When will Arteta be sacked by

[IBK]

I agree with Thierry and with you regarding our robotic play.

The telling point for me is “A lot of things need to change in order to win the Premier League. When I see Liverpool play it looks like they’re trying to win it and others look like they’re trying not to lose it".

Also, I'm beginning to think that a new striker won't solve our issues. These are that we tend to be fine when teams are more open - in the CL or when we score first and the other team has to come out to try to score. But when faced with a low block, the manager's obsession with control means that there is no space to create good chances to score. Our possession game is undoubtedly robotic and we can't seem to switch it up and keep doing the same things - seemingly with a belief that we will untimately prevail. We are too predictable. And we do indeed often play as though we are trying not to lose rather than trying to win - this goes for individual games as well as the league. What frustrates me most is that we have the quality in defence to take risks by playing an extra attacker in the latter part of games when we need to score. But the manager refuses to do so - and more generally seems happy effectively playing two 6's in every game.

I struggle to believe that if told to come inside more, Martinelli would not do so. Also, I think that he is one of those players who rely on instinct - something that seems to have been coached out of him.

I differ from you slightly in the finishing issue. IIRC Odegard had a clear chance to score on Saturday but fluffed his lines, and if we are going to succeed with our current system, we have to finish even half chances because that is all we are going to get against well drilled defences.

[Mac76]

I've said it before but for me, our attitude in the home game against Brighton set the tone - we were 1-0 up but Rice was sent off, so Arteta organised a defensive change, planning to take Trossard (I think) off and bring a defensive player on - but then Brighton scored before that change was made - he then had a decision to make - did he go ahead and make us more defensive, hanging onto a point, or stay more attacking and try to win the game - which any team hoping to win the league would do and indeed Liverpool do.

He went ahead and made that change and pretty much wrote off any chance of our getting three points - then against Borumnemouth it was a similar story - we lost that game - so that's 1 point from 6 - but if he'd tried to win both and succeed in winning just one - that's two additional points

This exactly sums up that quote: "When I see Liverpool play it looks like they’re trying to win it and others look like they’re trying not to lose it".

[HCZ_Reborn]

If I’m honest I’m not too bothered by being defensive when down to ten men, I agree with IBK that the overall attitude is robotic but equally we do not have the quality and depth in attack to make it a worthwhile risk. Against Everton? It was 11 vs 11 they showed zero attacking ambition and couldn’t get out of their own third even if they had.

I think personally that instead of one point from six, we would have ended up with zero points from six. 11 vs 11 I think unquestionably we need to be more bold…there are clear instances where we are able to mount a decent counter attack plus the more attacking players the less likely the build up play is slow. But without a top finisher, i think it would end up being for nought with ten men.

Also the one thing no one says about Liverpool, is that between the period where Gakpo equalised and Fulham went 2-1 up, they weren’t pushing for a second goal. They were mainly attacking because they were chasing the game when they were behind. Yes they went for it a bit more at 2-2, but even then they didn’t go overboard….this was a team happy with a point rather than disappointed with not getting all three

[KSE Comedy Club]

Why is it clear he spotted a deficiency in his game, as for Mudryk whilst he is right footed…he plays on both sides of the wing for Ukraine and it was likely he was scouted as a utility player. And despite you constantly trying to hammer home this narrative that we were looking to replace Martinelli….it was more because we had zero depth on the left at the time

Martinelli has a frustrating tendency as Henry points out to not use his pace enough to take on his man and cuts inside too often, not an original observation and it’s one I’ve been making for years. But equally no one is going to thrive on the left with that ridiculous inverted full back system and playing defensive midfielders in the no8 position.


Martinelli thrives when he has a player like Calafiori playing behind him. And he’s becoming a scapegoat for a manager who sets up the team not to lose rather than to win.

Martinelli has lost his pace though. He used to be able to sprint away and leave players in the dust, now they just pace alongside him and half the time manage to make a tackle.

[Letters]

Martinelli has lost his pace though. He used to be able to sprint away and leave players in the dust, now they just pace alongside him and half the time manage to make a tackle.

He's 23!
I'm not saying you're wrong, but how do you lose your pace at that age?!

[HCZ_Reborn]

Martinelli has lost his pace though. He used to be able to sprint away and leave players in the dust, now they just pace alongside him and half the time manage to make a tackle.

No I think that’s far more reflective of how long it takes to get the ball to him, by the time he gets it he’s being tightly marked and you can’t always use speed to get past someone directly in your way

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

He's 23!
I'm not saying you're wrong, but how do you lose your pace at that age?!

Letters, are you being serious?

I mean I am not agreeing his problem is his pace or physicality ( unfortunately I think his problem, like most Brazilian talents is in his head ), but you can definitely lose your pace at a young age, especially in a demanding sport like football.

Obviously injuries can change your pace and even the way you run ...but also changes in the body (which could be be caused by external or inherent internal traits/factors) could also result to a loss of pace.

I actually think its quite normal for young fooball players who started early to appear slower pretty fast and freaks like Kyle Walker, who maintain that pace for long, are quite rare.

Hell I even think Saka seems slower, but I am not surprised at all.

[HCZ_Reborn]

I think in terms of actual ability there is less than a gnats cock difference between Martinelli and Saka in terms of raw ability, they both have very similar attributes. I think Saka benefits from attacks being focused on the right, and I think Saka works harder….he will track back, he will drop deeper to receive the ball etc. Martinelli is a player who I regard as highly talented in terms of both pace and technical ability. It would be nice if he had the work ethic of Saka but it’s not going to happen.

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ReBk_MC8YZ8

A nice video on this.

Good to see Raheem really bonding with us, though he seems to be the only one shocked at his decline

Its funny how defenders speeds are usually quite underated, despite stats consistently suggesting they are the fastest players. It probably helps that they get the comfort of not having to pause or bend their runs.

[Letters]

Obviously injuries can change your pace and even the way you run ...but also changes in the body (which could be be caused by external or inherent internal traits/factors) could also result to a loss of pace.

https://dailycannon.com/2024/10/gabr...i-sprint-speed