Arsenal vs Crystal Palace (H) | Monday 18 Oct 8:00 PM BST | Sky Sports: Page 6 - The Arsenal discussion community: One More in the Tolly

Arsenal vs Crystal Palace (H) | Monday 18 Oct 8:00 PM BST | Sky Sports

Ricky1985

The midfield isn't working at all. Partey constantly isolated and without short passing options; Òdegaard completely ineffective and not producing anything of note when he gets on the ball; Smith Rowe covering a lot of ground but not really ever where the action is at either end of the pitch.

Saka dreadful on the left. No sustained pressing, 30 yards deeper than where we started the game, Palace on top territorially, no signs of a cohesive attack or a plan in the build-up. Frankly, that was a shocking first half display.

We've the back 5 to thank for keeping Palace from finding the goal their play probably deserves

Don Pacifico

No one's been outstanding today...Ramsdale potentially our best despite a couple of small mistakes...?

Same story as we've seen many a time - slow in transition. I actually feel like Odegaard is contributing to that. Front three are also sloppy in possession.

Coombs

Kel Varnsen wrote:
Mirth wrote:
We've scored 25 goals in 21 games at the Emirates - it's actually really hard to be that that impotent in the attack with the players we have.

I hate how "thinly" the team is spread out all over the pitch. We're not able to create any real pressure on or off the ball.

Me too. ESR is drifting way too wide, midfield needs to keep their distances but it's all over the place. Our midfield stamina is also really poor.

Kel Varnsen

KingslandBarge wrote:
Kel Varnsen wrote:
I hate how "thinly" the team is spread out all over the pitch. We're not able to create any real pressure on or off the ball.

I'd venture to think Hodgson's 4-4-2, including with Zaha would have really hounded our ball carriers and boxed them out when attacking. Our connective tissue isn't secure.

Good teams make sure the player on the ball has 3-4 solid passing options, and they are able to press as a team - compact and coordinated. We look completely disjointed and players are isolated all the time. Both going forward and defending. It's awful football.

Coombs

Ricky1985 wrote:
The midfield isn't working at all. Partey constantly isolated and without short passing options; Òdegaard completely ineffective and not producing anything of note when he gets on the ball; Smith Rowe covering a lot of ground but not really ever where the action is at either end of the pitch.

Saka dreadful on the left. No sustained pressing, 30 yards deeper than where we started the game, Palace on top territorially, no signs of a cohesive attack or a plan in the build-up. Frankly, that was a shocking first half display.

We've the back 5 to thank for keeping Palace from finding the goal their play probably deserves

Saka looks so jaded.

Klaus

Carragher making a great point about Aubameyang's workrate at half time. Bloke worked like a dog in the first half to bridge the huge distances on the field.

I agree with Kel that we're spread too thinly. I've never seen a good football team that didn't keep themselves reasonably short on the pitch.

Coombs

Klaus wrote:
Callagher making a great point about Aubameyang's workrate at half time. Bloke worked like a dog in the first half to bridge the huge distances on the field.

He did. Those distances were all wrong though. Shouldn't need him to do that.

Ray

Ricky1985 wrote:
The midfield isn't working at all. Partey constantly isolated and without short passing options; Òdegaard completely ineffective and not producing anything of note when he gets on the ball; Smith Rowe covering a lot of ground but not really ever where the action is at either end of the pitch.

Saka dreadful on the left. No sustained pressing, 30 yards deeper than where we started the game, Palace on top territorially, no signs of a cohesive attack or a plan in the build-up. Frankly, that was a shocking first half display.

We've the back 5 to thank for keeping Palace from finding the goal their play probably deserves

What do you propose? I seem to remember you were a fan of trying ESR - Partey - Odegaard?

Gazza M

partey needs a centre mid next to him. odegaard and partey as a pair doesn't work unless your team is geared up be very adventurous, which we're clearly not

Clrnc

Kel Varnsen wrote:
Mirth wrote:
We've scored 25 goals in 21 games at the Emirates - it's actually really hard to be that that impotent in the attack with the players we have.

I hate how "thinly" the team is spread out all over the pitch. We're not able to create any real pressure on or off the ball.

We have a huge enough sample size to know that no matter who we put out our style isn't going to change. Pretty evident we can't coach a consistent attacking team at all, not sure why people think that is going to magically change all of a sudden.

Qwiss

Coombs wrote:
Qwiss! wrote:
We didn't start so deep. We've stopped pressing and the midfield dropped too deep though.

He obviously doesn't ever want us to drop this deep. It's not even remotely by design. Why would he be constantly waving for them to push up if he told them to drop deep? They can't sustain the press and they were way too eager to play straight and long. Need to play a game with closer distances and more confidence when they get physical. Hopefully we come out of the break a little more measured.

The long balls definitely by design. It's partly why he signed Ramsdale and White.

I don't know about the dropping deep, it's hard to tell. I'm sure it's not the plan before the game but is it in game instruction? No idea why they stopped pressing though, not fit enough?

Klaus

Coombs wrote:
Klaus wrote:
Callagher making a great point about Aubameyang's workrate at half time. Bloke worked like a dog in the first half to bridge the huge distances on the field.

He did. Those distances were all wrong though. Shouldn't need him to do that.

Definitely. We're spread too thin and it makes it easy for Palace to intercept the ball and block off paths.

goon

Klaus wrote:
Callagher making a great point about Aubameyang's workrate at half time. Bloke worked like a dog in the first half to bridge the huge distances on the field.

I agree with Kel that we're spread too thinly. I've never seen a good football team that didn't keep themselves reasonably short on the pitch.

Yup, super effort from him tonight. Odd how half hearted is is behind him though.

Qwiss

Aubas head and shoulders our best player today.

Dunno what the midfield is doing, Ode seems to be positioned 3 yards ahead of Partey half the time, what's the point in that?

banduan

Coombs wrote:
Ricky1985 wrote:
Saka dreadful on the left. No sustained pressing, 30 yards deeper than where we started the game, Palace on top territorially, no signs of a cohesive attack or a plan in the build-up. Frankly, that was a shocking first half display.

Saka looks so jaded.

he looks completely knackered. Swap with Pepe on the right in the second half so he doesn't need to cover so much then sub him.

Qwiss

Klaus wrote:
Coombs wrote:
He did. Those distances were all wrong though. Shouldn't need him to do that.

Definitely. We're spread too thin and it makes it easy for Palace to intercept the ball and block off paths.

Yeah thats a big problem, can't press hard high up and sit your back 4 so deep.

Qwiss

banduan wrote:
Coombs wrote:
Saka looks so jaded.

he looks completely knackered. Swap with Pepe on the right in the second half so he doesn't need to cover so much then sub him.

If he gets subbed it'll be for a mid or defender.

Klaus

Qwiss! wrote:
Klaus wrote:
Definitely. We're spread too thin and it makes it easy for Palace to intercept the ball and block off paths.

Yeah thats a big problem, can't press hard high up and sit your back 4 so deep.

What's weird is that every single one of them have perfect characteristics to play higher up the pitch too. White and Gabriel are good enough on the ball to be midfielders. They're quite fast too so it's not like they're going to be burned easily. The line really should be higher up.

KingslandBarge

banduan wrote:
he looks completely knackered. Swap with Pepe on the right in the second half so he doesn't need to cover so much then sub him.

Been kicked to bits though. He's fine I think, looked razor sharp against Andorra

Ricky1985

Ray wrote:
Ricky1985 wrote:
The midfield isn't working at all. Partey constantly isolated and without short passing options; Òdegaard completely ineffective and not producing anything of note when he gets on the ball; Smith Rowe covering a lot of ground but not really ever where the action is at either end of the pitch.

Saka dreadful on the left. No sustained pressing, 30 yards deeper than where we started the game, Palace on top territorially, no signs of a cohesive attack or a plan in the build-up. Frankly, that was a shocking first half display.

We've the back 5 to thank for keeping Palace from finding the goal their play probably deserves

What do you propose? I seem to remember you were a fan of trying ESR - Partey - Odegaard?

I am, but we have to compress tbe game and allow the three players' techncial quality come to the fore. If we're going to put everyone behind the ball amd sit in oir owm half every time Palace manage to string two passes together then those three are instead going to spend the game doing the things they're no good at it.

I refuse to accept this is all by design, and that it must be a confidence issue that's stopping us from stepping up the pitch and trying to dominate the game. When the distances between the lines is so big, everything will fall apart.

Edit - Saka coming off for Lokonga.

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