QuincyAbeyie Anyway, if your prediction is true then it sounds like all Arteta can do is wait until issues resolve themselves. Sounds nice.

Pretty much. You wouldn't want him to micromanage too much.

As usual, the battle lines are drawn between those who see the negatives and those who see the positives. It's been like this ever since Arteta joined and it's the same people arguing for and against. CBA with that shit and I'll just rejoice that we go top of the table.

RocktheCasbah

I personally think some of our performance last season was top of our level not so much about the manager just some players in top form and outperforming their level. This season and the horseshoe tactics is more reminiscent of the way we've generally played under Arteta. You can also see it in his recruitment strategy we've spent decent getting the back right but we have players like Eddie and reiss Nelson who busy aren't the level we need.

I don't expect us to match last season as I think we would inevitably drop from there because it was near the peak of our level for 2/3 of the season. I think we relied a little too much on Martinelli or Saka will just make it happen alone rather then creating game states to allow them to exploit.

Anyway as with everything is subjective, if we make this level of performance work and win the title there is nothing that I could say to refute that. I just think the level we have shown so far offensively probably sees us come short and it's been this way pretty much the whole season and it's cost us a few games, Fulham, Chelsea, Newcastle which is the fine margins that I think could see us lose out over the season.

goon

Couldn't find open play xG from set time periods last season, but overall xG has been:
First 14 games last year: 2.11
Last 24 games last year: 1.96
First 13 games this year: 1.91

Biggest difference seems to be we're creating fewer chances (xG) from open play, and more from corners and penalties (ca. 30% more). Another interesting stat is that last year we had 15.6 shots per game. This year we've had 14.2 shots per game. Fits with the other stats and the "eye test". We're more hesitant and less decisive in the final third.

But fair. It is difficult to identify the why here. I think it is Arteta's fault. Either by design or as a byproduct of his neurotic "over coaching" as some said. Hope we improve, because these things are not permanent.

Burnwinter I don't think we look like league winners so far, but looking like league winners got us nowhere last season.

That defensive triangle is of Saliba, Gabriel and Rice is looking pretty characteristic of a champion though! Goals conceded, xGA is looking pretty top notch.

Burnwinter We now have more than one way to win.

Agree, think multiple approaches are in development, some effective application so far. It will be intriguing to see how the team applies tools at the business end of the cups and leagues.

Arteta has continued a good trend into this season in terms of defensive substitutions to secure a result. Effective offensive substitutions like Trossard at Goodison, Havertz at Gtech hopefully tempt him to explore how much more he can accomplish using the bench forwards.

Watch the key moments from this game and 99% of them are game scenarios with 5-8 Brentford outfield players packed into their own box. I'd say the same for most game moments from 3/4ths of the opponents we've faced this season, and pretty much an opposition adjustment that for me has spread rapidly since Late Winter/Spring '23. Crossing and switching possession (horseshoe) are extremely logical approaches to combat that. A glut of corners is an unsurprising byproduct of that. Very much agree that we should still strive to i) play more progressive when we can before the opponent fully settles into shape, ii) to test subtle variations against a deep block and iii) to have another capable operator between the lines. However, think some perspectives on our team are a little harsh and unrealistic/unpragmatic.