Match Reaction Arsenal 2-0 Hull

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Originally Posted by Niall_Quinn

I don't buy any of those stats as they don't adequately reflect the poxy backward/ sideways game we play. I'd have one of Ox's passes over 10 of Coquelin's. Ox knows what direction the opposition goal is in whereas Coquelin is very confused. Bellerin and Mustafi might be the top guys but almost all their stuff is aimless tipping and tapping, slowing the play down, neutering the runs of players like Iwobi and even Theo when he can be bothered. Ozil and Alexis' pass rate may be lower but they are doing it in the danger zone whereas Coquelin often has time to pick a pass and will almost always choose the safest (and generally pointless) option. No doubt Coquelin has been told to play this way, to keep it conservative. But it breaks the back of our momentum. In one incident today Coquelin received the ball near the centre and Iwobi set off up the pitch. It was an easy pass buy Coquelin wasn't looking anywhere except backwards and had no interest in looking anywhere but backwards. And back went the ball, instinctively. I said at the time, sub him and sell him, tongue in cheek but it was still a classic demonstration of what has changed in the fundamentals of our game. We are just so negative now. Tip, tap.

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I wish you'd scrutinise Ozil's game to this sort of level. Coquelin isn't the greatest passer but he completed more passes than Ozil and it would probably shock you to hear that he created as many chances as Ozil today but actually played the ball forward more than backwards whilst Ozil played it backwards more than he played it forwards. Ozil only completed 1 long pass and everything else was short.

Zero dribble attempts, zero attempts to tackle. Saw the match live at the stadium and he was just as bad as the stats suggest. We only has one central midfielder today at the races. Ox.

My point being, the passing stats don't tell the story with us. So rolling out even more stats doesn't make a blind bit of difference. Ox was far and away our best player today and for one main reason, he played the ball forward. Effectively. Total bullshit on behalf of that article as anyone with eyes could have watched Ox and Coquelin today and quickly figured out who was beneficial and who was detrimental. Ozil doesn't even enter into that argument, expect in terms of your ongoing agenda.

I think you could have made the point without trying to tear into Coquelin as I don't think he actually had a bad game lol. I also don't see why people are intent on continually pointing out his limitations as an overall footballer. Most players in that position have precisely those limitations. A player like Kante is more consistent and better at what he is supposed to be doing but not actually any better a footballer and has probably the same limitations. However in a winning side the whole is greater than the sum of its parts and because of that....when you consequently look at the parts, they may seem better than they actually are.

Ozil was appalling today and I say that having not thought he was as bad against Chelsea as everybody thought. A yard off the pace in everything in the second half today......misplaced passes and groaning at all around him to boot.

If I was a coach I would think, Iwobi only needs to practice two things. Shooting....really putting his foot through the ball......AND sensing the danger defensively and responding accordingly.

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Originally Posted by Coney

MOTD - Danny Mills - "You can't score a goal from a hand ball", having accepted it was accidental. So it wasn't hand ball. Dick. So it counts as a goal. Dick.

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Danny Mills really has it in for us. Must still bare a grudge from when Thierry made a fool of him.

It was Danny Murphy, Mills probably would've said something stupid too though. Funny how there was barely any comment from Gabbiadini's handball goal though, where he moved his arm towards the ball.

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Originally Posted by Niall_Quinn

My point being, the passing stats don't tell the story with us. So rolling out even more stats doesn't make a blind bit of difference. Ox was far and away our best player today and for one main reason, he played the ball forward. Effectively. Total bullshit on behalf of that article as anyone with eyes could have watched Ox and Coquelin today and quickly figured out who was beneficial and who was detrimental. Ozil doesn't even enter into that argument, expect in terms of your ongoing agenda.

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Of course Ozil won't enter into the equation for you. You have an obvious agenda to keep him out of this whole 'tip tap' discussion you draw up for every game because he always seems to be excluded from your assessment. I can throw up stats and videos of him always not being brave enough to be more direct, take on his man with driving runs and having more shots on goal but it all gets excused.

As Blink says, Coquelin is a limited player so playing it short and safe is expected for a player of his talents and it's what most DM's do. Play the ball to a more talented player who can carry it forward. Along with Sanchez, Coquelin managed to get the ball to Ozil more than any other player but Ozil isn't brave enough on the ball. Again, zero take on attempts and 1 shot on goal. He has to be braver than that. What I love about Ox today is that he was trying everything in his locker on attack. Spraying it long, wide, taking his man on and driving forward, more direct. If you know what I'm talking about and agree that Ox was more direct, how is it that only players like Coquelin and Iwobi get the tippy tippy label?

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Originally Posted by Blink 1nce Quince 2wice

I think you could have made the point without trying to tear into Coquelin as I don't think he actually had a bad game lol. I also don't see why people are intent on continually pointing out his limitations as an overall footballer. Most players in that position have precisely those limitations. A player like Kante is more consistent and better at what he is supposed to be doing but not actually any better a footballer and has probably the same limitations. However in a winning side the whole is greater than the sum of its parts and because of that....when you consequently look at the parts, they may seem better than they actually are.

Ozil was appalling today and I say that having not thought he was as bad against Chelsea as everybody thought. A yard off the pace in everything in the second half today......misplaced passes and groaning at all around him to boot.

If I was a coach I would think, Iwobi only needs to practice two things. Shooting....really putting his foot through the ball......AND sensing the danger defensively and responding accordingly.

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Iwobi is talented on the ball. Great technique and keeps the ball well. He needs to learn how to shoot and I also say the boss should encourage him to take on his man and run down the line more if playing wide. He has the strength and ball control to be a handful. I thought he had a decent game today but was left isolated at times and we couldn't create that overload to give Theo and Bellerin more space down the right. Wenger really needs to rethink his tactics or get the players playing tighter and closer together for it to work. Passing has to be a lot quicker.

I read that our next game in the league is until 4 March, is that true?

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Originally Posted by AFC Leveller

I read that our next game in the league is until 4 March, is that true?

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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/...senal/fixtures

there goes wenger's jaded excuse for our loss at Liverpool.