Concerned

Oh, my bad DJ, didn't read the 2nd part of your comment

No physicality in midfield. Coquelin - Cazorla - Ozil is powderpuff. At least when Ramsey is playing, despite all his criticisms, he gets stuck in and closes down the opposition.

comment by Tu Meke Santi (U3732)
posted 2 minutes ago
HUNTING,

I'm not sure a big brute in midfield will help us against this pressing tactic teams are deploying against us. We need to take the game to the opposition more. It's verging on cowardice at times.
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Doesnt have to be a big brute, like Genius said we just need some toughness in the middle.

Spot on Dastudogg.

We also need to push full backs into midfield to out number the press. Or you allow the full backs of the opposition to push into you half which means that their wingers are almost parallel to your penalty area without any effort.

Thats why Bellerin has looked so good when he has played compared to Chambers. Its been a scandal why Monreal has been selected ahead of Gibbs. Kind of shows why Wenger doesn't know what he has or what tactics he is playing.

Yh, but if that physical player is told to sit back and mop up what the opposition take to him, we'll be in the same position. Same goes for the rest of the midfield/team.

I think the defensive qualities of Coquelin and Cazorla are being underrated here. The pair had the most and second most tackles+interceptions of any player on the pitch respectively today.

The presence of Ramsey didn't stop us getting completely overran by teams like Dortmund and Tottenham.
You can even go back to a time when we had Vieira and Gilberto and see examples of when we were completely outbattled when the balance of the team wasn't right - the 2005 FA Cup final, for example, where we were absolutely annihilated for 120 minutes and then scraped it on penalties.

It's always going to be very difficult for a midfield when they're forced to play deep because of the pressing from the opposition (and the lack of out-balls to relieve pressure).

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comment by Jenius99 (U4918)
posted 5 minutes ago
Spot on Dastudogg.

We also need to push full backs into midfield to out number the press. Or you allow the full backs of the opposition to push into you half which means that their wingers are almost parallel to your penalty area without any effort.

Thats why Bellerin has looked so good when he has played compared to Chambers. Its been a scandal why Monreal has been selected ahead of Gibbs. Kind of shows why Wenger doesn't know what he has or what tactics he is playing.
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Agreed Zaha and Bolasie (when he came on) were so far up the pitch. I can appreciate the qualities than Monreal and Chambers bring, but I'm always a little concerned when they come up against pacey, direct widemen.

Comment Deleted by Site Moderator

"Press us and we're kinda done."
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Must be the manager.
It's not only a consequence of a lack of pace up upfront, although it would be helpful.
It's also an indication of how (in)effective our transition play is. The issue of being unable to bring the ball out from our half against pressing teams with quick passing has been there for a while, and it's the manager who should be addressing this.