Bournemouth vs Arsenal, evening kick off, eat some food: Page 8 - The Arsenal discussion community: One More in the Tolly

Bournemouth vs Arsenal, evening kick off, eat some food

flobaba

Hmm. Good game.

There's something missing though. You can feel it. Even when we are cruising we aren't as sleek as we should be playing like this. I know it's early in the season, but it still feels like we are having a bit of a dry rub. It might get you there, but this would be a lot easier and more enjoyable with some moisturizing lotion.

Go on Arteta, go get us some SMS lotion.

Rohit

I have felt good about Arsenal loads in the past, even when there wasn't any good reason to but this feels different. Normally I would be cautious in my optimism but I feel like we have the side to do something special if we can create momentum and not be derailed by mini setbacks.

innervisionscm

Great to see Ødegaard on the score sheet twice as well, it will really help us if he's feeling confident in front of goal.

MistaT

What are you two on about….

flobaba wrote:
I know it's early in the season, but it still feels like we are having a bit of a dry rub. It might get you there, but this would be a lot easier and more enjoyable with some moisturizing lotion.

Go on Arteta, go get us some SMS lotion.

Rohit wrote:
I have felt good about Arsenal loads in the past….

est

Rohit wrote:
I have felt good about Arsenal loads in the past, even when there wasn't any good reason to but this feels different. Normally I would be cautious in my optimism but I feel like we have the side to do something special if we can create momentum and not be derailed by mini setbacks.

We'll see for sure once we get some injuries and a few results go against us.

Good thing is, we still have Saka to kick into full gear and the Smith can step in and contribute whenever needed. Not even mentioning the likes of Vieira and Marquinhos who are our wildcards for this season.

Hopefully we don't have to go too many games without Our Lord and Savior Gabriel Jesus and we add some quality to the CM area before the window closes. Depth in other areas looks the best it has in a decade at least.

Feel good factor is back at the moment, that is for sure. The players and fans alike are absolutely buzzing.

lorddulaarsenal

Excellent performance. Not quite there yet but well on our way now.

Gazza M

saliba, zinn, and jesus have immediately added to the team. really good to see

agree with flobs and inner. we could be excellent if we spice up the midfield a bit

Clrnc

est wrote:
Rohit wrote:
I have felt good about Arsenal loads in the past, even when there wasn't any good reason to but this feels different. Normally I would be cautious in my optimism but I feel like we have the side to do something special if we can create momentum and not be derailed by mini setbacks.

We'll see for sure once we get some injuries and a few results go against us.

We have Vieira, Tomiyasu, Tierney, ESR all to come in and contribute too.

Really just need another CM and an attacking mid/winger to rotate. Mudryk and SMS would make us top 3 contenders

Ricky1985

I'm still worried about the midfield - it's not quite right, so in that respect I agree with Flobs et al. It's not even necessarily the individuals, but the balance feels a little off to me, and I think the best teams in the league will exploit it. I also think we're a forward short. Jesus is incredible, and Nketiah is a more than able back-up - I also think he can be very useful wide left, he can get goals from there. But another quality option, a guy that can play right and left, it'd make us much stronger. Have Smith Rowe push for a central spot, not to say he can't do a job out there when needed, but we need speed, athleticism and goal threat in that front almost at all times, in my opinion.

naz

Our gaps are too clear that you have to imagine Edu sees them. We're not going for random useless players there, we'll get some good quality to complete the set

deardevil

Rohit wrote:
I have felt good about Arsenal loads in the past, even when there wasn't any good reason to but this feels different. Normally I would be cautious in my optimism but I feel like we have the side to do something special if we can create momentum and not be derailed by mini setbacks.

Squad isn't strong enough for something special. But if we can keep the first XI fit, then we could do something.

Don Pacifico

Ricky1985 wrote:
I'm still worried about the midfield - it's not quite right, so in that respect I agree with Flobs et al. It's not even necessarily the individuals, but the balance feels a little off to me, and I think the best teams in the league will exploit it. I also think we're a forward short. Jesus is incredible, and Nketiah is a more than able back-up - I also think he can be very useful wide left, he can get goals from there. But another quality option, a guy that can play right and left, it'd make us much stronger. Have Smith Rowe push for a central spot, not to say he can't do a job out there when needed, but we need speed, athleticism and goal threat in that front almost at all times, in my opinion.

Definitely short in midfield. Aside from numbers, we didn't create as many chances as our possession in the first should have allowed us to. Can't help but feel that accommodating Xhaka's change of position has been to the detriment of Odegaard; he seems positionally to be spending more time further back than he used to, receiving passes from our back four when he should be playing more passes in the final third like the one that led to Jesus' offside goal.

MistaT

I think Odegaard and Saka have no one but themselves to blame.

Zinchenko, Xhaka, and Martinelli have all put together a high functioning attack and defense. If Odegaard is coming too deep it’s not due to Xhaka, but because he, Saka and White are all looking static off ball. Xhaka has marauded all over the field, yet Odegaard hasn’t made any such breaks into space.

RowJimmy

I would like to see us look more comfortable resting in possession.

Don Pacifico

MistaT wrote:
I think Odegaard and Saka have no one but themselves to blame.

Zinchenko, Xhaka, and Martinelli have all put together a high functioning attack and defense. If Odegaard is coming too deep it’s not due to Xhaka, but because he, Saka and White are all looking static off ball. Xhaka has marauded all over the field, yet Odegaard hasn’t made any such breaks into space.

I think that's a bit simplistic. If you take a system's-led approach to the way our team operate, one player (Xhaka for example) changing position/role is going to impact the position/role of another player (Odegaard for example).

Personally, I think the fact that we have a CB at RB who often sits back into a back three whilst Xhaka is further forward means that Odegaard needs to drop deeper to pick up the ball and Saka is often isolated on the wing the rare occasion that White overlapped, we scored)..

Anzac

https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1640694/Live/England-Premier-League-2022-2023-Bournemouth-Arsenal

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/62620534
Arsenal mentality shift 'crazy' - how far can Mikel Arteta's Gunners go?

https://www.football365.com/news/opinion-arsenal-invincibles-bournemouth-arteta-process-jesus-odegaard-saliba
https://www.football365.com/news/bournemouth-0-3-arsenal-odegaard-jesus-gunners-top

Good result and performance with our right flank dominating this week.
Loved the chaos Jesus created for the opening goal, along with the effective overlapping run by White for the 2nd. Perfect response by Saliba to the O.G. last week.

Still think there is more to come in terms of performances and capabilities, and I'm leaning towards a preference for a ball carrier for the midfield. My only criticism as such being the lack of subs prior to 74mins, in terms of both being late and all 5 coming within 15 mins would disrupt the team whilst not really giving enough time for the players and team to settle.

Jed

That Xhaka-Partey midfield partnership though.

Ricky1985

Don Pacifico wrote:
Personally, I think the fact that we have a CB at RB who often sits back into a back three whilst Xhaka is further forward means that Odegaard needs to drop deeper to pick up the ball and Saka is often isolated on the wing the rare occasion that White overlapped, we scored)..

I think the idea is to isolate Saka on the right wing - get him 1-v-1 - that's the whole point. Quick switches to him after drawing the opposition over to handle the quick combinations on the left. Think back to last season when he was consistently doubled, even tripled, up on, he had lots of opportunities to go at theie left back, Zemura today, the problem is Saka's not quite executing atm. Although he did really start to get the upper hand on him toward the end of the first half.

Pepe LeFrits

White was up and down that touch line providing an overlap all game. How was Saka not supported?

Doc

Thought Saka had a good game. Maybe final ball not quite there but much better overall.

« Previous Page Next Page »