Arsenal vs Benfica - Europa - 18/2 20h00 GMT. Francesinha sandwich: Page 22 - The Arsenal discussion forum and community: One More in the Tolly

Arsenal vs Benfica - Europa - 18/2 20h00 GMT. Francesinha sandwich

Qwiss

Coombs wrote:
This just shows how much results color performances. Thought we were essentially the same, Benfica were just ok, but the goals didn't go in.

I agree. I said after Leeds that if they had scored the first goal we'd have crumbled, similarly if Auba scores that early sitter then I think this tie would be effectively over already.

Anzac

Bring Back Kerrea Gilbert wrote:
And that's why he needs to be out the door first day of the tran window.

Arsenal vs Benfica: Granit Xhaka's glaring weakness exposed (paininthearsenal.com)

Anzac

Coombs wrote:
This just shows how much results color performances. Thought we were essentially the same, Benfica were just ok, but the goals didn't go in.

The Journey and The Scoreboard: why Gooners need to keep calm and trust Arteta [Positive Needs & Hopes] | Gunners Town

[url=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/02/19/arsenal-vs-benfica-4-talking-points/]Arsenal vs Benfica: 4 talking points from Europa League draw (paininthearsenal.com)[/url]
point 4 re Ceballos is interesting in that he may not be suited to our evolving style of play requiring quick transitions.
That said I still want to see him alongside Partey to see if it is more about having passing options and if he can improve his tempo.

Claudius

Ceballos can hold the ball a bit too long at times. And meander around the midfield. But at least he retains the ball and goes forward. His pass map shows that. Xhaka on the hand just passes backward indiscriminately. I think Ceballos hesitation yesterday might’ve frustrated forwards. Was part of why we were mistiming runs and getting offside. Xhaka, on the other hand, would just get the ball and give it to the center backs.

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banduan

I think we had the right game plan, modifying it a bit vs Leeds but mostly the same setup. We started off well.

The turning point was Auba missing the sitter - that seemed to affect us mentally and sloppiness crept into the game.

Claudius

This team has an attitude problem. We did that spirit of Xhaka thing where we played around the halfway line and kept the ball peripheral. If we tried to break them then we delayed balls and got offside.

But then they scored and we immediately responded with a demonstration of perfect one touch one football to score the equalizer. And you could not help wondering where that had been all along. To some extent we are a team of perfect goals. Highly rehearsed balletic goals. But we also seem to lose focus and hunger in games.

Clrnc

Ricky1985 wrote:
Ceballos is a very very intelligent footballer, always so aware of where everyone is on the pitch, but even in his good games he always has a period where his level drops badly. Very frustrating.

I like that everytime he will try to play forward whenever possible. Imagine him and Partey, we will have the most progressive passing duo.

He has great vision with those through balls down the line. Great defensive awareness, can tackle can pass can hold the ball and is good technically. Only downside is probably his speed. If we can do a deal for 20m we should do it.

Claudius

It’s interesting that Ceballos sets a lot of people off. He’s so technically on point. And also does the defensive work. The only thing he can work on is making sure he is releasing faster even if it is riskier (the way Partey does). I think it’s against his nature because he wants to keep possession and control the ball. But if he learns to let go a little, he will be devastating.

It’s great that he does more defensive work than any other midfielder as well.

QuincyAbeyie

Some seem to think that Partey always needs to sit if we play them together, but I don't think so. When one of them goes, the other sits. Both are capable of that, and both are capable of helping the attack. It would probably make us more unpredictable than if we had one player constantly sitting deep and another always joining the attack as well.

Claudius

I agree with you. Especially if we play the way Arteta prefers which is with each man having a clear side of the pitch he manages. Then they can vary how they go up and down depending on how the play is evolving.

Bring Back Kerrea Gilbert

Have we seen Ceballos and Partey together properly yet?

It's the last throw of the dice for this season and one that might work quite nicely, before we buy two new starting-quality mids in the summer.

Bring Back Kerrea Gilbert

To add, I'd sell Xhaka and Elneny and sign Ceballos for £20m as a squad option, alongside Partey and the two new guys.

Perfection and hopefully doable.

Claudius

Bring Back Kerrea Gilbert wrote:
Have we seen Ceballos and Partey together properly yet?

It's the last throw of the dice for this season and one that might work quite nicely, before we buy two new starting-quality mids in the summer.

Why do we need 2 starters if we have Partey? We just need another Partey level mid. If the other clubs are not paying attention someone like the Rennes child Camavinga would be ideal. He can come in and start already. He's already played for France - the youngest debutant in almost a century for the national team and looked good that day. Price quoted is €50m but that would be worth it if we can dump a bunch of depth / loanees.

Bring Back Kerrea Gilbert

Because we always have injuries and our level drops drastically.

Look at Partey's fitness thus far.

If we need four good CBs, we need four good CMs, no?

Xhaka and Elneny are garbage, so our options next season should be:

Partey
New guy
New guy
Ceballos if we can get him for cheap, or use AMN or even Guendouzi in this role

Claudius

I'd rather ensure that we have one other Partey-level player in the middle than 2 middling players.
Because if Partey is injured, then at least we have Camavinga or similar +1 versus 2 middling players. The number of times midfield has cost us because we do not have a difference maker in the middle is too numerous to count. Even on Thursday night, as good as Ceballos was, he lacked that Partey killer instinct of driving offense with early through balls and aggressive progressive runs. We just needed one player who could do that and we would've absolutely murdered Benfica. They had 2 tired central defenders who we should've punished with more quality in central midfield.

Big Willie

Ceballos had a number of progressive runs the other night Claude. There was this one turn towards the end of the first half where he received the ball facing our own corner flag and he flicked it with his back heel to spin past 2 or 3 players to run towards the halfway line. I really like Ceballos and would like to see a proper run in the side alongside Partey. Think it can work out and be our best CM partnership but at the minimum if it doesn't work then it shows us we shouldn't bother signing him again for next season.

Claudius

Big Willie wrote:
Ceballos had a number of progressive runs the other night Claude. There was this one turn towards the end of the first half where he received the ball facing our own corner flag and he flicked it with his back heel to spin past 2 or 3 players to run towards the halfway line. I really like Ceballos and would like to see a proper run in the side alongside Partey. Think it can work out and be our best CM partnership but at the minimum if it doesn't work then it shows us we shouldn't bother signing him again for next season.

Willie, I'm a fan of Ceballos. I think he's really good technically. One of the best along with ESR, Saka and Odegaard. Note that all of these are new or loan players. He also created the pass that set Bellerin free for the Aubameyang miss in the first half. It was a special throughball.

I just think he needs the confidence to hit those more often and earlier. You'll see the number of times he gets the ball and then meanders around the centre of the park while forwards need to stop or reverse runs. The question is will he work on this quickly enough to make him a tentpole midfielder?

goon

To be fair it's often because he's looking for a progressive pass. I think what he needs to learn is that if a pass isn't on just give and go until it is rather than holding it for too long.

Claudius

goon wrote:
To be fair it's often because he's looking for a progressive pass. I think what he needs to learn is that if a pass isn't on just give and go until it is rather than holding it for too long.

Yeah. Keep the defense working. A ball moving laterally or forwards keeps the defense on its toes. Sending the ball like Xhaka or holding onto it allows the defense to breathe a little

flobaba

Claudius wrote:
Bring Back Kerrea Gilbert wrote:
Have we seen Ceballos and Partey together properly yet?

It's the last throw of the dice for this season and one that might work quite nicely, before we buy two new starting-quality mids in the summer.

Why do we need 2 starters if we have Partey? We just need another Partey level mid. If the other clubs are not paying attention someone like the Rennes child Camavinga would be ideal. He can come in and start already. He's already played for France - the youngest debutant in almost a century for the national team and looked good that day. Price quoted is €50m but that would be worth it if we can dump a bunch of depth / loanees.

Just the sort to slip under the radar isn’t he? 🙂

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