Claudius wrote:

naz wrote:

I still don't get why he plays willian over pepe. I just don't get it

Pepe loses the ball. Arteta likes possession 

Saka loses the ball the most, but he has a far higher positive impact on our play - much like Sanchez previously.

Arteta's decision making during our poor run was questionable and the football an eyesore. Even then we would have had more than 2 points from Leeds, Southampton and Burnley if not for the red cards. I am really happy for him. I hope the theories about his management of Saliba for example aren't true. If he is willing to change, he has shown that he can get results. Very few managers would be able to come from the position he was in. If he can keep the team going in a positive direction, it would be an amazing turnaround.

Gazza M wrote:

naz wrote:

I still don't get why he plays willian over pepe. I just don't get it

willian is probably more useless, but pepe is just so chaotic. he doesn't know what he's going to do next, let alone his team-mates. doesn't combine anywhere near as well as saka or martinelli

Let alone ESR.  

The attack of Tierney, Martinelli, ESR, Laca, Saka looks to have a good understanding - so much so that PEA needs to start scoring as LWF or he becomes the weakest link after Pepe & Willian.

Rohit wrote:

Arteta's decision making during our poor run was questionable and the football an eyesore. Even then we would have had more than 2 points from Leeds, Southampton and Burnley if not for the red cards. I am really happy for him. I hope the theories about his management of Saliba for example aren't true. If he is willing to change, he has shown that he can get results. Very few managers would be able to come from the position he was in. If he can keep the team going in a positive direction, it would be an amazing turnaround.

The MU game becomes significant in this context IMO.

Coombs wrote:

Play Partey and we'll have the recovery pace to field two players like ESR. It'll be awesome.

Or play Tierney on the LW, ESR closer to Partey and Martinelli in front of them behind the striker. At least the football would be good!

Mikel on yesterday’s game

I thought we were really good both defensively and offensively and attacking-wise we had movement that is exactly what I want and exactly what we try and teach the players to do. In other moments we became a little bit sloppy in certain moments when we thought that the game was won. That’s something we have to improve. But overall it’s close to what we want.

If this is how we want to play, what was happening for the first 3 months of the season? Have we been waiting for ESR and Martinelli to be ready to play? Why did we stink up for so long

Claudius wrote:

Mikel on yesterday’s game

I thought we were really good both defensively and offensively and attacking-wise we had movement that is exactly what I want and exactly what we try and teach the players to do. In other moments we became a little bit sloppy in certain moments when we thought that the game was won. That’s something we have to improve. But overall it’s close to what we want.

If this is how we want to play, what was happening for the first 3 months of the season? Have we been waiting for ESR and Martinelli to be ready to play? Why did we stink up for so long

Because auba and Willian were doing the minimal, tracking back but not being protagonists going forwards.

Claudius wrote:

Mikel on yesterday’s game

I thought we were really good both defensively and offensively and attacking-wise we had movement that is exactly what I want and exactly what we try and teach the players to do. In other moments we became a little bit sloppy in certain moments when we thought that the game was won. That’s something we have to improve. But overall it’s close to what we want.

If this is how we want to play, what was happening for the first 3 months of the season? Have we been waiting for ESR and Martinelli to be ready to play? Why did we stink up for so long

ESR more than Martinelli. We basically didn't have a 10. Tried playing Willock and it didn't really work, tried Laca and it didn't really click either.

Aside from that, Arteta doesn't really want to let go of the handbrake himself until he knows for sure the team won't roll down the hill. What he will have hopefully learnt in the last few months is that playing conservatively doesn't get you results either.

speedy wrote:

Claudius wrote:

Mikel on yesterday’s game

If this is how we want to play, what was happening for the first 3 months of the season? Have we been waiting for ESR and Martinelli to be ready to play? Why did we stink up for so long

Because auba and Willian were doing the minimal, tracking back but not being protagonists going forwards.

This is what made think Willian playing had shadier elements to it. He clearly did not follow Arteta's plans yet was played regardless. Constantly negotiating the non-negotiables. Even Xhaka was dropped when he was badly off form (when he was cruddier than his usual middling performances).

Auba I can understand, he'd built up the trust over the years.

Claudius wrote:

Mikel on yesterday’s game

I thought we were really good both defensively and offensively and attacking-wise we had movement that is exactly what I want and exactly what we try and teach the players to do. In other moments we became a little bit sloppy in certain moments when we thought that the game was won. That’s something we have to improve. But overall it’s close to what we want.

If this is how we want to play, what was happening for the first 3 months of the season? Have we been waiting for ESR and Martinelli to be ready to play? Why did we stink up for so long

Several factors, but primarily injuries and a poorly balanced squad means we had restricted options in terms of shape, selections/roles and balance.  
Essentially Arteta has been doing a juggling act to date, which has seen a number of players struggle in less than ideal circumstances/positions/roles.

The availability of Martinelli and ESR has been significant - not just because of their quality and capability, but also their desire to play on the front foot in terms of attacking intent.
That said IMO perhaps the biggest impact has been in terms of the balance we now have in attack.  One of the biggest issues we have had in terms of goals has been trying to improve our right flank once teams looked to close down PEA on the left. We haven't been able to do so effectively until now, and the difference has been both the linking play by ESR AND Martinelli's availability.

Saka can now be moved across to the right flank where he is far better suited to the role than either Willian (who prefers to play wide), or Pepe (who prefers to make inside runs towards the area to get into shooting positions) = Willian is more likely to pass/cross, whilst Pepe is more likey to want to shoot.  By contrast Saka likes to play in the half-space along the vertical edge of the opposition area as seen for his cross that eventually resulted in Laca's 1st goal - something not seen often enough from either Willian or Pepe in that narrower position.  IMO it is his positioning along thee edge that has defenders in 2 minds as to if he will look to shoot or cross from that position.  Similarly being on the edge of the area also means defenders need to be careful about conceding fouls in the area, whereas they need not hesitate when Willian and Pepe are wider.  This then creates extra time in and around the area not only for Saka on the ball, but also for other attackers to make runs into the area to provide options.

The finishing touch to this new balance IMO is since the 2nd half v BHA we also see ESR playing more to the right side in combo with Saka, whilst we still have the Tierney-PEA/Martinelli combo on the left.  Not only do we now have 2 effective creative partnerships on each flank, the added bonus is they also stem from different areas of the pitch to give as asymmetric impact that makes it more difficult for defenders to negate.

I also think we will see more of the attacking play from the right looking for the runs of PEA and Martinelli from the left as much as providing supply to Laca as CF.

Lastly by having an effective #10/CAM who looks to move and link, it also means the CF role not only has close support and passing options making their link play more effective, but they are less required to drop deeper and can remain closer to goal t be better positioned in terms of chances created.

goon wrote:

Claudius wrote:

Mikel on yesterday’s game

If this is how we want to play, what was happening for the first 3 months of the season? Have we been waiting for ESR and Martinelli to be ready to play? Why did we stink up for so long

ESR more than Martinelli. We basically didn't have a 10. Tried playing Willock and it didn't really work, tried Laca and it didn't really click either.

Aside from that, Arteta doesn't really want to let go of the handbrake himself until he knows for sure the team won't roll down the hill. What he will have hopefully learnt in the last few months is that playing conservatively doesn't get you results either.

We did if we reinstated Ozil, but IMO it's not as simple as that option as a solution.
Aside from the lack of defensive cover etc, Ozil IMO is not the sort of #10 playmaker who creates space for others by his movement on and off the ball, but he can exploit space & movement via his passing.  By contrast ESR's game is all about movement (his own) in order to manipulate space on and off the ball for himself and others.  Ozil is all about the final ball or pre-assist, whereas ESR creates the opportunity for others to do so.

I also think the switch from 4231 to 343 during Project Re-start was partly due to the lack of supply of quality ball to the attack, and the lack of movement in the attack - both of which made Ozil less effective in what he was able to do, meaning both the player and position became redundant.

As per my last post I don't think Arteta was intending to play conservatively - I think Partey's injury has had a significant impact on our lack of dynamic play as we have not had the type of players available until now with ESR and Martinelli.  Partey's return will add impetus to our transition as well as an additional option in the final 3rd that neither Xhaka or Ceballos can.

I think it's worth remembering that tactical changes are also psychological, almost like re-arranging the furniture. It's not just that it's different, it also feels different, and sometimes that can mean a lot.

It was funny how people were saying we were awful at defending set pieces after conceding our first and second of the season.

It’s impressive, Goon.
As we said before, the defense has been great. We might even find that the inability to get the offense firing has put additional pressure on the defense. So finally getting Saka/ESR and co. firing might help us consolidate this great defensive condition.

IIRC there was another article recently that said we have the lowest numbers for losses of possession in the PL for this season thus far?
I presume this is in relation to the opposition pressing us in possession.

Anzac wrote:

IIRC there was another article recently that said we have the lowest numbers for losses of possession in the PL for this season thus far?
I presume this is in relation to the opposition pressing us in possession.

Wouldn't be surprising if it was for overall.

Honestly there's a lot of positives about Arty. Makes it all the more maddening why he undermines himself by playing those who aren't fighting for him.

When has he had 11 players who are "fighting for him" available?

Willian sure as shit wasn't fighting for anyone, but Arteta still insisted on playing him. He could have perhaps got more fight by dropping Willian for some youngster.

That you've only been able to identify "some youngster" is part of the problem. That'll go away with time.