For those who might be disappointed that Gyok didn't score....though I started the 1st half a bit late , I noticed that every time we had that ball from mainly Saka thats cuts across the goal, Gyok was there (though their keeper and defenders intercepted it everytime)...it was really refreshing to finally see that after almost 5 years of wishing for this.
I feel this preseason, while good from the point of view of signing talent, is already showing signs of our potentially failing to make the best of themOriginally Posted by 21_GOONER_SALUTE
The task of making the team more than the sum of its parts has to be what Arteta is measured by and if he can't it's time to move on.
Last edited by Mac76; 06-08-2025 at 07:44 PM.
True but also kinda irrelevant.
The point is pre-season results really don’t have much bearing on the upcoming season
Not bothered about pre-season to be honest but I’m very much ready to bump the Arteta sack thread after the United game because we don’t look great, still as stodgy as ever.
Sky pretty much saying the same thing about Gyok's performance, I still think it was a shame he was taken off when he was, especially as the guys that came on offered Merino far better service eventually:
https://www.skysports.com/football/n...s-star-showingGyokeres attacked the box unlike any Arsenal centre forward in the current era. It took the Swede just 30 seconds to pull away into the left channel, take the ball into the box and cross. There was an unwanted tap-in on offer.
Arsenal have a centre forward in Kai Havertz who tends to move to the right channel to link up with Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka. The Gunners have a different option in Gyokeres for a different flank.
Then there was a moment late in the first half, when Gyokeres stood up two defenders and barged through both of them. Again, he pulled the ball back for a cross, but nobody was there.
It brings us nicely onto the next key feature of Gyokeres' game: being within the width of the posts.
In the past, Arsenal have had options like Havertz and Gabriel Jesus and come for the ball, and while there was a bit of that with Gyokeres, his desire to stay on the last line and wait for chances in the box was clear.
Saka managed to beat his opposite man on two or three occasions in the first half, with Gyokeres in position from close range to pick up on any scraps. He nearly got on one in the opening period, but instead whacked the ball into Christian Norgaard on the stretch.
Then came his moment in the second half. Gyokeres was played through to the right of the box and had a tight angle, but still forced a solid save from Villarreal goalkeeper Luiz Junior.
It was an attack through the middle of the pitch - Arsenal ranked 20th out of all Premier League teams in that statistic last season. It was also a curved run in behind - instead of a link-up attack that Havertz is used to - that opened up a stubborn defence.
It ended up being Gyokeres' last action of the game, with him substituted at the hour mark. It is clear that the Swedish striker still has some fitness to catch up on.
Artetaball is really depressing...and it's not even about winning or losing , it just so boring and predictable.....which is why Dowman is getting all the plaudits for bringing something different and fresh...TBH their must be a way to stay at the top and play football that excites people, it's really really becoming an issue.
How we play seems to be about smothering the other team, which is fine if we are playing a team like Real Madrid, but against teams that don’t commit many forward it’s ultimately ineffective. Playing a plodder like Merino at 8 is simply not going to work, I’ve said for ages we should sell him…he doesn’t offer us anything
If we sign someone like Eze, we need to be playing them alongside Nwaneri in front of Rice or Zubimendi (preferably Rice as Zubimendi looks like a totally pointless signing as well). There’s no point saying we need to change the way we play, we need the right players playing in order to facilitate this
Too late mate, I have already bumped the "Arteta sack" thread
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