European and Domestic Cups Discussion 2019/2020

Arsenal's problem in the first half? They didn't "respect" Arteta's instructions. So says Lacazette. In other words, they turned up expecting an easy night against Championship opposition and found out very quickly that Leeds are a very good team.

Imagine having that attitude when you've only won twice in two months.

This is the thing Arteta wants to change. The intensity has to be there for EVERY game. They can't pick and choose which games they want to run in and when they don't. Not until they're a top team again. Leeds should have been out of sight after that first half and it was fortunate they just couldn't put the ball in the net.

The second half was a vast improvement, so that's something. The players are responding to Arteta's methods. Watching Arteta's post-match interview, he knows he can't give these players an inch and has to keep the standards high. Hopefully the penny will drop with time.

Arsenal team to play Bournemouth tonight:

Martinez; Bellerin, Sokratis, Mustafi, Saka; Guendouzi, Xhaka; Pepe, Willock, Martinelli; Nketiah

Subs: Leno, Holding, Maitland-Niles, Torreira, Ceballos, Ozil, Lacazette

Seems Mustafi may have jumped ahead of Holding in selection.

Really hope Eddie gets a goal, because he's missed chances when given first team opportunities before.

when you look at at the fixture list or possible dates it looks impossible to compete for both FA Cup and EL but our draws have been favorable so far

Team vs Olympiakos

Leno; Mustafi Sokratis Luiz; Willock, Xhaka, Guendouzi, Saka; Martinelli Lacazette Aubameyang

AMN can't get ahead of Mustafi at RB lol

what is going on?


Hate that midfield. Martinelli is playing at least.

Torreira is ill and Ozil's wife is giving birth, so they haven't travelled.

I imagine it'll be Sokratis at right back and not Mustafi, since he played there vs Leeds.

Either AMN is unfit or he's not impressing Arteta enough in training. Maybe he's been agitating about not playing RB? I guess this is why they signed Cedric out of nowhere.

This club ‍�

IF we were Not going to win this comp its best to go out as early as possible anyway
At least let me tell that to myself

and just when i thought we were starting to play entertaining football again

End the season.
Back on hiatus

Easy to say in hindsight, but I had a feeling something would go wrong last night and the first half confirmed that suspicion.

Something wasn't right when the team turned up and looked a yard slower than usual. The attack looked like they were playing together for the first time, just constantly mistiming passes and runs, failing to link-up with each other, and misreading each others' intentions.

They played like individuals. Pepe beat his man constantly but refused to pass or shoot. Aubameyang and Lacazette hardly moved all game.

Arteta showed all his inexperience. Whatever he said at half-time didn't work. The performance still sucked. He took way too long to make a change, and when he did it was weird. Torreira came on when Guendouzi's more forward-thinking game might have been more useful. Willock came on and did nothing. It took until extra-time to bring on Martinelli for the woeful Lacazette.

I also wonder if all this work in training on getting the basics right has seen a neglect for set-piece training, because that's now four goals conceded off the bloody things in the last two games. Note that Arsenal's defensive set-piece record under Emery was excellent.

It's tough right now. The players you expect to perform aren't anymore (Ozil, Lacazette). Their replacements are kids still learning and developing. Arteta needs to take this, learn from it, and bin the players who just aren't doing it anymore. There are players in that team you can't count on when it matters.

Jay29 wrote:They played like individuals. Pepe beat his man constantly but refused to pass or shoot. Aubameyang and Lacazette hardly moved all game.

Arteta showed all his inexperience. Whatever he said at half-time didn't work. The performance still sucked. He took way too long to make a change, and when he did it was weird. Torreira came on when Guendouzi's more forward-thinking game might have been more useful. Willock came on and did nothing. It took until extra-time to bring on Martinelli for the woeful Lacazette.

Yea, what was up with Pepe and the whole forward lines movement (or lack of) all match?

Pepe needs to learn to simplify his game. He had at least 2-3 more great opportunities to pass and decided to dance himself to a goal kick. The problem of using him as a winger and not an inside forward (which he is) is because Auba plays on the left side and he really needs to cut in.

The forward line lack of any movement is starting to get annoying to see. I said this way back, but they dont use those half spaces enough. Only Ozil does occasionally and he seems to just switch on and off. Auba, and especially Laca dont seem to do it at all. It's why Martinelli also thrives. He is nearly always between oppositions midfield and defence.

Team to play Portsmouth:

Martinez; Sokratis, Luiz, Mari, Saka; Torreira, Guendouzi; Nelson, Willock, Martinelli; Nketiah

Debut for Mari, Nelson gets his first start in a while, AMN and Holding on the bench again.

Lacazette and Pepe on the bench too in case they're need. Auba rested completely.

Ugly match to watch but at least we are winning

Willock is like a baby giraffe on the ball

Comfortable in the end

Sheffield united away in the next round

avoided the big teams at least

still a tough match tbh, we'll most probably lose