8/31 - 9/1 PL Gamethread - Week 4

[Time to Mo Vaughn]

You just proved my point. I agreed with someone else who said they're not a huge fan of him and pointed out that his one skill is setting up counters.

Not sure how you're twisting they into your stupid "Arsenal fans proclaimed he'll stabilize the back line".

 

[coremiller]

You have a different interpretation of the words "perfect stopgap" from the rest of the English-speaking world.

 

[coremiller]

Spurs' complete inability to have any control in midfield means Arsenal will always have chances to get back into this.

 

[ifmanis5]

Two just missers from Arsenal and they are dominating possession.

 

[coremiller]

Hopefully Dele can help stabilize midfield.

 

[mikeford]

What do you want him to do? The team created more and better opportunities the entire half and gave up goals by shitty players. I'd love him to staple Xhaka to the bench or ship him out, but right now the weaknesses are in the roster to me.

Drill team defense. There is absolutely no way players at this level can be this bad defensively except that the manager doesn't prioritize it at all. Humps like Steve Bruce and Fat Sam manage to get way more out of way less defensively.

 

[coremiller]

The amount of space both teams have going forward is crazy.

 

[coremiller]

Son's decision-making on the ball has not been great today. He's wasted a number of good positions.

 

[shawnrbu]

Wow. Pretty.

 

[Time to Mo Vaughn]

Gorgeous

 

[ifmanis5]

Impressive response after 2-0. Usually they tank at that point.

 

[shawnrbu]

Spurs look like a bottom half of the table side with their lack of possession.

 

[coremiller]

Arsenal just have so much space in midfield. Spurs have no one who can shut the game down in that area. I like Harry Winks but his limitations are being badly exposed.

 

[coremiller]

Finally Spurs are bringing on Lo Celso for Son. Sacrifice a forward for a CM.

 

[coremiller]

Clearly offside was the correct call, but .... whew.

 

[coremiller]

How has Xhaka not been booked yet?

 

[mikeford]

How was Winks not sent off

 

[ifmanis5]

How has Xhaka not been booked yet?

And there it is.

 

[coremiller]

How has Xhaka not been booked yet?

Finally, in the 92nd minute.

 

[coremiller]

That push on Kane ... I've seen them given.

 

[ifmanis5]

That push on Kane ... I've seen them given.

That dive by Kane...

 

[fletcherpost]

Nice try Harry.

 

[coremiller]

Lol Sissoko Sissoko'd the hell out of that shot.

 

[Dummy Hoy]

As a neutral, these were two great games today. Not always pretty, but open and a lot of fun.

Drill team defense. There is absolutely no way players at this level can be this bad defensively except that the manager doesn't prioritize it at all. Humps like Steve Bruce and Fat Sam manage to get way more out of way less defensively.

And those guys have way less success than guys like Emery. You take dopes like Bruce and Sam if you're looking to bore your way to 13th in the Premier League. You get managers like Emery when you want to be successful in Europe.

 

[coremiller]

Both sides had chances to win but I think a draw was probably a fair result. Arsenal dominated once Ceballos came on until Poch brought on Lo Celso and I wonder how the game would have been different if Ceballos had started.

 

[Zomp]

I thought Arsenal deserved the 3 points.

 

[Morgan's Magic Snowplow]

Both sides had chances to win but I think a draw was probably a fair result. Arsenal dominated once Ceballos came on until Poch brought on Lo Celso and I wonder how the game would have been different if Ceballos had started.

A Xhaka-Torreira-Guendouzi midfield was incredibly conservative, especially playing at home.

My hope for this year is that Arsenal manage top four but still replace Emery at the end of the season. While he is a good tactician, the overall philosophy is just turgid and defensive and I'm not sure it provides a very good platform for our young players to develop.

 

[Time to Mo Vaughn]

A Xhaka-Torreira-Guendouzi midfield was incredibly conservative, especially playing at home.

My hope for this year is that Arsenal manage top four but still replace Emery at the end of the season. While he is a good tactician, the overall philosophy is just turgid and defensive and I'm not sure it provides a very good platform for our young players to develop.

I don't get this. His incredibly conservative lineup controlled the pace of play and had 26 shots and 11 corners.

He should have started Ceballos over Xhaka because Xhaka is far too reckless to actually be a quality defensive mid.

Best case for Arsenal this game is probably 5 or 6 - 0. Best case for Spurs would probably have been 3-2 Spurs.

I am excited for this season. Arsenal will get even better as their defensive players return from injury and all the last minute transfer players get more time together. I think they will definitely finish top 4, though they have no chance at top 2. I'd love a veteran CB purchase during the winter and another young CB purchase next summer, but the future is very bright.

I can't wait to shed Mustafi, Xhaka and Mkhi.

 

[mikeford]

Mkhi was on for like 20 minutes and might've been the worst Arsenal player all day. Got like half a dozen chances and completely screwed all of em.

 

[Morgan's Magic Snowplow]

I don't get this. His incredibly conservative lineup controlled the pace of play and had 26 shots and 11 corners.

He should have started Ceballos over Xhaka because Xhaka is far too reckless to actually be a quality defensive mid.

Best case for Arsenal this game is probably 5 or 6 - 0. Best case for Spurs would probably have been 3-2 Spurs.

I am excited for this season. Arsenal will get even better as their defensive players return from injury and all the last minute transfer players get more time together. I think they will definitely finish top 4, though they have no chance at top 2. I'd love a veteran CB purchase during the winter and another young CB purchase next summer, but the future is very bright.

I can't wait to shed Mustafi, Xhaka and Mkhi.

We got a lot better when Ceballos came into the game. My point is that we should have played at least one creative/attacking midfielder from the start. We were poor in that first half.

I agree that the future is bright but I think that’s mainly because we’ve found an exciting group of younger players, not because Emery is the man to get the most out of them.

 

[lars10]

We got a lot better when Ceballos came into the game. My point is that we should have played at least one creative/attacking midfielder from the start. We were poor in that first half.

I agree that the future is bright but I think that’s mainly because we’ve found an exciting group of younger players, not because Emery is the man to get the most out of them.

This is my main problem with Emery.. he always starts conservative and then adds players in later.. so you’re always starting a sub optimal lineup and then using your subs to make your lineup what it should have been to start

 

[lars10]

We don't have anyone who can do the first one and the one guy we have who does the 2nd one is sick or under house arrest or hanging out with a dictator or something.

Why does Emery hate Özil?

 

[mikeford]

This is my main problem with Emery.. he always starts conservative and then adds players in later.. so you’re always starting a sub optimal lineup and then using your subs to make your lineup what it should have been to start

I'm not sure if its down to conservatism or if he simply doesn't have the feel for what his best XI actually is.

 

[lars10]

I'm not sure if its down to conservatism or if he simply doesn't have the feel for what his best XI actually is.

He did this all of last year too though.