Manchester United vs Arsenal | Sunday, 16:30 | with high velocity Pizza: Page 37 - The Arsenal discussion forum and community: One More in the Tolly

Manchester United vs Arsenal | Sunday, 16:30 | with high velocity Pizza

MistaT

How anyone can look at Willian's performance vs Man United and think Pepe couldn't have done better is beyond me.

We're clamoring about Willian providing stability, all while forgetting that he was the biggest liability for the first 30 minutes, and didn't do much better after that. Pepe produces the moments of magic that could have put us up 1-0 earlier, or 2-0 to see out the game.

QuincyAbeyie

I like Arteta a lot, but it's clear as day that he's extremely risk averse. Even to a degree where he prefers constant 5/10 performances from Willian instead of playing Pepe who even at his worst isn't much worse than the nothing performances we're seeing from Willian. Has Pepe even gotten a solid run of games without being benched since he was signed? He will never get proprely acclimatised if we're not willing to give him that.

Claudius

Pépé will play again Thursday night. He needs to put in a better shift than he did last week. I can't remember what he did other than the goal of the week.

QuincyAbeyie

I'll take a goal like that and nothing else over Willian every day of the week.

MistaT

I don't mind Arteta being risk averse, but he needs to pick battles for that. Luke Shaw is a 2 bit defender, and not someone to game plan around by playing Willian over Pepe due to risk concerns. Pepe would have turn up him apart until Shaw couldn't cross the half line, something Willian didn't manage to do.

Mirth

In fairness what other battles do you disagree with? The team largely picks itself at the moment, the only controversial pick is Willian over Pepe and who partners Partey. It's normal for managers to have a favourite and it's not like Willian is a dud even if he hasn't settled into the team yet. By all means play Pepe but it's a much of a muchness at this point.

Claudius

I'm fine with the team that was picked on Sunday. Was really happy with the back 6 and goalie he picked. Laca isn't my favorite but he did his Dirk Kuyt routine in the first hour. The Pepe thing for me is in Pepe's court. He has too much talent to not eventually win the selection battle over Willian. If he fails, that's on him

Klaus

I wonder if we will see both Pepe and Willian on the bench once/if we switch to a back 4 permanently. It's just hard to ignore that Saka looks twice the player compared to both of them.

Claudius

you seeing Saka out on the right? and one of Ceballos/Xhaka coming into the middle?

Klaus

Claudius wrote:
you seeing Saka out on the right? and one of Ceballos/Xhaka coming into the middle?

Saka on the right for sure, unless Auba starts playing through the middle. Seems the easiest way to include him in the attack where I feel he should be. He plays with more maturity than both Pepe and Willian which is a little indicting in the first case and just downright sad in the latter.

Claudius

Not sure how sad / indicting it is. He’s the best kid we’ve had since Jack. No shame in being outshone by him. He has potential to be special.

Clrnc

He doesn't have Xhaka's range of passing but there are really more things about him that Xhaka don't possess. He's the pass and move master. Simple body feints like 1.58 etc Xhaka is never agile enough to be anti press like this

MistaT

Mirth wrote:
In fairness what other battles do you disagree with? The team largely picks itself at the moment, the only controversial pick is Willian over Pepe and who partners Partey.

I think Auba wide left is contentious and had we not got a result vs Manchester United it would become controversial.
I would also point to his hesitancy in subs, and their typically dull/negative impact.

Gazza M

Willian looks to have hit the same wall as lacazette. Miscontrolled balls, stray passes, lack of explosion. Oh well, only 3 more years

Bring Back Kerrea Gilbert

Elneny is playing like he did when he first arrived. He instantly impressed me back then with his crisp passing and the fact he hardly ever lost the ball.

I found it weird how six months later Wenger almost totally froze him out.

Glad his confidence is back, because there's a player there.

Bosscielny

MistaT wrote:
I don't mind Arteta being risk averse, but he needs to pick battles for that. Luke Shaw is a 2 bit defender, and not someone to game plan around by playing Willian over Pepe due to risk concerns. Pepe would have turn up him apart until Shaw couldn't cross the half line, something Willian didn't manage to do.

Any interest in reminding us the last time Pepe dominated anyone enough to scare them into not leaving their half?

Sicario

Bosscielny wrote:
MistaT wrote:
I don't mind Arteta being risk averse, but he needs to pick battles for that. Luke Shaw is a 2 bit defender, and not someone to game plan around by playing Willian over Pepe due to risk concerns. Pepe would have turn up him apart until Shaw couldn't cross the half line, something Willian didn't manage to do.

Any interest in reminding us the last time Pepe dominated anyone enough to scare them into not leaving their half?

Ironically it was prob against Luke Shaw when we beat them at the Emirates on 1/1.

Bosscielny

Sicario wrote:
Bosscielny wrote:
Any interest in reminding us the last time Pepe dominated anyone enough to scare them into not leaving their half?

Ironically it was prob against Luke Shaw when we beat them at the Emirates on 1/1.

I was thinking that it had been a while since i’d seen it last.

« Previous Page