Match Reaction Arsenal 1-1 Sheff Utd

[Niall_Quinn]

There is something intrinsically wrong with this team. They are so wired into repetitive passing. There was an incident where one of our players ran into the box, received a pass and unbelievably passed it right back. Why run into the box to receive a pass if not to take a shot. That's why we spend a whole 90 mins and take only 2 or 3 shots all game. I despair for this team. They simply dont want to win badly enough.

More than anything, there is no way you can expect great things of a team that has so many dumb players like Ozil, Xhaka, AMN, Mustafi. They are certified mediocrity. No getting around that.

The most bizarre moment (and one of the weirdest things I've seen on a football pitch) was when AMN had the ball wide right just past the half way and with Pepe maybe 10-15 yards ahead of him on the sideline. AMN gets the ball. Pepe then RUNS BACK towards his own goal, beyond AMN and then makes himself available for the BACKWARDS pass from AMN. I couldn't believe my eyes. They were actually putting in extra effort to be as negative as possible.

Oh, and then Pepe immediately gave the ball away and stranded AMN, IIRC. Or maybe that was one of the other countless times he misplaced the simplest of passes. Not just him. But all of them. Arsenal, pass masters to past it.

I have a feeling this might be round 2 of Arteta's requirements. You get the basics down (shape, press, hustle for the 90), next we're going to try to do something with the ball. And I think that's where it may be a bit too much for some of these players. Work AND think.