Arsenal vs Ammers 22.02.2025 - KO 15:00 GMT

[HCZ_Reborn]

We have the players who can up the tempo and play a more direct game, we've seen it, it works. We can't break teams down because we almost hand craft invitations for the opposition defence to meander back to their defensive positions. We are always facing masses ranks because it takes us 30+ passes to move the ball all around our own half before getting it into the opposition third. We have players like Saka, Nwaneri, Trossaard, Martinelli, tierney, these guys whould be playing at 100mph every match with their eyes fixed on the opposition goal. Instead they are expending 100% effort shuffling around the place trying to fill two, even three roles.

Just hump the fucking ball up the pitch and if you are going to use Merindo then he's good in the air, so use him as a target man. Then get that fucker down to either Partey or Odeagrd and hoof that fucker at the goal so the forwards can heap maximum pressure on the defence.

I thought we were supposed to be optimally fit, that the modern PL was agame for athletes? So why are we plodding around at 1mph? The fucking grass has grown by the time we transition up the pitch.

When have we seen it? I know you keep insisting on the fact that Rice is this Roy of the Rovers footballer who can play box to box. But he doesn’t, he doesn’t have the passing range, the acceleration or the skill with the ball to his feet. It’s not his fault, it’s not how he plays…he’s a defensive midfielder his job is to neutralise danger and he’s exceptional at that. I told you very clearly that we beat Man City because they are a side of suicidal stubbornness when it comes to playing out from the back. They overcommitted and left acres of space for us to run into.

[Letters]

And we’ve all been deluding ourselves into a fairy tale belief that somehow players who don’t look like scoring were somehow going to score

Guilty as charged, but despite our injuries there are players out there who should be able to chip in and score goals. I thought you were being hysterical when you questioned whether we can stay in the top 4 but right now you do have to wonder where the goals are going to come from to keep us up there. It’s galling to see Liverpool cruise to the title so easily. They’re the best in the league but that’s a low bar this season.

[Niall_Quinn]

When have we seen it? I know you keep insisting on the fact that Rice is this Roy of the Rovers footballer who can play box to box. But he doesn’t, he doesn’t have the passing range, the acceleration or the skill with the ball to his feet. It’s not his fault, it’s not how he plays…he’s a defensive midfielder his job is to neutralise danger and he’s exceptional at that. I told you very clearly that we beat Man City because they are a side of suicidal stubbornness when it comes to playing out from the back. They overcommitted and left acres of space for us to run into.

I know you are suffering with some sort of mental illness when it comes to Rice, possibly because you are sexually attracted to Partey and will get a better view of his buttocks if he plays further up the pitch.

But I was talking about the tempo of the game and the comfort we afford the opposition defence. It's all obvious stuff really. Give the defenders less time and they'll make more mistakes. Not sure you need any of the imaginary tactics pundits come up with to justify their salaries.

[HCZ_Reborn]

I know you are suffering with some sort of mental illness when it comes to Rice, possibly because you are sexually attracted to Partey and will get a better view of his buttocks if he plays further up the pitch.

But I was talking about the tempo of the game and the comfort we afford the opposition defence. It's all obvious stuff really. Give the defenders less time and they'll make more mistakes. Not sure you need any of the imaginary tactics pundits come up with to justify their salaries.

So sidestepping the two paragraphs of poo you’ve written. When was this time we were able to play direct and cut through an opposition that didn’t play totally into our hands?

I’m not talking about tactics. I don’t think we’ve got the players to do what you’re saying we should do

[Niall_Quinn]

Guilty as charged, but despite our injuries there are players out there who should be able to chip in and score goals. I thought you were being hysterical when you questioned whether we can stay in the top 4 but right now you do have to wonder where the goals are going to come from to keep us up there. It’s galling to see Liverpool cruise to the title so easily. They’re the best in the league but that’s a low bar this season.

Liverpool aren't a great team, not even a notable one. They have a great player carrying them, and a decent enough defender just about holding things together. And a couple of world class cheats to consistently tilt the playing field.

Gypos are a bunch of mercenaries who are tired of it now, too rich, can't be arsed.

We always had top 4 as the goal. For financial reasons. There was never any intention to win anything, that's not the focus of the club.

Probably the worst PL in quite some time. None of these 3 would have got within a mile of recent gypo title winners or even recent Liverpool winners. And, sadly, even out team from last year would be an impossible hurdle for anything in this league right now (especially our current bunch of shitkickers)

[Niall_Quinn]

So sidestepping the two paragraphs of poo you’ve written. When was this time we were able to play direct and cut through an opposition that didn’t play totally into our hands?

I’m not talking about tactics. I don’t think we’ve got the players to do what you’re saying we should do

Oh - the extra condition tagged to the end so you can skip over your bizarre, unbalanced initial response and also leapfrog my reminder of what the conversation is actually about.

The last game was Leicester, the second goal. And then back through this season with several examples, last season likewise and all the way back through Wenger's reign, we've ALWAYS been better playing at a high tempo. We've NEVER been Barcelona. We're more than capable. Yes, granted we can't go too gung-ho given the current injury crisis. But how hard would it be for a wide man to play on the move facing the opposition goal rather than stood still with back to goal?

Pepe ruined football. He's cursed it. It's why most games are unwatchable now.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Oh - the extra condition tagged to the end so you can skip over your bizarre, unbalanced initial response and also leapfrog my reminder of what the conversation is actually about.

The last game was Leicester, the second goal. And then back through this season with several examples, last season likewise and all the way back through Wenger's reign, we've ALWAYS been better playing at a high tempo. We've NEVER been Barcelona. We're more than capable. Yes, granted we can't go too gung-ho given the current injury crisis. But how hard would it be for a wide man to play on the move facing the opposition goal rather than stood still with back to goal?

Pepe ruined football. He's cursed it. It's why most games are unwatchable now.

Leicester the second goal? You mean the second goal where play was stretched because we’d already taken the lead, meaning Leicester had to come out and overcommit.

Plus what I said about Rice was relevant to the discussion. This direct, high tempo football you crave is not possible when you’re playing a defensive midfielder at 8. I don’t know where your weird projected homoerotic remark about Partey came from as I don’t think he’s especially a great 8 either. But he’s better at it than Rice and Rice is far, far better at 6 than Partey.


And maybe if nothing else if Rice wasn’t pushed so far forward we’d have had better protection for our back line. And we’d be bemoaning a 0-0 rather than a 1-0 defeat

[Niall_Quinn]

Leicester the second goal? You mean the second goal where play was stretched because we’d already taken the lead, meaning Leicester had to come out and overcommit.

Plus what I said about Rice was relevant to the discussion. This direct, high tempo football you crave is not possible when you’re playing a defensive midfielder at 8. I don’t know where your weird projected homoerotic remark about Partey came from as I don’t think he’s especially a great 8 either. But he’s better at it than Rice and Rice is far, far better at 6 than Partey.


And maybe if nothing else if Rice wasn’t pushed so far forward we’d have had better protection for our back line. And we’d be bemoaning a 0-0 rather than a 1-0 defeat

So Trossard outpaced and beat his man because Leicester lacked players in and around the box? Didn't look that way. Looked more like Trossard skinning the defender. Why aren't we playing it in front of him so he can do that some more? It's what he does. Instead we see him engaged in pretty triangles before one of the midfielders feels the slightest pressure and plays it all the way back. Happens what, 20 times a match? Same with Nwaneri, he's keen to take on his man, not afraid at all. But instead we have him tip tapping it between himself and 5 yard Odegard?

We had a break in Dubai? We should have run the legs off WH. We didn't get out of first gear. It's not about the intricacies of football that may or may not be real, it's about getting to the bal quicker, playing more positive passes, accepting you might lose the ball, using the supposedly best defence in the league to cover those occasions.

Even simpler, play at 2mph instead of 1mph. Even that would be better.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Trossard did well to take on his man and put in a good cross, but watch the goal again….Calafiori acres of space finds Trossard, his man gets tight to him but only because Trossard has no pace, but when Trossard puts the ball in, Leicester defenders are still running back and therefore Merino is able to ghost in unmarked.

It’s a counter attacking goal. It’s the kind of goal you can only score when the opposition has pushed up which they had

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

A red card is only a 3 match ban for dangerous play. It’s a one match ban

Ah didn't know this....that makes things a little bit more palatable.