i'm happy with him as long as he plays the right players. when he's playing favorites with losers, i get angry.
Official: Mikel Arteta is the new Arsenal manager.
Meatwad wrote:Anzac wrote:Perhaps the mitigating factor in each example can be explained in terms of players.
Currently we have the likes of Xhaka, Luiz, Elneny etc who like to recycle to retain possession = slower and more passes, whereas under AW we had more technical players AND we were more direct getting the ball forward to Giroud as the linking target man type at CF for our technical players to play off.
Lastly I'd say our play before and after the Boxing Day game v CFC has been chalk and cheese. We've scored almost as many goals in the games starting with CFC as we did up to then in about 1/3 the time. We've also upped our tempo and seeing more use of pace, movement and space on and off the ball. Defensively we have only conceded 1 goal and whilst Leno has made a number of saves they are of lower quality chances being conceded within the area.
As such if we continue in this manner I'd expect to see our direct speed to get closer to that seen with the likes of LFC & Co.
On a side note it is interesting to see the differences in terms of both the number of teams who take more passes per sequence now compared to earlier, and also the changes in style being more pronounced for the likes of MU & TH in particular following their changes in manager.
except for luiz all those players were here under AW for the season he's comparing.
The balance was different in terms of technical players, and having both Xhaka and Luiz in the same areas to each other is a multiplying effect as both like to get on the ball - and more so when you reduce the number of technical players ahead of them.
8 days later
Interesting stats. Basically we are playing more for our manager and working harder, plus various other reasons.
The amount of times we started the game half asleep was ridiculous, pretty basic stuff that we begin quick and maintain a decent level of intensity and concentration.
IBL wrote:The amount of times we started the game half asleep was ridiculous, pretty basic stuff that we begin quick and maintain a decent level of intensity and concentration.
IMO Partey's availability has a massive impact in terms of setting our tempo, whereas without him we see Luiz and Xhaka dominate the ball in our half which slows us down like treacle.
I think it's mostly tactical and personnel to be honest. We're playing with an extra attacker and still committing our fullbacks high up the pitch. Allows us to press higher and with an extra man. No more Laca huffing and puffing running across the backline covering 2-3 players. Arteta seems to have taken off the handbrake.
ESR is the key to our change in fortunes though, lad pops up everywhere on the pitch, always in the right areas. In the last couple of years whenever we played with a 10 they ended up being starved of the ball, ESR gets on the ball pretty much as much as our two other centre mids. I'd love to see his running stats because he must be covering a lot of ground.
goon wrote:I think it's mostly tactical and personnel to be honest. We're playing with an extra attacker and still committing our fullbacks high up the pitch. Allows us to press higher and with an extra man. No more Laca huffing and puffing running across the backline covering 2-3 players. Arteta seems to have taken off the handbrake.
ESR is the key to our change in fortunes though, lad pops up everywhere on the pitch, always in the right areas. In the last couple of years whenever we played with a 10 they ended up being starved of the ball, ESR gets on the ball pretty much as much as our two other centre mids. I'd love to see his running stats because he must be covering a lot of ground.
There were several comments after the Saints game that we are sitting higher and have more intensity in our pressing from the front. Perhaps not Klopp levels of counter-pressing but certainly with enough intensity and cohesion to smother the opposition in their own half to prevent them playing as they want.
Clrnc wrote:Interesting stats. Basically we are playing more for our manager and working harder, plus various other reasons.
because no Willian. I believe it's that simple.
Hopefully this works well enough that Willian gets with the program when he's called upon. Pepe at least seems to be adapting, if a bit inconsistently as is his wont.
goon wrote:I think it's mostly tactical and personnel to be honest. We're playing with an extra attacker and still committing our fullbacks high up the pitch. Allows us to press higher and with an extra man. No more Laca huffing and puffing running across the backline covering 2-3 players. Arteta seems to have taken off the handbrake.
ESR is the key to our change in fortunes though, lad pops up everywhere on the pitch, always in the right areas. In the last couple of years whenever we played with a 10 they ended up being starved of the ball, ESR gets on the ball pretty much as much as our two other centre mids. I'd love to see his running stats because he must be covering a lot of ground.
In terms of average positions the difference isn't that big. Maybe slightly higher fullbacks and deeper midfield that's all.
It's really the personnel and covid brazilians that's saved his job ironically. It also shows that it you want to play this pressing style everyone has to be on the ball.
Clrnc wrote:Interesting stats. Basically we are playing more for our manager and working harder, plus various other reasons.
IMO the date offers a major explanation = before and after we changed shape from the 343 to the 4231.
Having the extra body in the middle enables us to press from the front and fills the gap between the CF and CMs, so we can push up slightly higher.
Second best defensive record in the PL. Only Man City have conceded less.
Ray wrote:Second best defensive record in the PL. Only Man City have conceded less.
After 20 games we have conceded 10 less goals compared to the same period last season.
Doesn’t feel like we’ve had the chance to field our strongest eleven thus far this season.
Hopefully we’ll get the chance to soon.
I’d imagine this is the team
——————Lacazette
—Aubameyang————Saka
——————Odegaard
———Xhaka——-Partey
Tierney—Gabriel—-Holding—Bellerin
————-——-Leno
Its not our strongest XI if ESR isn't in it.
Yep, and in that lineup I'd have ESR on the left wing. Unless Ødegaard can slot in next to Partey?
Put Auba up top and Odegaard wide. Though on current form I don’t think you can drop Pepe.
I reckon that's our best bet as well. Do we know more about Saka? Wouldn't mind Pépé and Ødegaard out wide next match if Saka is still injured.
Don’t think there are any nailed on starters except for Leno, Tierney, Partey, Saka.
Been thinking that if we can successfully change from the 343 to an effective 4231 mid-season, then we can also do so going from the 4231 to Arteta's preferred 433.
IMO it could give us even greater flexibility and cover regarding starting selections, balance and roles in a 'horses for courses' capability.
Forwards
Stikers = PEA, Laca, Pepe, Martinelli;
Creative/winger = Saka, MO, ESR, Willian;
Midfield
#8/10 = ESR, MO, Saka, Ceballos, Willian;
#8 = Partey, Saka, Xhaka, Ceballos, Willock, AMN, Elneny;
#6 = Partey, Xhaka, Elneny, AMN, Chambers.
Ray wrote:Don’t think there are any nailed on starters except for Leno, Tierney, Partey, Saka.
Tempted to add Holding, ESR & Lacazette to that list of names based upon recent form - regardless of shape.