Up until this time last year, I felt that we had become a really solid team defensively and that if we score first we win, because we simply weren't gonna give away silly goals. Although we weren't rock solid, the Kos/Per partnership was the best we've had in a very long time and our stats defensively backed it up with our goalkeepers winning the golden glove twice in 3 years.
This season though we have been a bit of a shambles. On paper Kos/Mustafi looks good and I also feel Kos has been excellent this season (last year he was really bad) but we still keep conceding goals. We've conceded 11 in our last 8 games, no clean sheets in 8 games and up until Liverpool's hilarious collapse, we were level with them on goals against, which is embarrassing considering how bad their defense is.
Despite those stats, we seem to get an easy ride from the media (whereas the likes of City and Liverpool get crucified for their defensive frailties), probably because we have Cech who in the media's eyes is a godsend. What is it about the trio of Cech/Kos/Mustafi that looks so good on paper but just can't shut opponents out? We are scoring for fun at the moment but the goals will dry eventually and when that happens, our defense are gonna be needed. Can we rely on them right now? I don't think so.
Our defence...what has happened to it?
posted on 5/12/16
The left back is atrocious that's why.
posted on 5/12/16
I think Mustafi looked pretty dodgy in our game, slow and easily turned, but I have not seen enough to make a proper judgment on him.
That partnership with Kos is still in its infancy though, I would not be too concerned if I were you
posted on 5/12/16
We struggle to control the midfield even against average sides which puts us under more pressure. Mustafi hasn't been great so far imo, he has plenty of mistakes in him. Monreal seems to get bullied a lot. But our defence is probably still in the top 3 in the league (not saying much though).
posted on 5/12/16
comment by BO$$™ (U6401)
posted 1 hour, 12 minutes ago
Can't think of any errors from Cech he's been good. It's great how he just plucks the ball out the air when the ball is crossed in.
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He doesn't make big errors but it does sometimes feel like he could have done more with some of the shots he lets in. Can't complain too much though considering the goalkeepers we've had in the years before we bought him.
On topic, I think Jenius is right that we haven't quite got it right in midfield yet. There are consistently large spaces and wide open passing lanes left, particularly when we've just lost possession. A lot of this is just a by-product of setting up as an attacking team - you push people forward (for example Coquelin gets ahead of the ball a LOT) then you will leave gaps. I think we could do better on that front though, whether it be the personnel or the instruction they are getting from the manager.
Also, I wish we pressed more as we are too passive sometimes. I think we have the players to do it now and on the occasions we do we tend to play better, but Arsene seems to be reluctant to committing to a pressing game.
posted on 5/12/16
"What is it about the trio of Cech/Kos/Mustafi that looks so good on paper but just can't shut opponents out?"
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Answer: When looking at it on, paper you forget to take into account that our two FBs will press forward at the same time meaning Kos and Mustafi get left in the lurch constantly. It's infuriating to watch. The FBs were guilty of this last season as well. I don't get why the two of them have such a huge problem with the concept that only one is in the attacking 3rd at a time. Kos and Mustafi is a cracking pairing, just needs our FBs to show some common sense to truly flourish.
posted on 5/12/16
In Wenger's entire tenure, our fullbacks have always pushed high up the pitch. Hardly a good reason as I said, it was about this time last year when we started leaking goals all the time when previously we had been accumulating clean sheets every 2nd game.
Also I'm not complaining, it's more of a concern, we are playing good stuff and for the first time in 5 years we have become a free scoring side again but we have dropped too many points from winning positions. We had won something like 30 games in a row when we scored first coming up to the West Brom game last season but this season we have scored first against Spurs and Liverpool and managed to throw 4 points away that would have us top of the league.
posted on 5/12/16
Mustafi makes tackles and tries to intercept from crazy positions at times. I remember one incident in the first half against Spurs where he tracked Son all the way to the touchline and got rolled and beaten, leaving us scrambling back desperately to cover acres of space.
I don't think the Kos-Mustafi partnership is any more solid that the Kos-Per one, tbh.
Also think we've looked more vulnerable on set-pieces this season.
But we still have like the 3rd best defensive record, so perhaps we can't overplay our frailties there. But then again, even with that favourable stat, it's a goal per game, and that doesn't look impressive.
posted on 5/12/16
I mean I love waking up in the morning
posted on 5/12/16
Isn't it just the style of play making us more vulnerable?
posted on 6/12/16
comment by Bats (U18355)
posted 19 hours, 5 minutes ago
In Wenger's entire tenure, our fullbacks have always pushed high up the pitch. Hardly a good reason as I said, it was about this time last year when we started leaking goals all the time when previously we had been accumulating clean sheets every 2nd game.
Also I'm not complaining, it's more of a concern, we are playing good stuff and for the first time in 5 years we have become a free scoring side again but we have dropped too many points from winning positions. We had won something like 30 games in a row when we scored first coming up to the West Brom game last season but this season we have scored first against Spurs and Liverpool and managed to throw 4 points away that would have us top of the league.
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They've always pushed up yes but not to the point of constantly leaving the two CBs in the lurch. Lauren and Cole weren't often in the opposition 3rd at the same time. This might be more a leadership thing. I mean the main reason Cole and Lauren never left Campbell and Toure in the lurch is because they'd have gotten the stare of death and a balling out from Campbell for leaving him stranded. I'm not saying our current FBs need to stop pushing forward, they just need to be more mindful of what the other is doing. Right now they push up in the same way regardless of the situation on the pitch at the time or were their opposite wing counterpart is.