Match Reaction vs Ludogorets (away).

TBH I don't think form has ever really mattered in the NLD, we both tend to raise our game and are capable of getting a result against the odds.

I reckon we'll edge them out anyway. They're potentially without Kane, Dembele and Alderweireld. We've got to be confident.

I don't think form matters that much in any game really but when we were a much better side than them we basically never lost to them.
Then they got good and it's been a lot more mixed.
I fancy us to nick it but it's not a gimme.

They're killing Xhaka on the Arsenal Vision podcast. They say his defending is really bad and real problem for us.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by selassie

Yeah we were a mess at the back last night, Ospina looked very shakey, as did all of the back four, our full backs especially, closely followed by Mustafi who I thought was awful.

Obviously our 2 first choice full backs and Cech were missing but we need to sort it out at the back as I agree it's not the first time we've given away really poor goals.

I think with the return of Theo, Santi and Iwobi our offensive play will improve, we clearly look a much better side with Sanchez upfront flanked by Theo and Iwobi.

---

In my opinion, Mustafi is no better than Merts! Maybe just a bit quicker. I would bring in Holding TBH.

:lol:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Douglas Reynholm

:lol:

---

:shrug:

I'm tempted to bet money Kane will be back but Dembele is much of a muchness and virtually no direct goal threat despite his ability and Alderweireld's a big miss for them but Dier (who I assume is deputising) is very good.

The ArsenalVision did go to town on Xhaka to my surprise a little but our midfield really was bypassed far too easily against Cluedo and in no small part due to Xhaka.

Very harsh on Ramsey's first touch Sherbert....

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Blink 1nce Quince 2wice

I'm tempted to bet money Kane will be back but Dembele is much of a muchness and virtually no direct goal threat despite his ability and Alderweireld's a big miss for them but Dier (who I assume is deputising) is very good.

The ArsenalVision did go to town on Xhaka to my surprise a little but our midfield really was bypassed far too easily against Cluedo and in no small part due to Xhaka.

---

Dembele is a scrote that keeps them ticking over from the back, Pochettino rates him very highly, sees him as integral. As soon as he went out last season, they fell to pieces. Dire is another scrote. Like Lamela and Alli. A big part of their game is constantly fouling, breaking up flow of opposition, running around like cockroaches. Hopefully they play just as bad or worse than the other night. They've been dull since the start of the season.

We had Elneny and Coq against Boro and they had better chances than we did, little was done to protect the back four then. Doesn't come down to Xhaka alone. The right pairings have to be found and they don't always happen by design, as we found with Cazorla and Coq. In fact, all of the best teams over time haven't been planned down to the last atom. The other problem now of having so many options for the first team is figuring out which ones work best and the only way to do that is in game time unfortunately.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Blink 1nce Quince 2wice

I'm tempted to bet money Kane will be back but Dembele is much of a muchness and virtually no direct goal threat despite his ability and Alderweireld's a big miss for them but Dier (who I assume is deputising) is very good.

The ArsenalVision did go to town on Xhaka to my surprise a little but our midfield really was bypassed far too easily against Cluedo and in no small part due to Xhaka.

---

It was a good episode. I still haven’t seen the game but it’s not the first time someone has mentioned Xhaka’s defending. Wenger came out in the press conference recently and said he was concerned about his discipline ahead of the NLD.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/footba...s-over-9185914
They touched on this topic before Wenger’s comments on the podcast and it is a concern for us tactically. If he’s being bypassed easily, they’re right to be concerned. He cost a lot and I would have thought he’d be able to defend as well considering the price tag and position. Time will tell and he’ll have to adjust quickly. He should do. It does slightly explain Wenger’s box to box comments.
They touched on a lot stuff I agree with. The Giroud conundrum and how he effects our game, Ozil stepping up his game, pushing for more goals and taking more responsibility….it’s a really good podcast. It will be interesting to see what the team selection is for the NLD.