Arsenal Banter Archive January 04 2019

04 Jan 2019 04:12:34
I reckon we're really missing a trick with our lineups recently. To me, our strongest line-up involves a front 3 of Lacazette, Aubameyang, and Ozil (or Mkhi, or Iwobi) . Xhaka and Torreira must play together in midfield, and when fit our fullbacks pick themselves. If we want stability in exchange for some attacking, we put in a third CB (Mustafi I guess *shudders*) and if we want more midfield cohesion, we play Ramsey or Guendouzi.

I cannot fathom Emery's lineups sometimes and while I still support him, his halftime subs plus our abysmal first half displays sort of reflect that he can't get it right to begin with.

So basically either 3-4-3:
Leno
Mustafi/ Sokratis/ Kos
Ainsley/ Torreira/ Xhaka/ Kola
Ozil
Laca/ Auba

or 4-3-3, subbing in Ramsey for Mustafi. I like Guendouzi but he's been something of a liability on his off days and between him and Xhaka we can't afford that level of slack passing.

04 Jan 2019 08:49:13
Dick needs time that's for sure but he does needs to start getting it right from the start of games and make us more solid in defence and midfield.
I and some other people have been using what Klopp has done at Liverpool as a bench mark of what we could do over the next few years simply because Liverpool and Arsenal are very similar clubs, both huge clubs with fantastic history but neither is mega rich enough to simply buy top level success.
I'm now beginning to think we have more in common with Liverpool post Benitez than Liverpool post Rogers.
Both Arsene and Benitez were huge figures who many fans still adored when they left and both had been at each club for a pretty significant period of time and both left with Squads that needed major rebuilds.
I'm not sure if Dick is our Roy Hodgson, Kenny Dalglish (part two) Bredon Rogers or Jurgen Klopp right now, I always knew it might take us a few managers before we got it right but hopefully Dick will prove we hit the jackpot first time round but if the poor first halfs show no sign improvement and the defence continues to get exposed on a weekly basis by everyone even struggling Fulham at The Emirates then more and more questions will be asked by an increasing number of people.
Dick needs to show us he's both aware and capable of sorting out obvious weaknesses asap.

04 Jan 2019 10:26:38
Having watched the City vs Liverpool game its pretty clear how far behind we are to be honest.

Yes they both have minor weaknesses, like Kompany, how was he not sent off and Lovren who doesn’t look half as good as Joe Gomez.

That aside all their players and I mean all their work hard for each other, even the most talented, I couldn’t believe how much running Bernardo Silva did. That’s not necessarily down to how much money you spend either. They invariably don’t have players coasting through games and all seem capable of putting a foot in where needed. Which reminds me, I like Fernandinho but how did he manage to stay on the pitch too. Hopefully Ozil took note. 🙄

I guess it all makes for an exciting race and we can’t forget Spurs who are hanging in there.

But us, well we need a lot of work, Emery isn’t renowned as a defensive coach.

As Sharpie pointed out the other day, in the last 5 seasons under Wenger only once did we have fewer points at the midway point and twice we topped the table so despite being new to us what are we achieving?

Wenger achieved that with no real defensive midfielder and now we have Torreira, what different defenders did Wenger have.

Yes I understand he needs time but how is Sarri, whose yet to win a trophy, doing at Chelsea.

I’m not saying we should be instant title winners but what in truth has improved if points wise we are no better.

Do we constantly look shakey, have we had yet another beating from a big side, have we failed to beat United at their worst, we can turn around and say, but we’ve had injuries. Jesus how many did we have under Wenger then.

So I accept he needs time but so far we look like the same snow flakes we did last year and the year before with a North London derby and a draw against Liverpool the only things to shout about.

Like wire says, a settled side would be nice, Mavropanos is back training with the team. Is he likely to be worse than Mustafi.

04 Jan 2019 14:14:05
At the moment I agree There is little to suggest improvement there only thing that's different is the new management and the hope that new brings with it.
We were going nowhere with Arsene and Dick is a step towards getting somewhere whether his the first of many steps or a giant leap remains to be seen.
In reality we are certainly no worse but we do have reason to hope that had vanished under Arsene.

04 Jan 2019 17:25:35
The defence is a problem but to say we have gone back or stayed the same isn't exactly correct. This time last year we were 23 points behind fist, today 13. We were 5 points behind 4th, today 3. We were 6th in the league, today 5th. We have scored more goals than this time last year. Last year against top 6 we got 6 points, this year we have 5 already with 3 games still to play. I think there has been minimal improvement and to be fair that is all we are going to get for now. Our improvement will be slow, it now depends how we continue the business end of the season.

04 Jan 2019 18:36:06
I thought kompanys challenge was brilliant, he had to make it or it was a certain goal, he was off the ground, but that was how much he had to stretch to make the challenge, he wasn't out of control, he got the ball, if he missed, red card, but if you can't make great last ditch challenges, then defenders can't do anything, kompany let's him waltz through and get lambasted.

04 Jan 2019 19:15:45
Time will tell as always Steve, I back Dick a 100,000% because he hasn't failed yet and it's the end of next season that we will get a more accurate and fair opinion of Emerys Arsenal.
I'm pleased with the higher work rate but disappointed in the lack of improvement defensively so far.
Back in August I thought 5th or 6th simply because of our starting position in comparison to Chelsea City Liverpool United Spurs who were all miles ahead of us pre Emery, I did get a bit over excited for a while and think 4th was possible but now reality has come back into play and I'm back with my initial pre season thinking .
We've had a decade of decline where we've neglected to address our problems one by one until they all crashed in and left us on the outside looking in.
This season was always a getting to know each other season but next season we need to be top 4 battle ready or Dick will be really start to feel hhe the pressure, he won't get a 3rd season without making progress in his first two seasons.

04 Jan 2019 19:34:12
Oh on the comparison between Dicks first half season and our last 5 seasons, it's a little unfair to judge Dicks fews weeks and 1 window to prepare for his first 20 games when his predecessor had 17 years and untold windows to plan for his final 190 league games in those 5 seasons.

04 Jan 2019 20:43:23
62, I’m not certain it is unfair mate, it’s not like he’s a novice who hasn’t won titles or managed a big team as he’s done both.

How for example is Bielsa doing at Leeds or as I said, Sarri at Chelsea or many a manager at different clubs who have improved the teams in a short space of time.

Why is in excess of 20 weeks not enough to stop us looking as inept defensively as we always have.

Surely that should have been the 1st thing that looked so much better.

When I initially saw the tackle Eden it looked fine but slow mo looked well dangerous but I only saw it that once.

04 Jan 2019 20:48:22
Gunner, 4th is still in the equation as is the europa. I think our little jump up to 4th got everyone thinking the improvement was easily and quickly attainable. The truth is while it wouldn't be acceptable to some, 5th and runners up in the europa would be an improvement.

We all hope for more and that still is possible. We are stuck with the likes of xhaka, mustaffi and kos, this season and while they are there the old arsenal is but i don't expect any of them there next season and i expect a more solid Dicks team. We can still improve this season though, even though we may still look vulnerable for a while. don't get me wrong im frustrated but that's because it is going to take time and we've been waiting years already.

04 Jan 2019 21:13:16
I totally agree on the lack of defensive improvement Stoner, it's a huge concern mate.
Sari at Chelsea inherited a side that have been champions in 2 of the last 3 seasons while Dick inherited a club that's been in decline for over a decade.
I always thought this season wouldn't show much of an improvement final place wise simlpy because the squad was in such a state of disrepair after years of poor buys and awful man management but improving us defensively shouldn't have been difficult that's for sure.
Arsene certainly wasn't the man to make us competive again and for Dick only time will tell but the clock is running now.

04 Jan 2019 21:19:44
Agree gunner, i don't necessarily think sari has done that great a job compared to us. He is 3 points above with basically a league winning squad. Chelski should be in the top two at least.

04 Jan 2019 21:32:52
Steve hopefully your right about 4th this season being possible but I seriously doubt it simply because with a calm head it's difficult to see how we can go from rank outsiders last season and jump above 2 of United Chelsea Spurs Liverpool and City so quickly when the foundations of the club Dick took on were so poor to start with.
Personally I think Xhaka is much less awful under Emery same for Mustafi and Iwobi although still none are good enough for a top 4 finish.
Torreira Papa and Guendouzi for me make us stronger while Leno is no better or worse than Cech in my opinion and Litch simply makes up the numbers while not being any better than Jenks that I can see.
3 of the 5 signings improve us but we need more and until they get here we need a much better plan and tactics defensively to stop us looking as poor as ever without the ball.

04 Jan 2019 21:51:53
Im not sure we are top four yet but today we are in the equation gunner.

04 Jan 2019 22:39:29
I think the top 4 will be the same 4 that currently occupy those places in what order I'm not sure.
I personally think our battle is with United for 5th but next season it has to definitely be genuine top 4 contenders, the only trouble is the same goes for the all the other top clubs.

04 Jan 2019 23:10:04
Realistically 3 teams for 1 place in the top four but the points are such that anything could happen. It is all up in the air.

05 Jan 2019 08:24:34
Beat Chelsea in 2 weeks and it will be interesting Steve but lose to either Chelsea or West ham and it's all eyes on the europa league for this season mate.
The big question is should United over take us what does that do for Dicks Street cred?

05 Jan 2019 11:42:34
Those are some great stats Steve, cheers.