Arsenal 1-1 Brentford Player rating and match reaction

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Originally Posted by Mac76

Part of the problem lies with Arteta's historial reluctance to widen the overall experience of the squad, hence in this type of scenario he can't turn to, for example, Kabia or Butler-Oyedeji instead of Saka et al because he wouldn't even give them minutes when we were 7 goals to the good against PSV, so if he wants to change a game he's stuck with the usual suspects.

But I'm surprised you complain at his bringing them on given you also express disappointment at not winning the game.

I didn't like Partey at RB (for it was there that he was played, not LB...) but we're slightly stuck for alternatives given the above plus injuries.

That's why for me it's playing Martinelli that stands out - we have an obvious alternative in Sterling yet he wasn't used to rest Martinelli, who instead nearly had his leg broken in what should have been a red-card tackle (and would no doubt have been if it had been the other way round).

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My point about Partey (yes - at RB sorry) was that it was a risk rather than anything else. Not going to be over critical of Arteta's decision to start him given our lack of options here, and the fact that he scored our only goal.

My disappointment at the result derives from the fact that we were playing fine with our starters, and the multiple subs disrupted the team's rhythm. Also for me it seemed as though even with the subs we were playing (understandably perhaps) more with a mind on tomorrow's game and not fully committed to getting the win, so better to have rested MLS, Odegard and Saka. Plus the fact that we didn't defend particularly well for Brentford's goal.

Agreed re Martinelli though. We are fortunate that he wasn't injured badly.

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Originally Posted by Mac76

Oh cut the faux sensibility will you, we all know what someone means when they say play the kids, I don't literally mean play the under-18s (or not all of them anyway :lol:) and I've already said my main issue is his playing Martinelli

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Except you actually said “literally play the under 18s”

There wasn’t anything that said afterwards I’m using the word literally as hyperbole. Let’s be fair none of us on here are completely avoidant of staking out extreme positions, so it’s not always easy to know when to take people at their word or not.


Either way it’s fair to say you would be willing to go further than myself and probably others on here in terms of rotation for league matches. Fine that’s your opinion, just not one I agree with

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Originally Posted by IBK

My point about Partey (yes - at RB sorry) was that it was a risk rather than anything else. Not going to be over critical of Arteta's decision to start him given our lack of options here, and the fact that he scored our only goal.

My disappointment at the result derives from the fact that we were playing fine with our starters, and the multiple subs disrupted the team's rhythm. Also for me it seemed as though even with the subs we were playing (understandably perhaps) more with a mind on tomorrow's game and not fully committed to getting the win, so better to have rested MLS, Odegard and Saka. Plus the fact that we didn't defend particularly well for Brentford's goal.

Agreed re Martinelli though. We are fortunate that he wasn't injured badly.

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I agree with you about the timing of the substitutions, I foolishly thought bringing on the first team players would sure things up but it did just disrupt things when to that point our play had been decent.


As for Partey at right back, well I don’t think anyone is in any doubt about how I feel about him playing there. But I think him playing there as well as Rice playing full stop was due to White picking up a knock in training, and given Timber also needed resting after midweek it seemed to me anyway as being a result of restricted choice

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Originally Posted by IBK

My point about Partey (yes - at RB sorry) was that it was a risk rather than anything else. Not going to be over critical of Arteta's decision to start him given our lack of options here, and the fact that he scored our only goal.

My disappointment at the result derives from the fact that we were playing fine with our starters, and the multiple subs disrupted the team's rhythm. Also for me it seemed as though even with the subs we were playing (understandably perhaps) more with a mind on tomorrow's game and not fully committed to getting the win, so better to have rested MLS, Odegard and Saka. Plus the fact that we didn't defend particularly well for Brentford's goal.

Agreed re Martinelli though. We are fortunate that he wasn't injured badly.

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TBH there's an argument that says, particularly in Saka's case, that he needs some minutes to get back to his best and I've some sympathy for that, despite being at the front of the queue of those saying that in general Arteta overplays him

Clearly the subs were lined up when we were 0-0 and he was bringing them on to get the breakthrough, but not for the first time this season (Brighton) he just carried on with planned subs even though the game state had changed.

As for Partey, I agree and thinking about it there was a lad called Josh Nicholls who played at RB pre-season and was, I thought, very good, maybe not quite as much as MLS but then that's an unfair comparison given how he's taken to first-team football like a duck to water

However Arteta's duly left him out all season, hence no minutes, hence him not being an option when he'd have been useful - so frustrating, I really get annoyed that Arteta doesn't bring younger players on more - if I was a manager I'd be rotating and using different combinations all the time and giving younger players minutes whenever I could, it's the only way to know what they can do

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Originally Posted by Mac76

TBH there's an argument that says, particularly in Saka's case, that he needs some minutes to get back to his best and I've some sympathy for that, despite being at the front of the queue of those saying that in general Arteta overplays him

Clearly the subs were lined up when we were 0-0 and he was bringing them on to get the breakthrough, but not for the first time this season (Brighton) he just carried on with planned subs even though the game state had changed.

As for Partey, I agree and thinking about it there was a lad called Josh Nicholls who played at RB pre-season and was, I thought, very good, maybe not quite as much as MLS but then that's an unfair comparison given how he's taken to first-team football like a duck to water

However Arteta's duly left him out all season, hence no minutes, hence him not being an option when he'd have been useful - so frustrating, I really get annoyed that Arteta doesn't bring younger players on more - if I was a manager I'd be rotating and using different combinations all the time and giving younger players minutes whenever I could, it's the only way to know what they can do

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Nailed that reply Mate.

Good point re Saka, and yes I understand Arteta wanting him to try to regain a little match sharpness (that is clearly a bit lacking - hence his missed big goal opportunity). your highlighted line encapsulates Arteta's error nicely.

..And I agree with your point re Josh Nicholls too - albeit that Arteta will point to Partey's goal.

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Originally Posted by HCZ_Reborn

I agree with you about the timing of the substitutions, I foolishly thought bringing on the first team players would sure things up but it did just disrupt things when to that point our play had been decent.


As for Partey at right back, well I don’t think anyone is in any doubt about how I feel about him playing there. But I think him playing there as well as Rice playing full stop was due to White picking up a knock in training, and given Timber also needed resting after midweek it seemed to me anyway as being a result of restricted choice

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Yep - Hobson's choice re Partey, I guess. Praying that he is OK for tomorrow.

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Originally Posted by IBK

Nailed that reply Mate.

Good point re Saka, and yes I understand Arteta wanting him to try to regain a little match sharpness (that is clearly a bit lacking - hence his missed big goal opportunity). your highlighted line encapsulates Arteta's error nicely.

..And I agree with your point re Josh Nicholls too - albeit that Arteta will point to Partey's goal.

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:good:

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Originally Posted by Letters

Not really. We're 9 points ahead of 5th place. We've lost 3 games all season, it seems highly improbable we'll lose 3 more now.
The title has been gone since late Feb. The CL is still improbable but after the first leg feels slightly more plausible.
I don't think we will win the CL and this season will therefore be a disappointment, but given we are still in it it is absolutely right that we prioritise it.
I'm a bit frustrated we didn't win on Saturday but it honestly doesn't matter.

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Maybe, but as I am the worlds biggest pessimist, I just want to secure CL football for next season :unsure:

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Originally Posted by Letters

Well also, this wouldn't be a Ten Hag situation for 2 reasons. Firstly the CL is a much, much bigger prize than the FA Cup. Secondly as disappointing as our league season has been by the standards we have set for ourselves, we're still pretty likely to finish 2nd. Certainly Top 4. It's not the utter mess Ten Hag oversaw last season before they stumbled to the FA Cup. And even then remember they let a 3-0 lead vs Coventry slip and were a VAR call away from exit and humiliation.


All this said, this is all supposing we win the CL which I am still finding it hard to believe we will. Which will render this a disappointing and frustrating season. Next season feels like last chance saloon for Arteta.

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I also find it hard to believe that we will win the CL because we all dream about it, especially after the disappointment of 2005. Imagine, Champions of Europe!

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Originally Posted by Chippy

I also find it hard to believe that we will win the CL because we all dream about it, especially after the disappointment of 2005. Imagine, Champions of Europe!

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That's no reason not to believe mate, keep the faith :cool: