Premier League 2017/18: Page 73 - The Arsenal discussion forum and community: One More in the Tolly

Premier League 2017/18

Tony Montana

What's the main difference for them compared to last year? Kyle Walker?

Shady

This is Pep's best chance at the Champions League since Barca. Teams like Real, Atletico and Bayern are nowhere near as formidable as in previous years. E

goon

Claudius wrote:
goon wrote:
A run like that takes a lot of luck, I don’t care how good you are and they’re certainly not the best.

Aside from that I don’t even think they look that good when you watch them, but they’re remarkably consistent and have the ability to suffocate games. It turns the odds of ‘luck’ going their way in their favour.

It takes luck, but you’re talking about a 19-1-0 record. They could be lucky, but how lucky are you to be 15 points and 22 goals better than the 2nd placed team in the league (who will also have their own luck). You need to give credit where credit is due.

I’ve watched a lot of their games. I suspect a lot of teams are arriving defeated. Newcastle seemed that way yesterday. They were hanging on for dear life and apart from a brief resurgence after the City goal were little more than human punching bags. We were that way with Bergkamp et al. Gilberto speaks about it. Every game they just send wave after wave and deflate the opposition.

They don’t even have to worry about defending because there isn’t a team in this league that can play their game. Only Barca and PSG can try to match them blow for blow. Just about veryone else will succumb.

A run like that takes a lot of luck. It's the same for anyone, including the invincibles. Of course, credit where credits due, they're clearly the best team but they'd have clearly been the best team if they'd had lost and drawn a game on the way too. Point being I don't think these runs are a reflection of once in a lifetime teams. I've often said I thought we played better football in the 02/03 season than we did with the invincibles. Genuinely believe the fact that the latter went unbeaten is largely down to luck and circumstance. City could improve 3 fold next season and they'd still struggle to replicate this sort of start.

goon

Tony Montana wrote:
What's the main difference for them compared to last year? Kyle Walker?

The best thing Pep has done for City is actually instil work ethic, focus and discipline. I don't think they've improved much at all going forward but they're now able to control games a lot better. Has nothing to do with personel in my opinion though if I had to choose one newcomer it would be Ederson, not Walker.

Makes you wonder what a good manager could do for us.

Klaus

Yep, it's mostly Pep. They've won the league before and they've had teams that looked threatening in Europe, but nothing like this. People laughed at him last season but he kept working with his long-term targets. The difference between him and someone like Wenger is staggering.

You can compare it to Conte's transformation of Chelsea last season too. Him and Guardiola differ heavily in approach, but they're both massive fans of the three mental attributes Goon mentioned. Every single coach who has been successful anywhere in the last decade has favoured work ethic and discipline. Tellingly, those are also the exact attributes that every single Arsenal iteration since the invincibles has lacked. We're talking in the match thread right now about which version of Arsenal that is gonna show up against Crystal Palace tonight. We're as likely to lose against a 16th placed team as we are to win. No one has any clue about which formation we're playing or who's starting, and where.

lorddulaarsenal

Hang on a sec Klaus - we’ve had plenty of discipline over recent years. It’s as if you’ve blanked Flamini pointing and shouting out of your mind

Bold Tone

Flamini discipline

Qwiss

Klaus wrote:
Yep, it's mostly Pep. They've won the league before and they've had teams that looked threatening in Europe, but nothing like this. People laughed at him last season but he kept working with his long-term targets. The difference between him and someone like Wenger is staggering.

You can compare it to Conte's transformation of Chelsea last season too. Him and Guardiola differ heavily in approach, but they're both massive fans of the three mental attributes Goon mentioned. Every single coach who has been successful anywhere in the last decade has favoured work ethic and discipline. Tellingly, those are also the exact attributes that every single Arsenal iteration since the invincibles has lacked. We're talking in the match thread right now about which version of Arsenal that is gonna show up against Crystal Palace tonight. We're as likely to lose against a 16th placed team as we are to win. No one has any clue about which formation we're playing or who's starting, and where.

And the Wenger teams that were hugely successful had discipline and work ethic within the squad. I'm not sure players like Vieira and Adams exist any more in that sense either, players who could bring out the best in terms of work rate and will to win from their team mates. A lot of players have the personal will to win these days, just look at how Ronaldo and Neymar are quite publicly all about themselves and what they can achieve individually. It has to come from the coach now and Wenger isn't capable of it.

jones

😆 he knows no fucking shame

QuincyAbeyie

😆 He can't be serious, but he is.

Bold Tone

Not likely, i admit, but would love it if Chelsea, Liverpool and ourselves get top 4 with the spuds beating manu to europa on goal difference.
We could then all enjoy Conte adding to the catalogue.
https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/antonio-conte-jose-mourinho-manchester-united-chelsea-history-of-a-rivalry-a8034081.html

Mirth

😆

Claudius

Mourinho is an interesting character. He may not be a psychopath, but he sure exhibits a some of those classical traits, such as being uncaring, shallow, insencere, irrespossible, selfish, and even, at times, violent. I’m no doctor, but we certainly have an interesting personality on display in Mourinho.

flobaba

Narcissistic

Segway

Mahrez is a joy to watch.

est

Brilliant goal by Drinkwater. Chelsea 2-0 up within the first 9 minutes.

Claudius

Liverpool are relentless. I can’t see how Leicester keep them out for another 55 minutes. They must be exhausting to defend against. They come so quickly and from every angle

Rohit

Liverpool overwhelm opposition teams with the pace at which they play but seems like they still lack creativity and innovation against an organized side.

Qwiss

Rohit wrote:
Liverpool overwhelm opposition teams with the pace at which they play but seems like they still lack creativity and innovation against an organized side.

They've had enough clear cut chances to be ahead. Finishing is just off.

Rohit

Not an observation on today's game in particular but just generally.

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