UCL 25/26: Page 42 - The Arsenal discussion forum and community: One More in the Tolly

UCL 25/26

swider

Claudius
I really do not think past results have any influence on today's predictions. With an exception of Bayern playing irresponsibly in defence while constructing attack, I think both teams yesterday were visibly better at pretty much everything compared to us. One, two touch football, playing from the back, constructing attacks, individual form of players etc.

USArsenal

swider I think both teams yesterday were visibly better at pretty much everything compared to us. One, two touch football, playing from the back, constructing attacks, individual form of players etc.

With one notable difference... Neither team appeared to know how to defend or how to control a game. It was an exceptional game to watch as a general football fan, but breaking down the game, both defenses were so wide open, there were gaps and open spaces everywhere. Neither of those team would get that kind of space against us.

Not saying we would beat both of these teams (although we certainly could), but it would be a much tighter game overall.

RowJimmy

swider
Except defending, which is 50% of the game.

Ray

I’d be more confident against Bayern. PSG though is a different kettle of fish.

Pepe LeFrits

We'd definitely want Timber available for a game against either.

Anyway, have to get past Atletico first, which I'm not too confident about

USArsenal

Pepe LeFrits

As much as we talk about how much we rely on Saliba and Gabriel at the back, i actually think Timber being fit and starting is arguably more important. Without him, Willo and Gab look more exposed. Timber has really turned into a vital cog in our defensive machine and we haven't looked the same without him in the side.

daredevil

JazzG

You're wrong mate it's only Saka in world football that has to defend.

QuincyAbeyie

Kind of impresses that you two watched yesterday's game and your takeaway is that these attackers don't have more freedom than Saka.

daredevil

QuincyAbeyie

Olise spent all game in the exact same positions that Saka finds himself in every game. Overlay any heatmap and touchmap of Saka with Olise's and they will be identical. It's pure head in the sand fantasy stuff that Arsenal fans have created that Saka is playing a different sport with different expectations.

You're mistaking maximising the strengths of your attackers by playing vertically at speed into space to given them the best chance of scoring - with freedom.

The reason why we don't play like this is not because of how our wingers are tasked - it's how slow our build up is and how rarely we take opportunities to counter - or worse how rarely we can pull it off.

QuincyAbeyie

daredevil The reason why we don't play like this is not because of how our wingers are tasked - it's how slow our build up is and how rarely we take opportunities to counter - or worse how rarely we can pull it off.

How slow our build up is and how rarely we take counter opportunities obviously has to do with how our wingers are tasked because it has to do with how every one of our players are tasked. An advantage to the slow-build up and not taking counters or risks is that it leaves us less exposed at the back. The wingers are a part of that, just like all the other players.

daredevil

QuincyAbeyie

No - it has to do with how quickly and vertically we play from back to front - which then impacts the amount of space the attackers can play into - which then impacts how effective they can be,

QuincyAbeyie

Unless you don't think we play that way on purpose, it's because our players are tasked that way. That includes the wingers.

daredevil

QuincyAbeyie

Of course it's partly by design but the players that most influence the style and have the most impact is the back six. The forward 5 pay the consequences of those behind them.

swider

RowJimmy
Hopefully we will find out in the final, how well we will control the game and defend against opponents who play this way, and how badly they really defend.

Coombs

RowJimmy I actually disagree with this.

RowJimmy

Coombs
You don't think our defending is better than theirs, or you don't think defending is half the game?

FWIW, I do think defending is half the game (by definition). I also think we're better defensively than either of them are, but we are not as good defensively now as we were in October.

Tactics

QuincyAbeyie Yep, fair. We should have better set of forwards at our disposal and also play far better football on regular basis given our recent expenditure (which I think is over a billion pounds already). People look at PSG and conclude it's all about money but it really isn't. Luis Campos has transformed them and someone like him could take us to the next level.

Coombs

RowJimmy it isn't half the game, not least because you can't win if you don't score

Gurgen

Defending is half the game if you have 50% possession every game.

Claudius

Coombs in knockout footy, don’t concede

Coombs

Claudius defense needs to be neutered in this sport. Every advantage goes to defenders. More penalties need to be awarded for fouls that would be fouls anywhere else on the pitch. Offside needs reform. It's a stupid cultural problem that needs stamping out.

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