I am worried

My biggest concern with our players is the total inconsistency. One minute they seem to be well drilled energetic and organised , then the very next game they seem chaotic , lethargic and totally shambolic.
Obviously the opposition plays a key part in how we perform but that does not explain how our energy and drive falls off so much in some games.
Th West Ham game was an extreme example , we were a total fiasco in the first half , then looked like a top four side in the second half.
Arteta needs to urgently sort out why this is happening and fix it, its not a new issue its been happening all season.
In some ways the players and manager have been fortunate that there are no supporters in the ground , because Im certain they would have been getting some serious barracking if there were.

We've probably got to score at least 4 goals as we know we are bound to concede at least 1. How long is Tierney out for?

comment by Snooker_49 (U10665)
posted 5 minutes ago
We've probably got to score at least 4 goals as we know we are bound to concede at least 1. How long is Tierney out for?
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I fear the worst Snook. KT could be out of the season. It means that our dreams to win the EL fading without KT.

Our next 4 games are against the bottom team and 3rd bottom team in the PL and 2 legs in the EL. Anything less than 2 wins in the league and going through in the EL and Im all aboard the Arteta out train, no more wishy washy in between, no more benefit of the doubt.

comment by (U3265)
posted 2 hours, 45 minutes ago
My biggest concern with our players is the total inconsistency. One minute they seem to be well drilled energetic and organised , then the very next game they seem chaotic , lethargic and totally shambolic.
Obviously the opposition plays a key part in how we perform but that does not explain how our energy and drive falls off so much in some games.
Th West Ham game was an extreme example , we were a total fiasco in the first half , then looked like a top four side in the second half.
Arteta needs to urgently sort out why this is happening and fix it, its not a new issue its been happening all season.
In some ways the players and manager have been fortunate that there are no supporters in the ground , because Im certain they would have been getting some serious barracking if there were.

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Weirdly this whole not knowing what Arsenal will turn up has been a very long term thing, it happened under Wenger as well as Emery and Arteta. Even though we have changed players we still seem prone to have this sloppy attitude, seems like it’s some culture that’s ingrained in the club that transcends managers

comment by (U3265)
posted 3 hours, 34 minutes ago
My biggest concern with our players is the total inconsistency. One minute they seem to be well drilled energetic and organised , then the very next game they seem chaotic , lethargic and totally shambolic.
Obviously the opposition plays a key part in how we perform but that does not explain how our energy and drive falls off so much in some games.
Th West Ham game was an extreme example , we were a total fiasco in the first half , then looked like a top four side in the second half.
Arteta needs to urgently sort out why this is happening and fix it, its not a new issue its been happening all season.
In some ways the players and manager have been fortunate that there are no supporters in the ground , because Im certain they would have been getting some serious barracking if there were.

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Thats fairly simple to explain. Its down to how the opposition play. If they sit deep and let our players have the ball in front of them we look good. If they play their own game we look good. If they set up to disrupt our play and not give us any time on the ball we fall apart. The ball gets played forward to our midfield who cant cope with the pressure and play a back pass (Xhaka in particular). We play the ball back and forward a bit until they win it off us and attack us leaving us looking shambolic. the forwards lose any appearance of being motivated and just look like dejected has beens.

comment by The Wonky Kronke (U16927)
posted 1 hour, 6 minutes ago
comment by (U3265)
posted 3 hours, 34 minutes ago
My biggest concern with our players is the total inconsistency. One minute they seem to be well drilled energetic and organised , then the very next game they seem chaotic , lethargic and totally shambolic.
Obviously the opposition plays a key part in how we perform but that does not explain how our energy and drive falls off so much in some games.
Th West Ham game was an extreme example , we were a total fiasco in the first half , then looked like a top four side in the second half.
Arteta needs to urgently sort out why this is happening and fix it, its not a new issue its been happening all season.
In some ways the players and manager have been fortunate that there are no supporters in the ground , because Im certain they would have been getting some serious barracking if there were.

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Thats fairly simple to explain. Its down to how the opposition play. If they sit deep and let our players have the ball in front of them we look good. If they play their own game we look good. If they set up to disrupt our play and not give us any time on the ball we fall apart. The ball gets played forward to our midfield who cant cope with the pressure and play a back pass (Xhaka in particular). We play the ball back and forward a bit until they win it off us and attack us leaving us looking shambolic. the forwards lose any appearance of being motivated and just look like dejected has beens.
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That doesn't explain the West Ham game, West Ham didnt change their style of play at half time , we did . We kicked it up a gear and started to put more effort in. Which begs the question why didnt we do that from the start. We have started too many games slow and lethargic , which is not good enough.

comment by (U3265)
posted 1 hour, 9 minutes ago
comment by The Wonky Kronke (U16927)
posted 1 hour, 6 minutes ago
comment by (U3265)
posted 3 hours, 34 minutes ago
My biggest concern with our players is the total inconsistency. One minute they seem to be well drilled energetic and organised , then the very next game they seem chaotic , lethargic and totally shambolic.
Obviously the opposition plays a key part in how we perform but that does not explain how our energy and drive falls off so much in some games.
Th West Ham game was an extreme example , we were a total fiasco in the first half , then looked like a top four side in the second half.
Arteta needs to urgently sort out why this is happening and fix it, its not a new issue its been happening all season.
In some ways the players and manager have been fortunate that there are no supporters in the ground , because Im certain they would have been getting some serious barracking if there were.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Thats fairly simple to explain. Its down to how the opposition play. If they sit deep and let our players have the ball in front of them we look good. If they play their own game we look good. If they set up to disrupt our play and not give us any time on the ball we fall apart. The ball gets played forward to our midfield who cant cope with the pressure and play a back pass (Xhaka in particular). We play the ball back and forward a bit until they win it off us and attack us leaving us looking shambolic. the forwards lose any appearance of being motivated and just look like dejected has beens.
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That doesn't explain the West Ham game, West Ham didnt change their style of play at half time , we did . We kicked it up a gear and started to put more effort in. Which begs the question why didnt we do that from the start. We have started too many games slow and lethargic , which is not good enough.
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They tired as the game went on and sat deeper, were unlucky to concede 2 og's and we put them under pressure. I didnt say every game is exactly this but it fits in with the general overview of what I said. And you'll never have a perfect explanation that fits every single minute of every game, its a general opinion on how our whole season has gone.

Arteta is a "safe" manager...in the sense that he will gladly do his best to defend a 1 nil lead instead of playing to the teams strengths (at least with the individuals we have). When we play teams that are above us, we set up to defend and sit deep most of the time...with 2 exceptions being Chelsea and Spurs at home. I believe that is West Ham had only need a goal up at half time, we would have played the exact same way the second half and lose narrowly. We only seem to attack better placed teams when we are down. It is so infuriating because on PAPER, this team should be scoring bucket loads. Instead..we look very disjointed going forward in most games.

Look at Olympiakos and Benfica....we went through...but were not good over both legs in any way. We were 3-1 up versus Olympiakos and should have had the leisure of playing good football with no pressure...but we did not know whether to stick or twist. We did neither and looked so bad.

I dont see Arteta as being the man to get us better. He picks Willian when fit...I have nothing personal against the player but it boggles my mind that he was more often than not the first sub to come on if he did not start. Having done nothing to justify it...while Martinelli rots on the bench...a player who every time he comes on, gives us desire and energy that this team sorely lacks.

I can see someone making offers for Martinelli and Balogun in the summer then turn them into a lethal strking partnership