The Arsenal v Man Siteh, Sunday 8 October 2023

[HCZ_Reborn]

I don’t know what to expect, I’d be happier if Martinelli was fit because his pace but I’m hoping we start Trossard instead

No Rodri and Stones gives us a good chance against their defence, but we have to be able to make chances and take them

Shame Timber is injured as he was excellent when we played them in the community shield.

White worries me, against most sides at home he is good at the attacking overlap with Saka but he can’t hack a pacey winger

Rice is really going to need to help him out there

[Letters]

but we have to be able to make chances and take them

[HCZ_Reborn]

Am I missing something ?

[Letters]

Am I missing something ?

Usually.

I’m laughing at the idea we might actually be able to make and take chances.
Not our forte so far

[HCZ_Reborn]

Usually.

I’m laughing at the idea we might actually be able to make and take chances.
Not our forte so far

Oh


Kind of why I said it

[Mac76]

Usually.

I’m laughing at the idea we might actually be able to make and take chances.
Not our forte so far

we have scored goals, our problem at home is more a defensive one as unlike when we play away we haven't kept a clean sheet yet and are very unlikely to do so today

I thought you were laughing at how obvious a statememt it was, kind of like saying we will only win if we score a goal or two

I also hear the Pope is Catholic...

[HCZ_Reborn]

Well that’s what I thought he was laughing at. And yes it was an obvious statement, but I felt the need to say it because of the lack of both chance creation and finesse.

9 in 4 league games isn’t terrible, but when you take away the penalties and own goals it’s only six. Which considering how high we press doesn’t seem like we are terribly efficient either at creating chances or putting them away. Havertz has been a big reason for this, seems to take too long to decide what he wants to do with the ball and then ends up doing nothing. There’s also very little understanding between him and Martinelli, so the latter was being isolated.

Also I’m sorry to say it but Rice, not quick and not technical…therefore you lose an efficient method of transitioning from defence to attack, so we are reliant on the high press of the attacking quintet rather than playing out from the back. And we are often left with sideways passing in front of eleven players.

The failure to acknowledge this amongst Arsenal fans, I just find it highly quizzical. I don’t know whether it’s because we’ve paid a lot of money for him or because despite his limitations he has played well and worked hard. It’s not even a criticism of him, it’s like saying that I’m not a grand chess master is a self-criticism rather than a statement of fact.

[Marc Overmars]

Draw at best for this really.

The problem is that even if City have an off day, they’re still quite likely to get a result. If we have an off day it will be a comprehensive defeat. To a man we need to be firing on all cylinders to even have a sniff of winning.

Then you’ve got the mental block aspect of it too. 12 defeats in a row is rotten and I don’t really think the Community Shield win would have done much to alleviate those fears.