Asterix its never going to change with the set of players we have fit, and it'll only change so much with set of players we have in total. Key attributes are fundamentally missing from this squad.

What was different in the game vs PSV? Have we figured out what it would take to create more chances? Was it just bad PSV? Their low block was not very good, their mid block was distinctly mid. Was it more of good Arsenal? A little of both?

It seemed to me like the midfielders and forwards were taking up more dangerous and aggressive positions in the box, hence being in the right place to pounce on loose balls and convert.

Yes, they were taking up more advanced positions, but i think a lot of that has to do with how terrible PSV played. Given the lack of pressure they were applying (a few exceptions aside), we were able to push people further forward. But we were just surprisingly clinical. They created as many chances as us, and if their finishing wasn't so bad, it could have been a different game.

It was mostly just PSV being shit and we were physically fresh and quite clinical compared to our usual standards.

We usually play quite well the next game after bottling the last chance at winning the league. Pressure is off, no need to fear the loss as everybody expects it anyway.

est the (recent-ish) history of the Arsenal.

flobaba Next few games will tell us more, if our attacking play goes up a level in the next few games then clearly we have tweaked something and found a solution. However PSV were dreadful defensively so won't get too carried away yet.

flobaba yeah I'm not convinced yet this is us working out anything but more that PSV were pretty terrible defensively. I'd still think we'll have a lot of difficulty against decent sides and PSV still could had a goal so there was vulnerability that teams with better quality will probably punish us.

Calafiori is the one wildcard we have right now.

The Merino experiment was cute for a game against relegation but we need something else to get anything in the CL. The league's over clearly and the CL is practically a pipe dream so experiment with something at least

naz I think the Merino experiment is over. Trossard will be the CF esp with Martinelli back.

Are we writing Merino off based on today? Not sure he was the reason we couldn't score.

Don Pacifico just not today, it’s clear he doesn’t have the necessary nous ie when to run into the box, when to hold the ball up, link up play, movement etc. Playing number 9 is much more than just scoring goals.

Lol at expecting anything from Saka. I'd rather just save him for August.

naz

Merino is the experiment. Otherwise, might as well debate Raya or Calafiori up front.

Sicario2 - Tier 1 movement in the box was a collective problem, as in no one was making runs. That's not down to Merino.

Don Pacifico that’s on him, he’s the striker and has to be proactive. Either way it hasn’t worked.

Obviously it hasn't, the guy has never played there before. The real question is why we wasted a squad spot on a guy who is so shit that a DM has to take his place.