West Brom v Arsenal | Saturday Jan 2, 8 PM British time |: Page 25 - The Arsenal discussion forum and community: One More in the Tolly

West Brom v Arsenal | Saturday Jan 2, 8 PM British time |

Anzac

Qwiss! wrote:
I think I'd like to see Arteta shut up shop against City, Liverpool, etc and then go hard at the bottom half and mid tablers. Going out to try to contain West Ham or Aston Villa is embarrassing. Especially as if back fires just as often as attacking them.

Thing is our record v big6 under Arteta is the best it's been since peak AW = it's the rest that sit deep and look to play on the counter with us having possession that have been the issue under Arteta.

I think the new look attack since the availability of ESR & Martinelli addresses many of the issues re movement and intent, that will not only continue to cause issues against the big6 but will now create those same issues against the rest, as seen v WBA.
I also think Partey's return will have an impact on reducing the number of opportunities we concede even further, and a progressive/creative CM will further add to our attacking capability.

Claudius

ESR is a game changer, but have we evolved systemically? Can we play this 4231 without him? How?

Anzac

Claudius wrote:
ESR is a game changer, but have we evolved systemically? Can we play this 4231 without him? How?

Not without bringing someone into the CMA role, and then using Ceballos/Willian as cover (which is what I think the original intent may have been at the start of the season, but injuries necessitated changes).

EDIT - I mentioned it in my next post but IMO replacing Xhaka at CM is our next evolution in our transition and attack.
Whilst ESR (or someone with the same attributes) is 'essential' to our attacking play in the final 3rd, a more progressive passer than Xhaka in the middle not only improves our tempo in transition, but more so gives the potential of making those passes to the forwards BEFORE we reach the final 3rd. This adds a 2nd string to our attacking bow as such, which means we have alternatives if we are unable to cover ESR's absence for any reason.

Anzac

est wrote:
It's fair enough to be a bit more cautious against the big teams or in knock-out cup games. In league games, especially against mid-table to bottom half sides, we need to be much bolder in our approach.

To add to what Qs said, it's pretty much impossible to keep a side from creating a chance in 90 minutes. Even if there's a big difference in quality. And there's always a chance of conceding a fluke goal. Scoring two-three goals from 10 chances is quite realistic, scoring more than 1 from 2-3 chances rarely happens.

TBH I don't think we have been cautious v big6 and that has been part of the reason for our success against them under Arteta.
That is not to say we have been outgoing or playing expansively, but I think our playing out from the back has been a strategy to negate the pressing by anyone, and we have the players capable to exploit and execute when we are more direct in transition.
IMO Xhaka continues to be our biggest liability in terms of our tempo and conservative play - even seen in these recent wins as mentioned with his deliberate sideways pass despite seeing movement by the forwards into space ahead of him.

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