Let me start by saying that Everton were good. They had what 30% possession but created absolute havoc in our penalty area. They should have been at least one nil up at half time. A win for them was a fair result.
We stunk out the place. So many players just not at the races (with desire, intensity and decision making). These games happen but we need to bounce back ASAP.
Arteta looked like a manager who has never played against Dyche before. The tactical inflexibility was bad. We mad no attempt to cut out crosses and no adjustment to formation or personnel to counter it. Yes, we played how we always play and vs Utd we got our rewards. However, during that game, we had shown we could score and it was working. Vs Everton, it was not and we needed something different. Tomiyasu for White earlier, Nketiah off as we were struggling to create in the box and he is rubbish outside it mostly.
However, the worst decision Arteta made was taking off Partey. He is the MAIN man in this team. All others can be replaced but take him out and the level drop considerably. Jorginho is NOT a DM. I dont want to scapegoat him bit he is not Partey's back up in this formation. He needs to play in xhaka role or as a double pivot. Not sure why Arteta could not see this especially as we have plenty of examples of his Chelsea career. I see this as a Willian type move. A manager who has blind belief in a player playing a role in a team that just does not fit. Once again, like last January, we fail to do what it really takes to push us forward.
We must beat City now when we face them in 10 days.
Arsenal vs Everton
posted on 5/2/23
Some changes needed for Brentford. White and Martinelli out. Tomi and Trossard in.
posted on 5/2/23
Total neutral … in fact, I’d like to see Arsenal win the title this season. That was a worryingly meh performance though. All a bit powder puff really. Surely no one could have been under any illusions as to what they’d face in Dyche’s first game? Also, whilst I think that both Trossard and Jorginho are OK signings, not convinced they’re the “game changer” type you’ll need to win the league … in what might be the best chance you’ll have.
posted on 5/2/23
Enough of this Partey injury nonsense. Partey was fit enough to start and Arteta has already said he was replaced for tactical reasons, dynamism in the team and not because there was any drop off in form.
Would Odegaard be marking Tarkowski if Partey had been on the pitch. Unlikely.
So Arteta was trying to be more aggressive to win the game and we lost the game. Thats not an issue. I much rather have a manager trying to win rather than the cautious Arteta of his first 2 seasons.
The problem yesterday started with Saliba/Gabriel. Usually we push up and compress play in the opposition half. That reduces the spaces between our midfield players. We saw very little of that and almost no press. I think Arteta made a mistake tactically because Dyche was announcing to everyone that he will be launching long balls to DCL and so he played his 2 CBs deeper rather than corralling him higher up the pitch like we do with Kane. I actually think Arteta paid too much respect to Dyche and that did us in.
Jorginho can be a DM as long as we are disciplined in pushing up. Gap control is the key to how we play so I completely understand why Arteta doesn't buy into the 'slow' DM is going to be our downfall narrative. As long as Jorginho displays the positional sense he is famed for we should be ok with him as a backup for the few months left of the season.
posted on 5/2/23
Being fit enough to start and being fit enough to play 90 minutes are not the same.
When asked why he took Partey off Arteta said he hasn't trained all week so he put Jorginho on.
posted on 5/2/23
comment by Dave The Jackal (U22179)
posted 1 hour, 11 minutes ago
Total neutral … in fact, I’d like to see Arsenal win the title this season. That was a worryingly meh performance though. All a bit powder puff really. Surely no one could have been under any illusions as to what they’d face in Dyche’s first game? Also, whilst I think that both Trossard and Jorginho are OK signings, not convinced they’re the “game changer” type you’ll need to win the league … in what might be the best chance you’ll have.
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Much as I don't like your use of the expression "powder puff", what you say is correct. The most annoying thing about the performance was that you knew exactly what to expect from Everton's first game under Dyche - organised, compact, hard-working, physical and a threat from corners and crosses... and we looked like we weren't ready for it, and had absolutely no answer.
I get that these games can happen, and the players aren't automatons, so hopefully it was just one of those days and the next game is a win and we go on a run like we did after the United loss. It is a worrying performance at this stage of the season from a team that wants to win the league though...
posted on 5/2/23
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/football/64484528
Arteta clearly said we wanted to change a few things specifically the dynamic and at that moment we conceded.
He didn't say Partey was tired as he hasn't trained this week so we wanted to freshen it up. Quite the opposite. Clearly Arteta has wanted Jorginho for a very long time and I think the reason why is that he recycles the ball far faster than Partey which stops opposing teams setting up in the deep formations. Quick transitions is key to how Pep/Arteta used to setup Man City.
And I think Jorginho was able to do that when he was younger. Whether he will be able to do that now will go a long in answering if we can win the Europa and/or the Title.
posted on 5/2/23
Oh and that and the Newcastle game are the blueprint for the rest of the league on how to play us (as if they didn't know but still).
posted on 5/2/23
He wasn't asked why Partey went off there. He was elsewhere and stated Partey hadn't trained all week as the reason.
posted on 5/2/23
comment by TheSkins (U3865)
posted 53 seconds ago
Oh and that and the Newcastle game are the blueprint for the rest of the league on how to play us (as if they didn't know but still).
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Yes. No doubt. One reason why I think there has been a slight drop off in composure in the final third, something Arteta was very specific in pointing out as a problem he has to solve is the fitness of Xhaka. Xhaka was in imperious form at the start of the season which has started to drop quite a bit. We need to see the creativity on that wing that we usually do from Odegaard. That stops teams concentrating too much on Ode/Saka wing.
posted on 5/2/23
comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 3 minutes ago
He wasn't asked why Partey went off there. He was elsewhere and stated Partey hadn't trained all week as the reason.
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Its not even the point though. Even if Partey had aggravated his injury was forced off, Arteta should have paid more attention to how it would affect the set pieces he himself admitted they were concentrating on the entire week. You cannot leave Odegaard marking Tarkowski after subs. Gabriel/White or someone from the bench should have been shouting at them to watch who was marking whom after Partey left the pitch.