sod09:
where's Jerry curls, now you are trolling.
The boy was in shearer fantasy even when auba scored and amn assisted

he can start in less demanding games or games that the set up will suit his style.

Every player has his strengths and weaknesses it’s left to the manager to identify those qualities and set his team up accordingly. Putting Willock and Guen thru this week in week out is just naive of Emery.

kokanepyramid:
he can start in less demanding games or games that the set up will suit his style.

Every player has his strengths and weaknesses it’s left to the manager to identify those qualities and set his team up accordingly. Putting Willock and Guen thru this week in week out is just naive of Emery.

asking them to cover for the wing Is just plain madness,he could have used physical bodies like Kola and mhkitaryan then we know our coach is now packing bus

kokanepyramid:

Ceballos was played out of position,

the forwards should have been Auba, Laca, Pepe
midfield Xhaka Ceballos Torreira

No doubt a good line up, but its 80% going to be a cricket score.

None of our players got the least of Liverpool's 7?
Well, we'll revenge at the Emirates

Spurs next.

Now that the dust has settled, I am going to write my own thoughts about the loss to Liverpool.

First off, I think the formation was good, in fact, if the team went into half time tied, it would have buttressed this thought. The problem was the player selection by Emery to carry out that formation. Considering Liverpool are renowned for pressing, I expected to see Torreira start in the middle of the park. Torreira is one of the most technically gifted midfielders in our team and he plays with intensity and intelligence. Our problem in the midfield was a carryover from the Burnley game where we lacked players who could break the press and carry the ball into Liverpool's half. Consequently, we spent a lot of our possession on our half and that made the press even more difficult to manage. Ceballos could not do much because he was either isolated at the top or was drowned immediately he received the ball deep in our own half, leading to numerous errors on the ball. Ceballos needs to improve his sense of awareness to avoid dangerous turnovers, especially against a good press. Xhaka was one player whose performance was confusing to me because he started poorly but in the 2nd half, he looked really sharp and energetic. I am sorry but I have seen enough to reiterate that Guen shouldn't be a starter for this team especially when we play teams that press relentlessly and this is because they expose a lot of his weakness which is at the detriment of the team. There are critical aspects of the central midfield game that he desperately needs to learn and quick. Is he talented? Absolutely and I love his intensity and willingness to stay in the thick of the action. Willock needs to get better with his ball control and technique an he will become dominant. I would like to see a game where we have enough ball carriers with the skill to break any press and move the ball into our opponents half. We are creating a very bad weakness that other teams are now taking note of and that is to press Arsenal into self destruct.

I thought the back 4 did reasonably well considering the opponents and the fact that the midfield continued to burden the back 4 with the responsibilities of building our offense. They did this by constantly returning the ball to the defenders even when they could foray into Liverpool's half and this only invited more pressure. Someone mentioned Miki would have been good for this game and I have to agree especially in that diamond midfield. The first goal we conceded was quite debatable and I am shocked VAR did not seek to review that goal because there was a lot going on inside the box before Matip connected with that header. That being said, the back 4 still held their own in the first half. I think Emery agreed the formation was working but he failed by not making personnel changes very early and that cost us. Emery needs to understand that you don't have to build from the back every time. This is because it makes us quite predictable and invites unnecessary pressure especially when you consider that we still don't know the basics of playing from the back in his 2nd season now. There has to be a balance between building from the back and straight-up kicking the ball out. For those who heap a lot of blame on Niles, I would tell you that his major problem is lack of concentration but we are not doing him any favors by playing him as a RB and every time he comes up against wingers, he is decimated. I am excited and looking forward to the return of Bellerin and the slow integration of Teirney and Holding into the rotation.

Considering our formation, I thought Emery would have taken Auba off early in the 2nd half because the style did not suit him. The same formation with Lacazette and Pepe would have caused more damage in my opinion because Pepe can play off Laca who is great at holding the ball and linking the midfield. We looked dangerous every time we had an opportunity to counter Liverpool and a special mention to the individual brilliance of N. Pepe who had a great game and was our best player. He still has a lot to learn about making quick decisions and not being over-elaborate in a play. He is a touch of quality who is not afraid of attacking his opponents. Emery failed in the area that had been his strength and that is a tactical substitution. I was beyond petrified that he waited until the 80th minute to introduce Lacazette. We looked dangerous and had a healthy possession of the ball when we had Auba/ Laca/ Pepe all on the pitch and this means we should have switched to a 4-3-3 early enough before going down 2/3/

All in all, I hope we can dust off this performance and give Spuds a run for their money next week by getting all 3 points. Losing to Spuds is never acceptable and a bad performance will definitely pitch Emery against the fans.

#COYG

Roland17:
Now that the dust has settled, I am going to write my own thoughts about the loss to Liverpool.

First off, I think the formation was good, in fact, if the team went into half time tied, it would have buttressed this thought. The problem was the player selection by Emery to carry out that formation. Considering Liverpool are renowned for pressing, I expected to see Torreira start in the middle of the park. Torreira is one of the most technically gifted midfielders in our team and he plays with intensity and intelligence. Our problem in the midfield was a carryover from the Burnley game where we lacked players who could break the press and carry the ball into Liverpool's half. Consequently, we spent a lot of our possession on our half and that made the press even more difficult to manage. Ceballos could not do much because he was either isolated at the top or was drowned immediately he received the ball deep in our own half, leading to numerous errors on the ball. Ceballos needs to improve his sense of awareness to avoid dangerous turnovers, especially against a good press. Xhaka was one player whose performance was confusing to me because he started poorly but in the 2nd half, he looked really sharp and energetic. I am sorry but I have seen enough to reiterate that Guen shouldn’t be a starter for this team especially when we play teams that press relentlessly and this is because they expose a lot of his weakness which is at the detriment of the team. There are critical aspects of the central midfield game that he desperately needs to learn and quick. Is he talented? Absolutely and I love his intensity and willingness to stay in the thick of the action. Willock needs to get better with his ball control and technique an he will become dominant. I would like to see a game where we have enough ball carriers with the skill to break any press and move the ball into our opponents half. We are creating a very bad weakness that other teams are now taking note of and that is to press Arsenal into self destruct.

I thought the back 4 did reasonably well considering the opponents and the fact that the midfield continued to burden the back 4 with the responsibilities of building our offense. They did this by constantly returning the ball to the defenders even when they could foray into Liverpool's half and this only invited more pressure. Someone mentioned Miki would have been good for this game and I have to agree especially in that diamond midfield. The first goal we conceded was quite debatable and I am shocked VAR did not seek to review that goal because there was a lot going on inside the box before Matip connected with that header. That being said, the back 4 still held their own in the first half. I think Emery agreed the formation was working but he failed by not making personnel changes very early and that cost us. Emery needs to understand that you don't have to build from the back every time. This is because it makes us quite predictable and invites unnecessary pressure especially when you consider that we still don't know the basics of playing from the back in his 2nd season now. There has to be a balance between building from the back and straight-up kicking the ball out. For those who heap a lot of blame on Niles, I would tell you that his major problem is lack of concentration but we are not doing him any favors by playing him as a RB and every time he comes up against wingers, he is decimated. I am excited and looking forward to the return of Bellerin and the slow integration of Teirney and Holding into the rotation.

Considering our formation, I thought Emery would have taken Auba off early in the 2nd half because the style did not suit him. The same formation with Lacazette and Pepe would have caused more damage in my opinion because Pepe can play off Laca who is great at holding the ball and linking the midfield. We looked dangerous every time we had an opportunity to counter Liverpool and a special mention to the individual brilliance of N. Pepe who had a great game and was our best player. He still has a lot to learn about making quick decisions and not being over-elaborate in a play. He is a touch of quality who is not afraid of attacking his opponents. Emery failed in the area that had been his strength and that is a tactical substitution. I was beyond petrified that he waited until the 80th minute to introduce Lacazette. We looked dangerous and had a healthy possession of the ball when we had Auba/ Laca/ Pepe all on the pitch and this means we should have switched to a 4-3-3 early enough before going down 2/3/

All in all, I hope we can dust off this performance and give Spuds a run for their money next week by getting all 3 points. Losing to Spuds is never acceptable and a bad performance will definitely pitch Emery against the fans.

#COYG

the paragraph for Guen should be SHOULDN’T not SHOULD.
By the way Xhaka didn’t do badly relatively in this game.

kokanepyramid:
the paragraph for Guen should be SHOULDN’T not SHOULD.
By the way Xhaka didn’t do badly relatively in this game.

Abeg help me correct am for your own quote. Like I said, Xhaka was something else in the 2nd half. After the 1st, I was even saying he should not have started because this was his first game and he looked out of sorts in the 1st but man turned into something else in teh 2nd half.

Tottenham not finding it easy.
Someone break Son's leg ahead of Nl derby.

Fkhalifa:
Tottenham not finding it easy.
Someone break Son's leg ahead of Nl derby.

.... I tell you. That Joelinton guy dey give them serious problem.

.... Newcastle frustrated Tottenham today sha. Serious frustration. I expect a cracker of a derby next weekend. We might have played conservatively against Liverpool but surely not against Tottenham. We might not see Monreal against them as he might be sold before then. Another problem for Emery if that happens.

... So it's going be Never won the Champions League Vs Never won anything next week...

solomonbrown64:
.... Newcastle frustrated Tottenham today sha. Serious frustration. I expect a cracker of a derby next weekend. We might have played conservatively against Liverpool but surely not against Tottenham. We might not see Monreal against them as he might be sold before then. Another problem for Emery if that happens.

... So it's going be Never won the Champions League Vs Never won anything next week...

Teams like Newcastle after having spent that much, won't respect you because you are a big team I said this league isn't the hardest in the world for nothing..

Not all 3 points will be easy, gone are those days big teams roll over the mid tables..

I'm sure Poch would have preferred 3 points to domination..

Even Burnley nearly won at Wolves
Every game should be like a final, 3 points 1st before anything else.

Ask utd fans what they felt from Palace.

Fkhalifa:

Teams like Newcastle after having spent that much, won't respect you because you are a big team I said this league isn't the hardest in the world for nothing..

Not all 3 points will be easy, gone are those days big teams roll over the mid tables..

I'm sure Poch would have preferred 3 points to domination..

Even Burnley nearly won at Wolves
Every game should be like a final, 3 points 1st before anything else.

Ask utd fans what they felt from Palace.

..... I tell you. The days of pride and respect us gone. What administration want to see is results. I remember when football fans were mocking Guardiola for playing from the back and Liverpool with their style of play that won them nothing but look at them today now.

... Poch has players that might leave and that is affecting them. Their midfield is currently worse than hers, their current fullbacks are near useless and their defense in disarray. Their attack too, no chemistry. The earlier they find solution to the players expected to leave and the squad settles down, the better for them. Today, Newcastle had more shots on target than them and that tells a lot. I expect an Arsenal masterclass against them but then it's a derby and football these days is no longer 1 + 1, something as you rightly said some fans here are yet to come in terms with.

.... Teams in the EPL have more money than before and can get good players that will give the top teams a run for their money too.

... It's important to mention that the new goal kick rule makes passing from the back very difficult and that aided Liverpool yesterday but I trust that when our fullbacks return, it will be better.

solomonbrown64:


..... I tell you. The days of pride and respect us gone. What administration want to see is results. I remember when football fans were mocking Guardiola for playing from the back and Liverpool with their style of play that won them nothing but look at them today now.

... Poch has players that might leave and that is affecting them. Their midfield is currently worse than hers, their current fullbacks are near useless and their defense in disarray. Their attack too, no chemistry. The earlier they find solution to the players expected to leave and the squad settles down, the better for them. Today, Newcastle had more shots on target than them and that tells a lot. I expect an Arsenal masterclass against them but then it's a derby and football these days is no longer 1 + 1, something as you rightly said some fans here are yet to come in terms with.

.... Teams in the EPL have more money than before and can get good players that will give the top teams a run for their money too.

... It's important to mention that the new goal kick rule makes passing from the back very difficult and that aided Liverpool yesterday but I trust that when our fullbacks return, it will be better.

What new goal kick rule is that?

Dreamswayne:

What new goal kick rule is that?

What is the new goal-kick rule change?


Fans will now see players in the penalty area other than the goalkeeper at goal kicks.
That is because those taking the goal kick can now pass the ball to their teammate while in the box.

..... Yet, opposing players will still need to stay outside the area - but can enter as soon as the ball is in play.

.... If a team tries to take the goal-kick quickly, opponents can be in the box, but must not interfere. ....

https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/9651860/goal-kick-rule-change-new-football-rules-2019-20/

solomonbrown64:


What is the new goal-kick rule change?


Fans will now see players in the penalty area other than the goalkeeper at goal kicks.
That is because those taking the goal kick can now pass the ball to their teammate while in the box.

..... Yet, opposing players will still need to stay outside the area - but can enter as soon as the ball is in play.

.... If a team tries to take the goal-kick quickly, opponents can be in the box, but must not interfere. ....

https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/9651860/goal-kick-rule-change-new-football-rules-2019-20/

Noted

Dreamswayne:

Noted

that was why luiz was in the box 18 to collect ball from Leno and LFC players were allowed to press us.
Honestly it was not okay for us

solomonbrown64:


..... I tell you. The days of pride and respect us gone. What administration want to see is results. I remember when football fans were mocking Guardiola for playing from the back and Liverpool with their style of play that won them nothing but look at them today now.

... Poch has players that might leave and that is affecting them. Their midfield is currently worse than hers, their current fullbacks are near useless and their defense in disarray. Their attack too, no chemistry. The earlier they find solution to the players expected to leave and the squad settles down, the better for them. Today, Newcastle had more shots on target than them and that tells a lot. I expect an Arsenal masterclass against them but then it's a derby and football these days is no longer 1 + 1, something as you rightly said some fans here are yet to come in terms with.

.... Teams in the EPL have more money than before and can get good players that will give the top teams a run for their money too.

... It's important to mention that the new goal kick rule makes passing from the back very difficult and that aided Liverpool yesterday but I trust that when our fullbacks return, it will be better.

On the contrary. The rule makes it easier for u to build from the back if u are good at it like dem city.

It will only be difficult for a wannabe team

sod09:
that was why luiz was in the box 18 to collect ball from Leno and LFC players were allowed to press us.
Honestly it was not okay for us

I honestly think we should only play from the back against teams that don't press...

Klopp set his team in a way that we couldn't even come out of our half...

Dreamswayne:

I honestly think we should only play from the back against teams that don't press...

Klopp set his team in a way that we couldn't even come out of our half...

Emery complicate things knowing the kind of players he have...

BlueRayDick:


On the contrary. The rule makes it easier for u to build from the back if u are good at it like dem city.

It will only be difficult for a wannabe team

.... Are you kidding? Liverpool nearly killed us because of that and it affected our play badly as we just couldn't move the ball the manner we wanted at all. We were dispossessed 8 times in our defensive third alone in the first half with Niles and Ceballos the major culprits. The latter was so damn pressed around the box, he passed straight to Mane. I tell you if City play Liverpool this season, they will find it difficult to pass from the back as they used to.

solomonbrown64:


.... Are you kidding? Liverpool nearly killed us because of that and it affected our play badly as we just couldn't move the ball the manner we wanted at all. We were dispossessed 13 times alone in the first half with Niles and Ceballos the major culprits. The latter was so damn pressed around the box, he passed straight to Mane. I tell you if City play Liverpool this season, they will find it difficult to pass from the back as they used to.

Oga u are not really getting my point. I said the new goal kick rule makes play easier for teams who are very good at playing from the back( which obviously arsenal is not one of). If u've watched city play this season u will understand what I mean, how easy it is for Ederson to pass to Laporte or anybody that plays at center back and transit the ball forward. I think somethingike that happened in that spurs match.

Arsenal does not have the right set of players to play from the back against ordinary burnley, na dem wan come play from back against loserpool? The rule or no rule, arsenal will fall under pressure playing from the back with a player like Maitland Niles at RB

BlueRayDick:


Oga u are not really getting my point. I said the new goal kick rule makes play easier for teams who are very good at playing from the back( which obviously arsenal is not one of). If u've watched city play this season u will understand what I mean, how easy it is for Ederson to pass to Laporte or anybody that plays at center back and transit the ball forward. I think somethingike that happened in that spurs match.

Arsenal does not have the right set of players to play from the back against ordinary burnley, na dem wan come play from back against loserpool? The rule or no rule, arsenal will fall under pressure playing from the back with a player like Maitland Niles at RB

.... Okay. But I still maintain that City will struggle to play out of the back with this new rule against a team like pool when they meet again soon.

The new rule was used during the community shield and bravo not even ederson was able to play from back successfully with no issues but our keyboard pundit guru think city will still struggle, this is becoming something else here

solomonbrown64:


.... Okay. But I still maintain that City will struggle to play out of the back with this new rule against a team like pool when they meet again soon.

How exactly will they suffer?

City switch play more than anybody. All those pressure loserpool mounted on arsenal that yielded result was because arsenal doesn't have the right players to play what Emery was trying to do. All those Guendouzi,Xhaka cannot transit the ball to the forwards as quickly as dem Debruyne, Gundogan do.

Forget all those press loserpool do, playing high line defence. They will be conservative against city and wouldn't leave sterling or Barnado Silva to Van Djik like dem Auba yesterday.

BlueRayDick:


How exactly will they suffer?

City switch play more than anybody. All those pressure loserpool mounted on arsenal that yielded result was because arsenal doesn't have the right players to play what Emery was trying to do. All those Guendouzi,Xhaka cannot transit the ball to the forwards as quickly as dem Debruyne, Gundogan do.

Forget all those press loserpool do, playing high line defence. They will be conservative against city and wouldn't leave sterling or Barnado Silva to Van Djik like dem Auba yesterday.

...... Right there is the difference. They switch play really well. They played high balls to exploit spaces left by Liverpool's fullbacks a lot which means that Liverpool's press also gets to them which is struggling to me from playing from the back. Everyone knows Pep prefers passing from the back but if it's not working, they can easily switch play. My point was that Liverpool's press won't make it easy for them to pass from the back not impossible.

BlueRayDick:


How exactly will they suffer?

City switch play more than anybody. All those pressure loserpool mounted on arsenal that yielded result was because arsenal doesn't have the right players to play what Emery was trying to do. All those Guendouzi,Xhaka cannot transit the ball to the forwards as quickly as dem Debruyne, Gundogan do.

Forget all those press loserpool do, playing high line defence. They will be conservative against city and wouldn't leave sterling or Barnado Silva to Van Djik like dem Auba yesterday.

Against Chelsea at the super cup they played from the back , torreira would have been our kante because Chelsea played LFC that day. Their midfield is always shít if they don't use keita. Our problem when playing from back is the player collecting ball will face Leno not seeing what is going on at his back to think of the next free player

..... I think this video did a very decent attempt in explaining the tactics of the Liverpool game...

.....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4P4ZW7IMRms&feature=youtu.be

..... Nicolas Pepe completed more dribbles (7) against Liverpool than any player has managed in one match in the Premier League this season.

..... This dude against Danny Rose will quite interesting next weekend. I can't wait.

People mentioned Xhaka played better in the second half which i agree but my question is this. Why not start with that same intensity in the first 15 to 20 mins of any game? Its not until you concede a goal or the other team takes their foot of the pedal that you now start playing aggressively. The first 15 to 20 mins of any football game is critical. A game could be over in 20 mins if one is careless and these set of arsenal players are guilty of this again and again. The mentality should be to match the aggression of the opponent very early on in the game. A goal changes everything and if with decent aggression we come up with a goal even against the run of the play, then the impetus is on the opposition to try and get on level terms which will make it a more open game. Anytime i watched Barcelona play (xavi and iniesta days) and they score a goal against the opposition, i just tune off because for me its game over, but when the opposition scores first, then for me, its going to be a very interesting game. Arsenal need to start games strong, its shows weak all round character in a team when you cant lift yourselves to match the opposition aggression in the first 15 to 20 mins of any game. We have seen it even at the emirates that until maybe we go one down or flurry of attacks on our goal, it's only then that they realize they have come to play. We cant keep starting games like that. Eventually there will be games where it takes just one goal and they lock it down for us to lose all three points regardless of the opposition.

Jencejyde:
People mentioned Xhaka played better in the second half which i agree but my question is this. Why not start with that same intensity in the first 15 to 20 mins of any game? Its not until you concede a goal or the other team takes their foot of the pedal that you now start playing aggressively. The first 15 to 20 mins of any football game is critical. A game could be over in 20 mins if one is careless and these set of arsenal players are guilty of this again and again. The mentality should be to match the aggression of the opponent very early on in the game. A goal changes everything and if with decent aggression we come up with a goal even against the run of the play, then the impetus is on the opposition to try and get on level terms which will make it a more open game. Anytime i watched Barcelona play (xavi and iniesta days) and they score a goal against the opposition, i just tune off because for me its game over, but when the opposition scores first, then for me, its going to be a very interesting game. Arsenal need to start games strong, its shows weak all round character in a team when you cant lift yourselves to match the opposition aggression in the first 15 to 20 mins of any game. We have seen it even at the emirates that until maybe we go one down or flurry of attacks on our goal, it's only then that they realize they have come to play. We cant keep starting games like that. Eventually there will be games where it takes just one goal and they lock it down for us to lose all three points regardless of the opposition.

...... Xhaka's performance was a bit confusing. Different platforms gave him different scores, some said he was the best midfielder in our team that day, others gave it to Guendouzi until Lukas came in. I don't think it's about aggression, our case was actually trying to give what we didn't really have. We played exactly to the demands of the coach but started to gas out closer to the end of the first half, just before they scored. The extra work on the midfielders, moving back and forth across the lines drained them.

.... It wasn't exactly not being aggressive, it was the attackers failing to score that kept us on the backfoot more than the coach anticipated and his refusal to change tactics because Liverpool were still coming at us and leaving space behind for Pepe and Auba. When the third goal went in, Emery knew that his tactics had failed. We just didn't take our chances to open up the game and usher in Emery's next plans in Torreira and Laca to make it end to end stuff.

..... Some fans were like start Torreira, he is like our Kante.. Lol.... Wasn't Torreira so damn pressed at Anfield last season that he lost possession in that capitulation? Even in yesterday's game, he was bundled off the ball a few times.

.... This same Torreira faded badly last season after a good start and I think Emery doesn't want to make that same mistake again where Lukas was overused that he became a liability on the pitch. A fit and well managed Torreira will come in handy for us this season but it will be incorrect to say we didn't transit with the ball well or lost the match because he didn't start. The result would have been more or less the same even if he started or not.

solomonbrown64:


...... Right there is the difference. They switch play really well. They played high balls to exploit spaces left by Liverpool's fullbacks a lot which means that Liverpool's press also gets to them which is struggling to me from playing from the back. Everyone knows Pep prefers passing from the back but if it's not working, they can easily switch play. My point was that Liverpool's press won't make it easy for them to pass from the back not impossible.

What I'm telling u is city has a team that has been trained to beat any press and they've been doing that well. The almighty Loserpool team was rattled by Chelsea even without one or two of their keymen.

Maybe Losperpool will try to press like they always do, but City too will beat the press like they alwasys do. The rule won't be handing loserpool any easy route