I'll say again, we played quite well yesterday and had enough chances to win the game. Unfortunately, a title challenging team wouldn't have lost it like we did.
One thing that baffled me were the substitutions though. Wenger subs are normally pretty frustrating, but these ones took the piiiiiss.
He took OFF Lacazette for Theo fooking Walcott. Lacazette being the only one looking like doing anything convincing in front of goal. Walcott who is famously ineffective against a deep block like stoke were playing.
He left Welbeck ON. Welbeck, the guy is less reliable aiming for the target than a sniper with Parkinson's. The poor chap had most of our best chances yesterday and he fluffed them all.
He took Xhaka OFF. I know Xhaka had a bad game, but to take off our only reliable long range passer from deep, especially with Giroud on the pitch just seemed baffling to me.
Just a frustrating, frustrating game, as it usually is under Wenger. It's so clear what we need in midfield and defence, but the situation at the club is just a comedy act by now.
Substitutions yesterday
posted on 20/8/17
Agreed Op. Our so called top striker off and on comes numpty Walcott !
posted on 20/8/17
Xhaka passing was off, long range kept going out of play but there was no need to take him off, although he yet again was guilty of giving the ball away for the opposition goal. This is something he has to cut out ASAP. It's been a full season playing in PL, and seems like he can be pressured easily by opposition. I have no doubt teams will start targeting him from now on. Even Coquelin is more careful in possession.
Taking off Lacazette made no sense and then leave on Welbeck who missed golden chances. Worst was bringing on Iwobi, who was just bought on not because of the situation but because Wenger had a pre plan to bring him on. That guy offers zilch, no confidence whatsoever.
posted on 20/8/17
Iwobi was at least involved in the play. I don't blame him, he's a kid who's been thrown on in a hugely unbalanced team.
Having said that, I don't remember Walcott having one meaningful touch, other than losing it and fouling the guy who tackled him.
posted on 20/8/17
Lacazette being the only one looking like doing anything convincing in front of goal.
Really? Didnt do anything for about 60 min. Not alone his fault because he suffered from the Giroud syndrome of being isolated. Welbeck had far more serious opportunities to score because he run into the right areas.
The more annyoing sub was the Kolasinac change instead of Bellerin for me.
posted on 20/8/17
Xhaka passing was off, long range kept going out of play but there was no need to take him off, although he yet again was guilty of giving the ball away for the opposition goal. This is something he has to cut out ASAP. It's been a full season playing in PL, and seems like he can be pressured easily by opposition. I have no doubt teams will start targeting him from now on. Even Coquelin is more careful in possession.
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Agree with you 100% on Xhaka. His awful passing cost us this time the points. Last week he made the same mistake. Simple things we must improve quickly on. Any buy wouldnt help either....If you play 3 at the back you need to concentrate in that area even more.
posted on 20/8/17
GT please, come on, who else is looking more convincing than Lacazette in front of goal? He scored for crying out loud
posted on 20/8/17
comment by Choice City (U6187)
posted 10 minutes ago
GT please, come on, who else is looking more convincing than Lacazette in front of goal? He scored for crying out loud
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I dont think he was involved much for most of the game. It's not his fault. Good player though who will help us massively this season.
posted on 20/8/17
Lacazette couldn't get into the game understandably because he's a poacher playing away from home. However, if anything, once Giroud came on it was the perfect opportunity to play to Lacazette's strengths. Classic target man and poacher combination, backed up by crossers out wide (why take off Kolasinac?) and a deep passer (why take off Xhaka?) to get the ball out to them. In fact Giroud played a great knock-down late on which donkey Welbeck didn't anticipate. Wenger's subs seemed like he was just throwing on players without any thought to a) playing them in a coherent system or b) what the game needed, which was width and runners to take advantage of Giroud as a target man.
The man simply doesn't understand what the game needs at what time.
posted on 20/8/17
Wenger is out of touch with his peers.
posted on 20/8/17
comment by renoog (U4449)
posted 3 minutes ago
Lacazette couldn't get into the game understandably because he's a poacher playing away from home. However, if anything, once Giroud came on it was the perfect opportunity to play to Lacazette's strengths. Classic target man and poacher combination, backed up by crossers out wide (why take off Kolasinac?) and a deep passer (why take off Xhaka?) to get the ball out to them. In fact Giroud played a great knock-down late on which donkey Welbeck didn't anticipate. Wenger's subs seemed like he was just throwing on players without any thought to a) playing them in a coherent system or b) what the game needed, which was width and runners to take advantage of Giroud as a target man.
The man simply doesn't understand what the game needs at what time.
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Agreed. Nothing to argue about.