Good article.
There definitely seems to be (at times) a distinct lack of urgency, more so at home games than away.
Of course there are multiple reasons for this, but one think I've really noticed this season is the confidence issue.
When this current Arsenal team actually get the ball, keep possesion and play their natural game, their tails are up and they'll give anybody a game. That Arsenal would comfortably finish in the top 4!
The other side of the coin is that there's a certain sense of nervousness about the team, Wenger has even (unusually for him) been quite vocal about this issue. It's something that is part of the current teams make-up and is not the kind of thing that goes away overnight. Perhaps the fact that to some degree this is a 'new' Arsenal team and they are finding their feet and identity.
We always have the problem to play against these park-the-bus defensive team, and these are the times that we need some long shooters like Podolski to play in the middle (CF, AMF) to get something started. We don't need beautiful goals, at least we have someone that can shoot, and only good things will happen when you have a shot on goal... deflect, rebound, 2nd chance.... passing the ball to the sides all game long won't help
A lot of our players were guilty of dwelling too long on the ball today/making slow sideways passes but Diaby was the worst imo. Don't get me wrong, I love how we always try to pass the ball instead of playing it into the box aimlessly. It's an amazing philosophy and I'm proud of us for sticking too it BUT sometimes it goes TOO far. Today this was the case.
We need to be more energized at the start of games, both physically and mentally. A lot of talented players out there who can win us the game by being confident enough to make a run, take a shot, go for a risky pass. Not happening often enough.
You know one player who would help with this problem? David fecking Villa.
I know he got 5 goals in 3 games, but I still think Giroud does not do enough to get in the right place and Walcotts crossing suffered today as he had no-one to aim at within his passing ability.
And with all of the posession we had today who else thinks we would have scored more with a top striker?
comment by ● (U4443)
posted 42 minutes ago
You know one player who would help with this problem? David fecking Villa.
===================
comment by I am gooner now (U16927)
And with all of the posession we had today who else thinks we would have scored more with a top striker?
==================
Yes, Villa would have given some improvement and yes, we might have scored more.
However I don't believe that Villa alone would have made all the runs that were 'on' today. The point I am making is that there is a lack of movement from our wide players, too, and a general lack of urgency in our play. Our slow approach play makes easier for teams such as Stoke to keep their defensive shape.
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Stoke. A study of a static attack.
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posted on 2/2/13
Good article.
There definitely seems to be (at times) a distinct lack of urgency, more so at home games than away.
Of course there are multiple reasons for this, but one think I've really noticed this season is the confidence issue.
When this current Arsenal team actually get the ball, keep possesion and play their natural game, their tails are up and they'll give anybody a game. That Arsenal would comfortably finish in the top 4!
The other side of the coin is that there's a certain sense of nervousness about the team, Wenger has even (unusually for him) been quite vocal about this issue. It's something that is part of the current teams make-up and is not the kind of thing that goes away overnight. Perhaps the fact that to some degree this is a 'new' Arsenal team and they are finding their feet and identity.
posted on 2/2/13
We always have the problem to play against these park-the-bus defensive team, and these are the times that we need some long shooters like Podolski to play in the middle (CF, AMF) to get something started. We don't need beautiful goals, at least we have someone that can shoot, and only good things will happen when you have a shot on goal... deflect, rebound, 2nd chance.... passing the ball to the sides all game long won't help
posted on 2/2/13
A lot of our players were guilty of dwelling too long on the ball today/making slow sideways passes but Diaby was the worst imo. Don't get me wrong, I love how we always try to pass the ball instead of playing it into the box aimlessly. It's an amazing philosophy and I'm proud of us for sticking too it BUT sometimes it goes TOO far. Today this was the case.
We need to be more energized at the start of games, both physically and mentally. A lot of talented players out there who can win us the game by being confident enough to make a run, take a shot, go for a risky pass. Not happening often enough.
posted on 2/2/13
You know one player who would help with this problem? David fecking Villa.
posted on 2/2/13
I know he got 5 goals in 3 games, but I still think Giroud does not do enough to get in the right place and Walcotts crossing suffered today as he had no-one to aim at within his passing ability.
And with all of the posession we had today who else thinks we would have scored more with a top striker?
posted on 2/2/13
comment by ● (U4443)
posted 42 minutes ago
You know one player who would help with this problem? David fecking Villa.
===================
comment by I am gooner now (U16927)
And with all of the posession we had today who else thinks we would have scored more with a top striker?
==================
Yes, Villa would have given some improvement and yes, we might have scored more.
However I don't believe that Villa alone would have made all the runs that were 'on' today. The point I am making is that there is a lack of movement from our wide players, too, and a general lack of urgency in our play. Our slow approach play makes easier for teams such as Stoke to keep their defensive shape.
Page 1 of 1