What's a semifinal? The Arsenal v. Atletico Madrid, Thursday April 26 2018 2000 GMT

Discussion in 'Arsenal' started by mebeSajid, Apr 23, 2018.

  1. SaratogaGooner

    Nov 23, 2009
    Clifton Park NY
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    If I were the multi millionaire team owner or manager of the team and you were doing a total team rebuild who would you keep going forward that was on the pitch today? I would keep Ramsey, Ozil, Lacazette (borderline) and Ospina. I would sell/get rid of all others.we are full of mediocre talent.
    Team needs a 95% rebuild. Perhaps a new Manager and a Board that can figure it out will offer us some hope.
     
  2. Tonerl

    Tonerl Member+

    Arsenal
    May 10, 2006
    Cincinnati, OH
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Switch to decaf.
     
  3. DaPrince84

    DaPrince84 Member+

    Aug 22, 2001
    MD
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    --other--
    because he genuinely has no idea what he is talking about with regards to matches and proudly displays it.
     
  4. NorthBank

    NorthBank Member+

    Arsenal; NYRB
    United States
    Mar 29, 2006
    Connecticut
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I knew my post would bring you Alexis fans out ;)

    That's just wrong to say he never made incisive runs in to the box. If I was swifter with my youtube research, or just wanted to take a bunch of time finding examples, I would prove this. But lucky for you I won't be doing that. Sure he was a ball-chasing, shape-ruiner at times. But that goes along with my other main point that we could've used someone like him tonight. Instead of endless crosses that got blocked or cleared, it would've been useful to have someone just grab the ball and do something individually brilliant with it. He was far from perfect, but he could do just that. You haven't forgotten that have you? ;)

    That's not true either. See above. His game was not one-dimensional. He didn't just run around like a chicken with it's head cut off all the time. He made many dangerous runs into the box, either with the ball (as I was pining for) or without the ball. And he scored a whole bunch of goals, and single-handedly won us more games than probably any player on our team, over the time he was here. He was certainly not the exact opposite of what I said.

    And the point of my previous post wasn't to glorify him post-facto. It was to recognize that today we supposedly "played really well" and yet couldn't score goals. IMO we really needed a different trick to try, a plan B or C. And I'm pretty sure, if Sanchez was still here, he could've provided that tonight.

    And that doesn't mean that I'm really missing him a lot, in general. I don't. But I think tonight's game, in particular, called out for his alternate way of playing. You can reasonably disagree with that premise, but you shouldn't ignore the strengths that Alexis brought to us when he was here.

    And one of those "strengths" was not following Wenger's game plan or directions, but to play more like he was in the schoolyard. About a month ago I remember Jack playing a bit like that (sorry can't recall which games), grabbing the ball and making slalomy incisive runs into the box. But I'm guessing that at that time, Jack was following Wenger's plan. Whereas tonight he either was not told to play that way, or was told not to play that way. And so he obediently didn't.
     
  5. And_ROOS

    And_ROOS Member+

    Dec 30, 2006
    Melbourne, Aus
    I actually think a new manager who knows good defense could bring in 2 CBs, maybe a proper DM and we would immediately be 4th. Our attack and setting up chances is fine and will improve next season with Auba in.

    The worst thing about todays match is we can't bitch and yell Wenger out.
     
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  6. Deep Wilcox

    Deep Wilcox BigSoccer Supporter

    Jun 5, 2007
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I think this is at least close to right. Defense is shambolic. It needs to be fixed, or nothing else will work.
     
  7. Borah

    Borah Member

    Feb 3, 2018
    Almost a perfect microcosm of late-era Wenger Arsenal. The domination of possession, the frustrating inability to kill off an opponent on the ropes, the sucker punch.
     
  8. DaPrince84

    DaPrince84 Member+

    Aug 22, 2001
    MD
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    --other--
    Same post
     
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  9. Romfordray

    Romfordray Member+

    Oct 24, 2011
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Godin and Oblak were fekkin' phenomenal. I think Lacazzette is finally starting to find his feet. The away goal is going to hurt us in the second leg but this team can score a goal irrespective of what the defensive record of Atleti says.
     
  10. And_ROOS

    And_ROOS Member+

    Dec 30, 2006
    Melbourne, Aus
    I have a funny feeling we will score two goals. The question is, will that be enough.
     
  11. Boondock

    Boondock Member

    Jul 21, 2010
    Not at all surprised by the scoreline, particularly given they were down to 10 men. Unfortunately for us, we need to take about 30 shots for one to go in. Too bad the team didn't have another 30-60 shots in them. Our finishing is so bad we are now just crossing the ball into the box in hopes it ricochets off someone's limb and into the net. Good thing Laca is so tall and Danny is such a poacher.

    Had Atletico had 11 men the entire game I think a 2-0 win for them was most likely. Not a terrible result considering who we have at our disposal, but there is no way we win the next leg. Miracle is the fitting term.
     
  12. Super Llama

    Super Llama Member+

    May 21, 2006
    Seattle
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    LMAO

    Thanks for the tl;dr
     
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  13. NorthBank

    NorthBank Member+

    Arsenal; NYRB
    United States
    Mar 29, 2006
    Connecticut
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Yeah I'm basically with you. EXCEPT that supposedly finding good available CB's is supposedly one of the hardest things in recruitment. And if our transfer kitty is indeed on the low side...
     
  14. NorthBank

    NorthBank Member+

    Arsenal; NYRB
    United States
    Mar 29, 2006
    Connecticut
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Yesterday's game hit me hard. I don't know about the rest of you but I think watching it took some time off my life. Watching it in the pub didn't help I guess... doing that tends to exaggerate the highs & lows, compared to watching it on TV by yourself.

    I agree with others who said it was a microcosm of Arsenal's problems in recent years. Not in every way, but in several key ways. And as for key personnel...

    Laca was practically the only one who looked like he REALLY wanted to get goals with any urgency, and worked really hard for it. OK, maybe a few others could be considered for that discussion: Bellerin/Ramsey mainly, with Monreal/Ozil/Welbz being more of a stretch.

    Thinking about how earlier in the season the boss didn't think Laca could put in a 90' shift, and comparing that to last night where he seemed to give everything. But even though he produced our only goal, his effort and his quality were just not enough.

    I'm quite pessimistic about our chances of scoring and winning @Metropolitano on Thurs. And that's quite atypical for me. And for the first time this season, I'm ready for it to be over. Normally with <48hrs to go before we play at Old Trafford I'd be anxious for the MD thread, but this time... not really.
     

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