RC Lens v The Arsenal. 03/10/23. 20:00

[Marc Overmars]

Except Rice is the main reason why we are in the state we are in. It’s not his fault, he is as you say full of guile and effort. But he can’t pass the ball forward…it’s the reason why we are creating so few chances compared to last season.

It’s so blindingly obvious. You take a player like Partey out of the team either through injury or playing him at right back and you are going to lose that dynamism and ability to get the ball forward quickly

I would say that Xhaka’s role contributed to a lot of the good we did in the final third last year too. That has been replaced by a languid German who moves like he’s stuck in the mud.

Martinelli’s absence has been felt too I guess.

Just all very uninspiring right now. We’re a good team but are definitely lacking a special player up top.

Don’t have much hope for the City game but stranger things have happened I suppose.