Arsenal 0-1 West Ham Match Reaction

[HCZ_Reborn]

That's not what happened v West Ham though it wasn't pace, he stood off their player too much and allowed him to cross - it's like Zin, he doesn't have the technique, positoning or knowhow, he's just not a defender

that’s exactly what happened against West Ham.

Were you sitting in the same area of the ground you were sitting in when you could tell for definite that Xhaka was a teachers pet

[KSE Comedy Club]

Isn’t it ironic that when in your own mind you try and be more clear and direct, you end up being more garbled

Sorry, I saw words but can’t make head nor tails of that

I'm not sure how:
a) you don't understand a word he typed & b) the fact that what he was saying was correct but mainly sarcastic in response to his original posting?

[KSE Comedy Club]

I’m not even talking about a system change. Villa who I used as an example aren’t a team who plays direct, route one football routinely. What I said is that they have the players that can allow them to try out a more direct routine that’s been developed in the training ground. And what I’m saying is, I don’t think we have the players to go more direct.

Even if we aren’t talking long ball. A more direct long ball into the feet of Trossard? He’s not quick enough to get there.

Nwaneri is but like with Saka you will just get players doubling up on him and as I’ve said more than once it’s not fair to make a 17 year old the focal point of attack

Why is Odegaard running sideways and backwards, I’m sorry but I don’t believe that’s what he’s been told to do in training. It’s because he’s totally bereft of confidence, there are two explanations. One is that he’s carrying an injury and he’s worried that any impact from an intercepting player will finish his season off. Two he’s worried that he will give away possession and it will prove costly. We can’t have it both ways, we can’t bemoan players for playing it safe and then equally have a go at them for overcommitting and leaving us in deep shtuck due to the transition which you and I both admit we are vulnerable to.

That's the difference between winners and losers.

Winners are brave enough to try, even if it doesn't always work.

[HCZ_Reborn]

I'm not sure how:
a) you don't understand a word he typed & b) the fact that what he was saying was correct but mainly sarcastic in response to his original posting?

On a scale of 1-10, how likely is it do you think that I’m going to take a lecture from someone proposing that we can and should play counter attack against teams who play with 11 men behind the ball.

The point is NQ does what he always does when he has no answer, shift the goalposts. I don’t know whether it’s deliberate or alcoholic delirium

For me it seems a bit pointless to be talking specifically about the here and now and in response to my saying I don’t think we have the players to do what you think we should do, to say well why don’t we get those players.

Which becomes a different discussion entirely, if the discussion is why don’t we adapt this turgid football we are playing now when the summer comes by bringing in players that can mix it up, that’s almost a no brainer isn’t it…who would be against that

What I can’t understand is this petulance howling like a dog that’s been kicked in the nuts by people, about how we should be able to score goals if only we magically change up the way we play when a) albeit small there are indications that we’ve already done that b) you can build a house from sand but it’s going out with the tide come the evening.

[HCZ_Reborn]

That's the difference between winners and losers.

Winners are brave enough to try, even if it doesn't always work.

Cool, so if I choose not to run into a brick wall, it’s because I lacked the courage to believe I could become ethereal and will myself to pass through it

[KSE Comedy Club]

That's right. Just a bit more urgency. A bit more ambition. A willingness to take a risk, not suicidal risks but calculated ones. An attempt to keep the opposition defence on their toes, keep them busy, wear them out not bore them to tears. We absolutely do have the players that can achieve this, because even wrecked with injuries we're second in the table. But it has been those stupid dropped points where a willingness to push on for the win might have made all the difference. Instead we keep seeing an unwillingness to lose and there's a difference between the two attitudes.

Spot on.

I see the excuses have already begun appearing, injuries, the red cards, etc.

Yes they have been an absolute rod up the backside this season, but I would argue we have lost out in all those draws rather than the few games we dropped points because of bad officiating.

Those games' results were because we were too cautious and too afraid we might lose. It's not a winning mentality.

[KSE Comedy Club]

Because the most rational explanation is a player who for the past two seasons was our driving force going forward would win the ball and had stats up there with De Bruyne, is suddenly now playing like Aaron Ramsey because Arteta who never had a problem with his positive play at the time has suddenly decided he needs to be far more safety first and introverted in his play.

That would make far more sense than a player who has never found his form after being injured for two months and because the on the pitch injury was quite a nasty one, it got in his head and he’s now more cautious. That and given he’s played every game almost since he’s been back he’s also just running on fumes.

We have been playing in the same safety first system for the entirety of this season, no doubt as a result of us not beating Villa at the end of last season and losing out on the title.

Arteta obviously would have changed out play up to counter this situation and it has resulted in the obsessive, possession based, cautious play we have been watching for the last 26+ games.

So yes, I would say Odegaard is doing what the manager wants, along with the rest of the team.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Spot on.

I see the excuses have already begun appearing, injuries, the red cards, etc.

Yes they have been an absolute rod up the backside this season, but I would argue we have lost out in all those draws rather than the few games we dropped points because of bad officiating.

Those games' results were because we were too cautious and too afraid we might lose. It's not a winning mentality.

So this is why I’m kind of taking the piss with you

Our front three is out, I get what you’re saying about our build up play being too slow etc but it’s academic now. We are playing a very average midfielder as a centre forward that’s how academic it is.

A Kriss Akabusi style Positive Mental Attitude isn’t going to change things.


After the Man City game, we still had two of the front three and only Liverpool scored more goals. Whilst you’ll get no argument from me that we were too slow, too predictable etc. It makes not a fuck of difference now

[KSE Comedy Club]

I’m just wondering how you propose we should go about counter attacking to counter the attack of the other team so to speak when the other team isn’t coming out to attack

Given you started with the film references, we could goad them into attacking us like in the Warriors

“Come out to Plaaaaayy!”

Anyway nothing what with what you said, Definitely Nothing wrong with what you said. Definitely nothing wrong

Fuuck Rain Man, not seen that in years

Because I don't agree that every team we play sets up to defend against us in two banks of 5 in their own half.
That is mainly a situation that ends up happening because our style of play makes it the easiest way for any team to defend against us.

We just don't counter attack - ever.
As soon as we might win possession, we start to make a run, maybe get near the 18 yard box, but then it's always either pass it back, pass it sideways, pass it out wide, lay off Raya running up near the half way line....etc.

It is never a direct attack where a player has the balls to take a shot on, or two attackers running alongside each other to do a quick side pass and shoot into an empty net.

[HCZ_Reborn]

We have been playing in the same safety first system for the entirety of this season, no doubt as a result of us not beating Villa at the end of last season and losing out on the title.

Arteta obviously would have changed out play up to counter this situation and it has resulted in the obsessive, possession based, cautious play we have been watching for the last 26+ games.

So yes, I would say Odegaard is doing what the manager wants, along with the rest of the team.

So to confirm not that he’s either carrying a knock or exhausted, out of form or low on confidence. Arteta decided that our biggest creative player was just playing too well?

Because you’ve been a bit sensitive today. I want to confirm that is your explanation

A yes or no will do