesn’t really work if everyone has their own ideas.

Hope we get to see more of that trio in the middle - need to work out how to balance themselves defensively when one / two of them push forward, but there’s a little bit of everything there...

[I am invisible]

Guendouzi is a gem of a player. He's still a bit rough around the edges but he's still so young.
I know I said we’d lucked out with these players, but really you have to applaud the recruitment and the youth strategy - they’ve pretty much put that midfield together for about 11m!

Need to make sure we keep Man U out of the CL so Pogba goes to Madrid...

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Before the game, what I was hoping Willock would pick up the ball and really run at them which he is good at doing and would inevitably draw fouls from Burnley and leave space for other players. He was a touch more conservative, perhaps because Burnley actually pressed us high up, so maybe he didn't want to leave space in behind.

Ceballos seemed to be pressing them too, and then he came deep quite a fair bit too distributing the ball, so he was kind of everywhere. I actually liked the technical ability of Suarez but Ceballos is bisto.

Lord knows if we had signed a Top CB (known for his defensive prowess) I think a lot more people would be talking about a title challenge, however silly that might be.

[Özim]

Wenger signed Lacazette but I think Auba was forced on him.

I remember him being asked about Auba and whether he was going to arrive and Wenger replied with an emphatic 'NO'

Wenger signed far too many idiots, some of which are still here, for him to deserve any credit whatsoever.

He put this club back years in his last 2/3 years here.

Also lets not forget he either didnt start Lacaette or use to take him off after about 70 minutes, so I'm not eve sure he was convinced by Lacazette. If Wenger had stayed Laca probably wouldn't be here.

[Özim]

Another win which is good and the 1st time we've won our first two games since 2009!

Going forward we were pretty decent, Lacazettes' goal was very good as was Aubameyangs' (he looks so sharp at the moment). Ceballos looked decent with some nice touches and passes (shame we'll only have him for one season if he does this week in week out).

I think Nelson has potential, put the ball in the back of the net (although it was disallowed) and was quite direct.

I'm a bit undecided about Guendouzi at the moment as I'm not too sure what his role should be.

Liverpool next, who didn't look at their best and defensively looked a bit suspect, hopefully we can perform and get something, but it's a different level to what we've played so far.

[Ralpheroo72]

Ceballos is a beast, sign him up

[Mac76]

Another win which is good and the 1st time we've won our first two games since 2009!

Going forward we were pretty decent, Lacazettes' goal was very good as was Aubameyangs' (he looks so sharp at the moment). Ceballos looked decent with some nice touches and passes (shame we'll only have him for one season if he does this week in week out).

I think Nelson has potential, put the ball in the back of the net (although it was disallowed) and was quite direct.

I'm a bit undecided about Guendouzi at the moment as I'm not too sure what his role should be.

Liverpool next, who didn't look at their best and defensively looked a bit suspect, hopefully we can perform and get something, but it's a different level to what we've played so far.

Ever since i saw his performances in the reserves i thought Nelson was a really good prospect and i think he's coming on well

Agree about the liverpool match too, am more optimistic than I was that that we could get something

[Globalgunner]

One thing yesterday proved to me at least is that we really dont need Generalissimo Xhaka to keep things ticking over in midfield. Nor Ozil or Mikhi.

[Mac76]

One thing yesterday proved to me at least is that we really dont need Generalissimo Xhaka to keep things ticking over in midfield. Nor Ozil or Mikhi.

Yeah i'm really hoping it's the beginning of the end for all of them, i like the blend of new / young and the best of our established players we're putting out there

[Marc Overmars]

Wasn’t the best game but we were in control. Ceballos was awesome, shades of a peak Cazorla.

David Luiz was also pretty assured, though I did nearly have a heart attack when he drilled that pass across goal!

6 points in the bag. Now for the real tests...

[Globalgunner]

Yeah i'm really hoping it's the beginning of the end for all of them, i like the blend of new / young and the best of our established players we're putting out there

3 duds who collectively are soaking up north of 700kpw in wages. enough to cover most Championship clubs entire roster, i guess

[Gooner23]

Torreira, Cabellos and Willock would be my first choice midfield 3 right now.

[Chippy]

Ceballos is a beast, sign him up
Is there an option to buy?

[Chippy]

Another win against the Premier League's foremost farmers.

Dyche has lost the lot against us but we struggle physically against them. :sarcy:

Ceballos was very good.

Auba. :bow:

Lacazette. :bow:

Top of the league. :bow:
Really good in attack.
Celballos and Pepe are bloody good.
Defence still piss poor.
Give my heart a rest and dont ALWAYS play out from the back.
7/10.

[Bumble]

2 wins out of 2 slightly easier start than last year. Think the next 2 games will really show us where we are. Liverpool think might put us in our place as they have an attack which could rip the back four apart as neither Newcastle or Burnley are really renowned for attacking. But Spuds, fancy we could beat them despite them using up a lot of luck against City.

[KSE Comedy Club]

Is there an option to buy?

Currently, no option to buy as Ceballos wants to prove himself at RM.

However, that may all change depending on how he gets on here and what magic Raul can pull off in the summer.
Zidane is doing his best to fuck the RM team up anyway so it may work out for all parties by then.

[Özim]

Currently, no option to buy as Ceballos wants to prove himself at RM.

However, that may all change depending on how he gets on here and what magic Raul can pull off in the summer.
Zidane is doing his best to fuck the RM team up anyway so it may work out for all parties by then.

If he does well and Zidane likes the look of him he'll go back to Madrid, the president didn't want to get rid of him, it's Real Madrid at the end of the day, I just can't see him choosing us over them if they want him back, I don't think he wanted to be sold either, he just wanted to go on loan.

Realistically if he doesn't do too well, we may have the chance to sign him, but if he proves to be a quality player and performs regularly it'll end up being a one season loan and we'll need to find a replacement next summer I reckon.

If a club wanted to sell, they would include an option to buy, the fact they haven't shows they a loaning him to get game time and gain experience.

https://metro.co.uk/2019/07/26/zinedine-zidane-hints-dani-ceballos-long-term-future-remains-real-madrid-despite-arsenal-move-10469943/

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Like you said Zim, it's Real Madrid and Perez.

More likely they'll go for someone like Pogba if they don't get the better of Barcelona again, which is feasible.

Personally, I don't care. He's ours for the season. If he helps us reach Top 4 and maybe win something again. I'll happily wave him off.