I don't recognize this team anymore. This is not the way Arsenal play. I used to think we were vulnerable before but know it's even worse.
Our defense may have slightly improved (debatable)
Our midfield has very little fight and no longer controls games for periods even though it looks technically superior on paper than before
Our attack isn't dynamic enough. Whenever our strikers get the ball, you don't expect them to do anything with it. Podolski is pretty lightweight and drifts out of games but also gives the ball away a lot. Walcott isn't getting the service he needs. Giroud looks isolated at times because our midfield is not moving the ball around enough in order to stretch teams (not fast enough at least). He is continually surrounded and snuffed out.
Overall our cohesion is pretty dreadful and nothing like our former Arsenal team. We need to grab games by the scruff of the neck again. Cazorla Arteta and wilshere does not work, we need a midfield enforcer (I know Diaby is injured but we can't rely on him).
PS : Special mention for Mannone tonight, fantastic performance
Loss of identity
posted on 6/11/12
Time will tell. I'll make my judgement at the end of the season when all is said and done. What I do know is that a trip to Germany and a cold damp night is not easy after a loss in the s c u m m i e s t city in England 3/4 days before
posted on 6/11/12
Undercover
This is not just a sentiment from one game. We no longer have any cutting edge. We seem to have lost any ability to dominate games and create chances. Our bench seems to be very weak aswell. We need more options to change a game (I know we have injuries but Gervinho for example doesn't inspire me very much). I hope this problem is resolved soon as it is painful to watch
posted on 6/11/12
Defence improved.
Midfield stayed the same pretty much, no physicality.
Forward line has got worse.
But this us in bad form, we have shown this season that we have a good side capable of producing excellent performances, I'm sure we'll get over it. It's just a matter of how soon, and it needs to be inthe next 2 or 3 games, and we MUST win the NLD.
posted on 6/11/12
I think the team will be better than last season when it has bedded in.
When I say give it time, I don't mean 10 games - I mean a whole season. Just as YCBC said - pass judgement at the end of the year.
Not that I don't think we need major strengthening to be title contenders though, which is what we all want.
posted on 6/11/12
it's not a loss of identity just bad form. we'll be back playing free flowing football soon, fact.
posted on 6/11/12
We need Gibbs back ASAP as he does have positive effect on our offensive tactics. We just seem so much more confident when he's there as he's got the pace to get back and drive forward (Podolski thrives when playing in front of him imo). The forward line seriously needs a shake up
posted on 6/11/12
Strike force is embarrassing.
posted on 6/11/12
Really frustrates me when I think about Van Persie in our current line up. Would have been fantastic.
Cazorla looks tired also and seems to fade for some periods. How can a whole team be in poor form. I can't remember feeling like this in the past fe years. We used to play good football and suffer huge disappointments avery once in a while (okay I'm being kind) but this just seems to be repeated week in week out, I'm just not as upbeat about this team
posted on 6/11/12
"Cazorla looks tired also and seems to fade for some periods. How can a whole team be in poor form. I can't remember feeling like this in the past fe years. We used to play good football and suffer huge disappointments avery once in a while (okay I'm being kind) but this just seems to be repeated week in week out, I'm just not as upbeat about this team"
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Our teams of the past had an overwhelming amount of talent and could duly get by without being managed. This current team could be a good one, but aren't good enough to operate in the same way Wenger's team's have in the past; autonomously. Because of this, they're without direction and or clue because Wenger has absolutely no idea how to set a team up based around tactical implementation and strategic posturing. The man can't work without the overwhelming talent and footballing IQ.
Dreadful match-day coach. Always has been. It's only become apparent now that he has to actually be one.
posted on 6/11/12
I think the whole set up has changed in order to improve our defence which in some respects it has. However instead of tweaking the team a little, it has completely changed the way we operate. Our 433 looks very static and predictable. We need someone up front who is spontaneous (Chamberlain maybe) to liven things up and keep their defenders thinking. All teams need to do against us is be there, our movement is not good enough to cause problems anymore. This could also be explained by the loss of RVP as teams would do anything to keep the ball away from him. Maybe Giroud is just easy to mark out of games...