Impression is that Arsenal lack the creative player needed to properly steer and feed the strikers, a phenomena with which Gooners are quite familiar.
FT: 1-0 Once again the goal conceded comes late in a half against the run of play. At least they're consistent.
----------Auba---------- Mhki----Ozil---Suarez ----Xhaka-Torreira---- That should be our attack in the second leg.
I still think the team will go through. Emirates will be a completely different setting (and decidedly better pitch, by accounts) but this strikes a sad and stark contrast to the effort and talent displayed by the wrong half of north London yesterday.
The puzzling thing is that we've also had those moments this season. We've been great to good in most big games this season. It's the small ones that are tripping us up. That NLD at home the first time around was one of the highest highs we've had in recent seasons. That's what's frustrating. Emery is clearly talented enough. The question is this. Is he not capable of motivating the players? Or are the players just THAT bad?
Honestly, changed my mind. --------------Auba--------------- Suarez-----Ozil----------Saka -----Ramsey----Torreira------
I think that it is the former. I always have said that man-management is the hardest part of coaching. Get a good man-manager, and your team will go far. Get a bad man-manager, and your team will not perform regardless of talent. Emery has shown to be horrible at it - like 'D' borderline 'F' grading. He is cutting off the nose to spite the face.
That was painful to watch, passes to no where like it was pre-season. Like man never played in the cold before.
For whatever reason, Emery has decided that Ozil is a liability in away games. Ozil has started 8 of Arsenal's 13 home league games and just four of Arsenal away league games, including the second game of the season v Chelsea, which makes it really hard, as your sarcasm suggests, to blame Ozil for Arsenal's terrible away form. It's also notable that after the first two games of the season, 0zil has played a grand total of 46 minutes in Arsenal's seven subsequent losses, 20 minutes in Arsenal's 3-2 loss away to Southampton and 26 minutes in Arsenal's 3-1 FA Cup loss to City.
So, only have guys who can "press" and run around. Have them do that, get the ball.....be unable to do anything with it. What's the point? Also, What is Suarez? I get he's only had a few subs but he's shown nothing. He just holds on to the ball forever and then loses it.
I didn't see the game, so maybe someone who did can enlighten me. What was the point of pulling Kola, who appeared to be the only player creating chances at that point in the game, for Suarez? Was he noticeably tiring?
I don't know. Maybe Emery thought he'd bring on a more "creative" player to try to unlock their 11 men behind the ball at that point defense some other way beside the end line cut back. It didn't work, obviously. Suarez looks lost. But in fairness no one looked good. Anyone know how many Europa matches Lacazette will miss. Am I right that this will be 3-match ban for a straight red - violent conduct?
Kinda like the late wenger era? Glad I was off skiing w/ fam rather than subjecting myself to this crap.
I’m going to hold my hands up and say I’m having trouble recognizing that face replacement. Can somebody help me out?