Up the Arse! Goons Thread

[Gambit78]

I'm resigned to the referees being inconsistent. I just hold onto the hope that it all evens out over a season... I mean, we were pretty fortunate against Liverpool.

In both games we dropped points, we simply didn't take our chances. It is interesting that we're at our most vulnerable when transitioning defensively. Noticed that our players shifted to position rather than track Armstrong's run. If we'd held Elyanoussi up a fraction longer, we'd have been defensively set and likely to repel. But when it is a sweeping move from one end to the other, it's edge of your seat stuff.

Which means we can't keep giving the ball away so easily in midfield. And for all of his good work, Partey is a big culprit in that. As was Lokonga v ManU. Got away with it against Leeds. Bit us on the bum against S'ton.

Love how Xhaka checks his runs into the box for the cutback. I feel he'll score quite a few like that. It means defenders either defend his space, which opens up the runs of Martinelli, Saka and Jesus to the line, or defend the line, which Xhaka is taking advantage of.

Having said that, I feel our boys can probably get better at deciding when to go for goal and when to cut back. Jesus in particular could evolve more in this area.

All up, not too bothered by the result, so long as we beat Forest and secure top of EL group with a game in hand. Should have us cherry ripe for Chelsea.

 

[Judd2Sewell]

Jesus is a quality player and brings a lot to the table, but he just doesn't score enough

 

[glenferry23]

Yep horrendous officiating. I’m all for physicality but that’s blatant cheating with that kind of holding.

I recall counting 2-3 occasions where he’s all over Jesus, that should have been fouls and quite possibly yellow cards. Too much leeway was given there and it’s just one of those things.

I general I do find debating the refereeing decisions to be quite tiresome and if Arsenal (and Jesus in particular) took their chances, this wouldn’t even really be a discussion. Such is football I guess.

 

[bok_party]

I recall counting 2-3 occasions where he’s all over Jesus, that should have been fouls and quite possibly yellow cards. Too much leeway was given there and it’s just one of those things.

I general I do find debating the refereeing decisions to be quite tiresome and if Arsenal (and Jesus in particular) took their chances, this wouldn’t even really be a discussion. Such is football I guess.

I’m in the same camp as you but sometimes I think it’s warranted. As someone who’s been a CB for years, I know how much you try and get away with but if the referee had given them as fouls, you could not argue that in the slightest.

 

[HODGEYROAD]

Jesus is a quality player and brings a lot to the table, but he just doesn't score enough

Yeah it's his finishing that's the problem at the moment, his XG is 7.5 so he's getting into lots of the right positions.

 

[HODGEYROAD]

The drop off in quality with only a few players missing is huge, Eddie , Lokonkga and Holding ain't it.

 

[Cruyff14]

Disappointing to lose, but I saw Martinelli played the full 90.

Fatigue is very quickly catching up with our players.

 

[glenferry23]

Hmm well that slightly complicates things for the last group match. Even a point here would’ve sealed the group.

Now that outlook has changed. From what I have briefly seen Arsenal were way off it tonight and performances have dropped off the last 3-4 matches, so this was very much coming.

 

[glenferry23]

The drop off in quality with only a few players missing is huge, Eddie , Lokonkga and Holding ain't it.

The importance of Partey, White and even Zinchenko really cannot be understated for how Arsenal set up this season. That’s effectively 3 deep lying playmakers when in possession. None of them started tonight and there drop off is evident.

 

[charcoalchicken]

The drop off in quality with only a few players missing is huge, Eddie , Lokonkga and Holding ain't it.

Lokonga is becoming a bit of a worry, we know Eddie and holding aren’t good enough, there was and still is some hope that lokonga will come good but he’s been here for about a year and a half now and still no real signs that he’s gunna be something other than average

Arsenal must strengthen in January

 

[glenferry23]

Lokonga is becoming a bit of a worry, we know Eddie and holding aren’t good enough, there was and still is some hope that lokonga will come good but he’s been here for about a year and a half now and still no real signs that he’s gunna be something other than average

Arsenal must strengthen in January

Even for all of Partey's experience it still took him quite a long time to adjust to the position he plays in Arsenal's system. Asking Lokonga to do it seems beyond him at the moment, and it was interesting to see most of his minutes in pre season was spent further up the pitch (the Xhaka left 8). He looks better there.

I don't think Arteta trusts Lokonga to play the Partey role, Elneny appears to be the alternative, which is why Arsenal pushed to sign Luiz on deadline day. I reckon that stuff messes with his confidence and perhaps his long term future is elsewhere, who knows.

 

[bok_party]

Pablo Mari has been stabbed in a supermarket attack

 

[dirty2]

Pablo Mari has been stabbed in a supermarket attack

****!! Is he ok?

 

[dirty2]

News says Pablo is ok...

 

[HODGEYROAD]

Lokonga is becoming a bit of a worry, we know Eddie and holding aren’t good enough, there was and still is some hope that lokonga will come good but he’s been here for about a year and a half now and still no real signs that he’s gunna be something other than average

Arsenal must strengthen in January

Sadly the club doesn't as they've just given him a 100k per week deal for 5 years in the summer just gone.

 

[charcoalchicken]

Sadly the club doesn't as they've just given him a 100k per week deal for 5 years in the summer just gone.

Yeah it was either that or having to buy a striker last window though, I understand why they did it.

Unfortunately his wages are quite high though, so are gambling on him to come good

Reckon arsenal should be looking at an Ivan Toney type for another dimension

 

[Shoei]

Terrible game last night, should have been 5-6 to zip.

Another game that shows Eddie isn't good enough at this level and that squad depth is an issue.

Need more quality attacking options and shows how important it would have been to add someone like Raphinha (a genuine starter) at the beginning of the season.

 

[Judd2Sewell]

100k for Eddie is laughable

 

[Gambit78]

We need to grit our teeth. The end of October was always going to test us. Youngest squad, no real depth after our first 15. The silver lining is that our next three games are in London, so hopefully we can freshen up and see out this phase leading into the World Cup.

 

[glenferry23]

I for one don’t mind the Nketiah contract. When you look at how many things the club needed to do in the recent window, trying to sign a new deputy striker, the fee, the wages etc would be significantly higher than the outlay of Nketiah on £100k a week.

He didn’t play well this morning and none of them really did. If Balogun continues his form, then next year perhaps he surpasses Nketiah in the pecking order.

 

[HODGEYROAD]

I for one don’t mind the Nketiah contract. When you look at how many things the club needed to do in the recent window, trying to sign a new deputy striker, the fee, the wages etc would be significantly higher than the outlay of Nketiah on £100k a week.

He didn’t play well this morning and none of them really did. If Balogun continues his form, then next year perhaps he surpasses Nketiah in the pecking order.

Not concerned about the standard it sets in wage structure ? If someone like Eddie is on 100k, then it's only fair Saka probably demands 300k, Martinelli 250k and Saliba 250k etc.

 

[glenferry23]

Not concerned about the standard it sets in wage structure ? If someone like Eddie is on 100k, then it's only fair Saka probably demands 300k, Martinelli 250k and Saliba 250k etc.

It’s about the going rate though in terms of current market value. He started the season well off the bench however still no league goals and recent performances have tailed off a bit. Same can be said of others too.

No doubt there’s an element of good timing for Eddie. Aubameyang exited before expected, Lacazette out on a free. He’s benefited from the situation. I liken it a bit to Walcott getting that contract after years of Arsenal selling Fabregas, Nasri, RvP etc.

I don’t think Eddie is the issue necessarily, it’s more so the lack of options. Arteta wanted to add “more firepower” but it couldn’t be done the last window. The squad is still thin in certain areas and it’s being exposed at the moment. Need to strengthen in January.

 

[charcoalchicken]

Need to strengthen in January.

I think the whole board agrees we need to strengthen in January, any idea of when ESR is back? Also gunna take him a few weeks to get up to speed when he is for to play, he’s missed a lot of football this year.

 

[glenferry23]

I think the whole board agrees we need to strengthen in January, any idea of when ESR is back? Also gunna take him a few weeks to get up to speed when he is for to play, he’s missed a lot of football this year.

From memory the Arsenal statement said he's expected to return to training in December. Who knows what that means though in the context of Arsenal's history with injuries....best case scenario perhaps is he's back amongst the first team in January. Like a new signing

 

[Gambit78]

ESR will be able to get a bit of mini preseason in while the world cup is on. I expect him to be ready to go come January. In this instance, the world cup does us a favour.