Quincy Abeyie wrote:

Anzac wrote:

We also owe them in regards to the UEL Final.

Baku is the UEL final. 

Yup - too tired to read it properly = been up since 3am after less than 4 hours sleep = running on fumes as the rush from the result wears off.

Before my brain shuts down just want to say the most impressive thing for me from this performance was the 18 pass move to score the opening goal going the length of the field and using both flanks.
I'm seeing a lot of talk about the defending as being the primary focus in both games v LFC and MC, but for me the first goal today is the key difference and an indication of where we are heading.

Didn't we score a goal just like that near the beginning of Emery's reign? Merryball, was it? This team is still who they are, regardless of Arteta whipping them into shape for a few games. Some of our best performers are still our biggest problems, in the grand scheme.

Coombs wrote:

Didn't we score a goal just like that near the beginning of Emery's reign? merryball™, was it? This team is still who they are, regardless of Arteta whipping them into shape for a few games. Some of our best performers are still our biggest problems, in the grand scheme.

Iwobi's goal @ SB combined both build ups seen v MC.

Agreed with your last comment.

Just wanted to make the distinction that we showed there is more to our game plan than not allowing either LFC or MC to play through the middle, as IMO that passing move for the opening goal was better than anything either LFC or MC managed to come up with against us.

On Ozil: making a firm decision has been good. The work rate we have seen in these past 4 games is beyond Ozil. Arteta is putting his stamp on his team. What’s great is that during the first halves of both Leicester and Manchester City, we played fluid exciting attacking football. Also encouraging that we played so well without Saka yesterday and Pépé was integral to both Auba goals.

Shady wrote:

Beating Chelsea won't avenge Baku but if they finish 5 AND lose to us, it will be extra sweet.

To be honest I rather Chelsea get top 4 than United. Fuck Ole and his cheating cunts

Anyway, on the idea of who we want to face...

[Twitter]

Didn’t realize that was part of the plan. That’s why my heart’s in my throat the whole time

It wasn’t just for the goal, our passing out the back has been great over the last few games. Emery failed badly with the tactic with pretty much the same set of players. I wonder what’s changed? Is it just composure?

Arteta is calm and thoughtful in the pre- and post game interviews, but he's very intense during matches. Screams "dale, dale!" at players and tell them where to pass the ball. I like it. Seems he has a very specific and detailed vision for how he wants us to play.

Coombs wrote:

Didn't we score a goal just like that near the beginning of Emery's reign? merryball™, was it? This team is still who they are, regardless of Arteta whipping them into shape for a few games. Some of our best performers are still our biggest problems, in the grand scheme.

I think it's easy to forget that at the start of Emery's reign,  we looked organised and played some decent stuff. We were also unbeaten for a while. Then he lost the dressing room,  his confidence and we started showing the same drab display regardless of opposition. So far,  we've seen much more tactical flexibility from Arteta and his communication is a lot clearer than Emery's. The performance yesterday got me excited as I'm now starting to think we may actually have a genuinely special manager on our hands, the kind that can turn water into wine (and I was definitely at the more sceptical end of the spectrum when we appointed him). I think none of us are under any illusions that there is still a lot of work to be done but I'm crossing my fingers that there's more to come from Arteta and that we can look forward to next season with some guarded optimism. 

goon wrote:

It wasn’t just for the goal, our passing out the back has been great over the last few games. Emery failed badly with the tactic with pretty much the same set of players. I wonder what’s changed? Is it just composure?

Mustafi gifted them a goal they just didn't take it at 10 minutes. They would have pounded us if that went it. 

With emery the players had hardly any options to pass out. Now were sat a lot deeper with tons of passing options now. 

Luiz is running the show at the back. 

We would never hear the end of the pass for Auba if he scored that. It was pure brilliance from Luiz. You really need a great and calm passer from the back to play this brand of football, especially starting for the keeper.

Leno is good with his feet but Martinez is outstanding. There was this moment my heart was in my mouth when 2 City players closed down Martinez but he actually took a touch, stopped the ball wait for them to come before passing it out to Xhaka. its insane

Claudius wrote:

[Twitter]

Didn’t realize that was part of the plan. That’s why my heart’s in my throat the whole time

And I'm glad he's sticking to his guns on that. Yes it gives us fans the occasional heart palpitation, but we've also pulled it off beautifully quite a few times under Mikel.

The convictionless Emery tried it (laughably) and then stopped it, like he's just flicking a light switch whenever he felt like it. No wonder the players were so confused and fed up under him.

Claudius wrote:

[Twitter]

Didn’t realize that was part of the plan. That’s why my heart’s in my throat the whole time

Draw the man to the ball and then make the pass.

goon wrote:

It wasn’t just for the goal, our passing out the back has been great over the last few games. Emery failed badly with the tactic with pretty much the same set of players. I wonder what’s changed? Is it just composure?

I think the change of shape has helped in that we no longer see a case of Xhaka or Guendouzi used as the first receiver from the GK, and that has made a huge difference so far as confidence goes.

It will be interesting to see on Tuesday if we will shift gears and be the ones trying to press Villa. We will need to rest the squad after last night - so Kola, Nketiah and Saka could have big roles to play in this one.

Claudius wrote:

It will be interesting to see on Tuesday if we will shift gears and be the ones trying to press Villa. We will need to rest the squad after last night - so Kola, Nketiah and Saka could have big roles to play in this one.

Saw a stat that we out ran LFC mid-week, and then backed it up again 4 days later (meaning the similar levels of effort - no idea what the distances were for each team).

Don Pacifico wrote:

Coombs wrote:

Didn't we score a goal just like that near the beginning of Emery's reign? merryball™™, was it? This team is still who they are, regardless of Arteta whipping them into shape for a few games. Some of our best performers are still our biggest problems, in the grand scheme.

I think it's easy to forget that at the start of Emery's reign,  we looked organised and played some decent stuff. We were also unbeaten for a while. Then he lost the dressing room,  his confidence and we started showing the same drab display regardless of opposition. So far,  we've seen much more tactical flexibility from Arteta and his communication is a lot clearer than Emery's. The performance yesterday got me excited as I'm now starting to think we may actually have a genuinely special manager on our hands, the kind that can turn water into wine (and I was definitely at the more sceptical end of the spectrum when we appointed him). I think none of us are under any illusions that there is still a lot of work to be done but I'm crossing my fingers that there's more to come from Arteta and that we can look forward to next season with some guarded optimism. 

its really help not having our fans their. Their nervous tension spreads to the team. Remember they used to all scream at almunia each time he came out to sweep up. Then he'd make more errors and theyd all scream more. That really helped.