In possession, we are playing 3-2-4-1, (3 CBs) and out of possession Partey is the RB in back 4.

Partey can't do what Zinchenko can, and it was clear how much smoother transitions became when he came on.

Our defensive rotation is also not good when Partey comes into the middle because Saliba is not used to playing LCB. So it's not natural for him to find the quick ball into Rice, and he is slowing down before he can find his man up field through the lines.

Slow transitions allow opposing teams to maintain their low blocks, and our chances are not as good as last season imo.

Oh Kiwior is terrified of contact. I think Arteta's comment of dying to stop a goal was aimed at him!

I always expected us to move on from Gabriel over 2 years ago. But its obvious Saliba is a more natural RCB. Which is why I mentioned Guehi (who is also two footed) to be a more natural partner to him than White.

Seem to recall (because it definitely happened) some folk calling for Partey to play RB last season.

Reason I was against it was due to what we’d lose centrally in doing so, rather than any negative impact it would have on our RHS.

Whatever reason Arteta has had for trying it, it hasn’t worked. Hopefully Zinchenko is ready to start now, and Partey returns to midfield to rotate Partey/Rice and Rice/Havertz.

There is no fluidity in the current attacking play. Saka link up play with white was very effective last season especially when white occasionally overlapped.

I don't know why people keep thinking playing Partey and Rice in midfield is so defensive and will stop us creating loads of chances. Odegaard will go further forward and we'll get the best out of him. He's dropped a little deeper with Havertz playing centre midfield. With Ben White and Zinchenko playing full back we will be better going forward. We will also have better protection and control in midfield. It's just down to us not making silly errors.
I think we'll score a minimum of 3 goals against Man United next weekend with this team.

If we see Partey at Right back v united playing the inverted role, Rashford is going to absolute ruin us on that side

Refund Havertz and Rice so we can go back to last years XI

"Arsenal are the first team in Premier League history to concede a first minute goal three times in a single calendar year. Oddity."

Lot of tactical geniuses overlooking this simple fact

All against opposition we were expected to comfortably beat.

Suggests an attitude issue rather than a tactical one.

All at home as well. Twice from our own kick off too I think (or we at least had possession against the Saints).

I would have initially taken 7 points from our next 3 league games but with the dropped points yesterday I feel we need to win all of them now. I think Man City will win there next 4-5 league games and we need to match them.

Let's try to win every game snooks pal

Next season let's go for 114 points

comment by Snooker_49 (U10665)
posted 1 hour, 43 minutes ago
I don't know why people keep thinking playing Partey and Rice in midfield is so defensive and will stop us creating loads of chances. Odegaard will go further forward and we'll get the best out of him. He's dropped a little deeper with Havertz playing centre midfield. With Ben White and Zinchenko playing full back we will be better going forward. We will also have better protection and control in midfield. It's just down to us not making silly errors.
I think we'll score a minimum of 3 goals against Man United next weekend with this team.
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Because you fail to take into account what the opposing team does. The reason why Pep's teams work so much better than Wenger was because it's easy to stop one creative midfielder like Odegaard with a holding midfield player. Then what do you do? If you channel all your play through that player, you can create a natural bottleneck. And when the play invariably breaks down in that bottleneck, you can easily be countered

comment by Lexington 125.2 (U8879)
posted 1 hour, 18 minutes ago
All against opposition we were expected to comfortably beat.

Suggests an attitude issue rather than a tactical one.
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Quite the opposite. Suggests the players are not in the correct position from training. Just look at what Partey did, for example. Later on he could see what Fulham were doing and held back more because he had already been burned once.

When you get later into matches, the players are almost reacting to what the opposition is doing. It's easier for them to see spaces to occupy.

Do think we are missing Xhaka.

His passing range and physicality in MF was essential last season. He was able to get up and down the pitch to both aid the defence and attack.

His passing out to the likes of Martinelli through the lines from MF or over the top as well as his passing from the left side / left back area was crucial.

His assist to Odegaard v Chelsea and his delivery to jesus against Brentford spring to mind

comment by CrouchEndGooner (U13531)
posted 2 hours, 8 minutes ago
"Arsenal are the first team in Premier League history to concede a first minute goal three times in a single calendar year. Oddity."

Lot of tactical geniuses overlooking this simple fact
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That's a real concern. We don't seem to learn. What is that? Arrogance, overconfidence.

Needs to stop that, Its holding us back.

We surely dropped 2 vital points yesterday but it's not the end of the world. Win against United next week and all is forgotten. And we can do this.

Good thing is next game is at home and not OT. So we can certainly win

comment by 50 trust the process (U1147)
posted 4 minutes ago
Good thing is next game is at home and not OT. So we can certainly win
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I guess it's a game where we can actually play rice and Partey in Mf

Xhaka averaged 59 touches per 90 minutes last season in the Premier League, a reduction of almost 50% (91 between 2016-17 – 2021-22). But he recorded 112 touches in the oppositions box (3.4 per 90), exactly the same figure as in his first six seasons at Arsenal combined.

Wonder how Havertz’s numbers compare to that. He doesn’t seem to get involved much at all in midfield. You’d think Vieira is nailed on to start if we carry on with this Partey RB nonsense, hopefully he can continue his decent form

I have been very impressed with Eddie though.

Should never have been dropped as the central striker.

Will be interesting to see who starts v united as jesus is back

Eddie will start

We havent dropped points because Partey played at RB:

I think in Eddie's case Arteta listen to the nonsense that came from fans and the media that Trossard needs to start. That was a big mistake.

comment by Vladimikel Artutin - committing war crimes against football since 2019 (U18355)
posted 2 minutes ago
Xhaka averaged 59 touches per 90 minutes last season in the Premier League, a reduction of almost 50% (91 between 2016-17 – 2021-22). But he recorded 112 touches in the oppositions box (3.4 per 90), exactly the same figure as in his first six seasons at Arsenal combined.

Wonder how Havertz’s numbers compare to that. He doesn’t seem to get involved much at all in midfield. You’d think Vieira is nailed on to start if we carry on with this Partey RB nonsense, hopefully he can continue his decent form
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Its a bit misleading because Xhaka had Zinchenko feeding the ball and at the moment Havertz has Rice who is himself not quite adept to our system. When Zinchenko returns, I think Havertz will see more of the ball and Rice will be positioned behind Odegaard. You could see how much Fabio Vieira was involved after Zinchenko came on.

comment by Gunnerthru (U6675)
posted 5 minutes ago
I think in Eddie's case Arteta listen to the nonsense that came from fans and the media that Trossard needs to start. That was a big mistake.
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So you are saying that Arteta is very weak and is influenced by the fans?

Vieira was more involved in the game because he wanted the ball more and his movement all over was excellent. There is the difference to Havertz.

Can't see Havertz starting against United.