Big Willie hmm you are right, never mind. I was sure he got it
Sturrridge is wearing a horrific suit.
Rice is definitely not a 6. We need to find a way to let him roam.
banduan I see no reason why he can't do that if Merino and him have an understanding. But they don't. The rare moments Rice has got forward, Merino has taken a step back but need to see that more often.
To that end, need to see our wingers switching flanks more often.
banduan
Merino is even less of a 6.
Odegaard needs to step up and provide some of what Rice did against Real. He's busy without the ball, but timid and hesitant with it.
Merino needs to be more mobile, Rice needs to get more control in the middle, and Ode needs to control the tempo more. Somehow we are not out of this game. We looked absolutely dire in the first 20-25 minutes until we figured out hw to get at them a little more. The trick is the balance. All out attack and we will get done in on the counter. Too little attack and we won't get back into it. It took us a while to get the balance right v. Real also, but the difference was that Real didn't score first.
Arteta needs to man up and play Nwaneri.
Qwiss -- I was wondering about Saka into Odegaards position and Nwaneri to left wing.
Not sure Areteta has the balls to pull that move on Odegaard though.
Outclassed in every department. This reminds of playing Barca and being schooled during the Wenger years. And these guys are nowhere near Barca.
Gurgen I wouldn’t go that far, we created the same amount of chances and better quality ones at that
Gurgen
We were outclassed in the first 20 minutes or so, but we've come back into the game, and we've created some chances. We just need to take one of them. Villa showed they could be got at. And we're starting to get at them.
Merino always looks so static as a midfielder. Weirdly much more mobile upfront when he just needs to make short, sharp movements
MistaT they can't live with Sakas dribbling but no one else offers it. I'd put Nwanners in midfield as a 10ish player. Get them on the back foot.
Don Pacifico How often have Rice and Merino played together as the 2 CMs this season? Probably less than 5 so its not surprising they haven't got a partnership going like RicexPartey.
Odegaard well I just don't know anymore what has happened to my captain.
Odegaard may still be injured, but it sure seems like he's been sussed out by opponents.
No one is scared of him offensively as he can't go by players, and really only creates into the left channel or out wide.
lorddulaarsenal this is the way. And shove Merino up top.
Hakimi is a front footed defender and he's already on a booking. We should be targeting him this half
Rice should be taking the free kick.
Merino wins a FK. Elbow to the head.
Rice to take..
Yessssssss
