Arsenal 2018-19: Spanish David Moyes

shaggydog2000

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That was a good tie with Liverpool. They looked very good against them, and I am definitely warming to the Xhaka-Torreira pairing in midfield. Lucas covers well for Xhaka's lack of top end footspeed, and with both of them capable of advancing the ball and making accurate long range passes, it really accelerates the attack and opens up the game for Arsenal. And Holding has looked good recently as well. He just needs a better experienced player next to him. I'd rather not see Mustafi point to an open space, wander away from it covering no one, and then watch someone jump into that open space and put a shot on net yet again.
 

mikeford

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And Holding has looked good recently as well. He just needs a better experienced player next to him. I'd rather not see Mustafi point to an open space, wander away from it covering no one, and then watch someone jump into that open space and put a shot on net yet again.
really wish Kos hadnt died.
 

shaggydog2000

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really wish Kos hadnt died.
To be fair, it was only his Achilles which passed on, the rest of him seems quite lively. I don't know if it's possible to get a high level central defender in the January window, but that's what I'd like for Festivus. Everything else looks like it will sort itself out through team selection and guys returning from injury.
 

shaggydog2000

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Oof, that was sad to see Welbeck on a stretcher with what looks like another season ending injury. Have to feel bad for someone who seems to try hard and be a good guy, but have such crap luck. If anybody saw the picture of it, it looked like a Gordon Hayward foot on sideways type of thing. Not good.
 

Morgan's Magic Snowplow

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Reiss Nelson won Bundesliga rookie of the month

Really hope we do not sell him to Hoffenheim
He signed a new long term contract before starting the loan so I doubt that is in the cards.

Nelson and Iwobinho is a pretty nice homegrown set of wingers. Add a guy who mainly plays on the right like long rumored target Cristian Pavon and that's a great young group around which to build.
 

shaggydog2000

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Well that was everything I wanted in a North London Derby.

And Torreira really was an incredible pickup. The guy is relentless and does everything you want a deep lying midfielder to do.
 

swiftaw

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It’s crazy how much of a 2nd half team Arsenal have been this season. If games ended at half time, Arsenal would be 19th
 

shaggydog2000

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It’s crazy how much of a 2nd half team Arsenal have been this season. If games ended at half time, Arsenal would be 19th
I think they have been slow starters most of this season, but not today. The goals pretty much went against the flow of play, and were both based on questionable calls. They did look even better after the half though. I don't know what it is about Mikhitaryan, but he just doesn't seem to click in the premier league.
 

Morgan's Magic Snowplow

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Fantastic derby win today. What I liked best is that we came with a good tactical plan and were executing it very well, had this big setback that was a bit flukey, and then Emery got on top of the match again with his halftime substitutions and the switch to 4-3-3 with about 20 minutes left. He had a good Plan A, a good Plan B, and a good Plan C. I can't remember the last time I saw something similar from Wenger.

Its crazy to think that the strength of this team is its striker pairing and its midfield pivot, especially its dynamo defensive midfielder, given that we spent seemingly forever needing to improve in precisely those positions.
 

mikeford

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Felt like the biggest Arsenal win in years. Great response too after getting back to back boning by fuckin Mike Dean.

I loved that the subs were the guys most heavily involved in the row with Dier after going down 2-1
 

rguilmar

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What are Arsenal fans’ thoughts on Torreira? I was a huge fan of his last year at Samp, and sorta hoped Barcelona would grab him as an alternative to Busquets (different players, for sure, but can play the same position). To my eyes, he has looked fantastic but I was curious what Gunners fans thought of him.

Maybe I am biased because I’m a diminutive #6 myself, but I could see him becoming a fan favorite.
 

Morgan's Magic Snowplow

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What are Arsenal fans’ thoughts on Torreira? I was a huge fan of his last year at Samp, and sorta hoped Barcelona would grab him as an alternative to Busquets (different players, for sure, but can play the same position). To my eyes, he has looked fantastic but I was curious what Gunners fans thought of him.

Maybe I am biased because I’m a diminutive #6 myself, but I could see him becoming a fan favorite.
He's a brilliant player, perfectly suited for today's high paced and high pressing game. He's just really good at playing in space and in transitional situations. When out of possession, he covers angles well, has a knack for pressing high then recovering to shield the back four, and makes a ton of ball recoveries. When in possession, he helps keep us ticking, can pick a pass, and can dribble out of tight situations.
 

BostonJack42

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I loved that the subs were the guys most heavily involved in the row with Dier after going down 2-1
I noticed this too.

Also, I cannot for the life of me understand what Henrikh Mkhitaryan is doing in the starting line. I was so glad when I saw the halftime subs.
 

mikeford

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No chance. Superstition and all that.

Rob holding we hardly knew ye, some Manc rat clatters into him and now his season is over. ACL tear, rip in peace lad

Hopefully we can survive with Kos coming back. Kos, Mustafi (ugh) and Sokrates as our 3 main CB for the rest of the way seems extremely thin. Maybe Mavrapanos can make a leap.
 

BostonJack42

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Hopefully we can survive with Kos coming back. Kos, Mustafi (ugh) and Sokrates as our 3 main CB for the rest of the way seems extremely thin. Maybe Mavrapanos can make a leap.
I have not seen any updates on this but Mustafi went off hurt and him and Sokrates got 5 yellow cards - doesn't that mean they are suspended for the next game? I think Mavrapanos is hurt too.

Kos and Nacho at CB for the next game seems like a big ask.
 

shaggydog2000

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I have not seen any updates on this but Mustafi went off hurt and him and Sokrates got 5 yellow cards - doesn't that mean they are suspended for the next game? I think Mavrapanos is hurt too.

Kos and Nacho at CB for the next game seems like a big ask.
Yup, Sokratis is suspended, as well as Mustafi who looks like he'd miss the game with injury regardless. Holding is most likely done for the year, and Mavrapanos has not sounded like he's been close to playing. With their place in the Europa league group wrapped up, I'm guessing Koscielny will play half a game as a warm up on Thursday and everyone else will be youngsters. Then he'll start with Monreal or Lichsteiner at the other CB against Southampton. Not ideal, but it's only one game. Then we'll likely be back to having 3 healthy centre backs on the team. Also, I've read that as part of his loan deal, Calum Chambers can't be recalled, but doesn't money make clauses like that disappear?
 

mikeford

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Well, having no CBs certainly came home to roost today.

Koscielny in fuckin no man's land and thats the end of your unbeaten streak.
 

Dummy Hoy

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I don’t worship at the expected goals alter like many do, but I did just read a piece from infogol that showed by xG Arsenal is actually worse than last season. Whatever that’s worth.
 

mikeford

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I don’t worship at the expected goals alter like many do, but I did just read a piece from infogol that showed by xG Arsenal is actually worse than last season. Whatever that’s worth.
It makes sense, they only have 2 guys who really put the ball in the net with ANY regularity.

It's so dumb to say cuz we've spent like a billion dollars on strikers in the past 3 years but Arsenal really need a 3rd guy up front who can score. In my mind, I'd want a winger since I don't like Laca up front, PEA out wide.

But before any of that bullshit happens they need to entirely replace the backline, save Bellerin. None of the rest of those schlubs deserve paychecks.
 

lars10

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Yikes.

This team is bad. Bad bad bad. That long unbeaten streak really papered over some massive holes.
Doesn’t this entirely ignore the injuries they’ve had in the back that were healthy during the win streak? Basically they’re throwing in bodies right now ...and it’s not like Liverpool hasn’t been destroying everyone.
 

mikeford

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Doesn’t this entirely ignore the injuries they’ve had in the back that were healthy during the win streak? Basically they’re throwing in bodies right now ...and it’s not like Liverpool hasn’t been destroying everyone.
But that speaks to a lack of depth, which to me indicates you're actually not good.

Liverpool should beat a fully healthy Arsenal away at Anfield. They should not score 5 unanswered no matter what.
 

The Gray Eagle

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When Holding went down, that was a big loss. He was basically the only central defender who was reliable and mostly error-free.

According to my scan of his game logs, Holding played 16 games in all competitions. Arsenal won 11 of them, drew 5, and lost none. When Holding played, Arsenal outscored opponents 38-14.

In the Premier League, Holding played 10 times. Arsenal won 6, drew 4, and lost none, (22 points from 30) with 24 goals scored to 11 conceded.
In the 10 Premier League games without Holding, Arsenal have won 5, drawn 1, and lost 4 (16 points from 30.) They've scored 18 goals in those games and conceded 19.
 

shaggydog2000

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When Holding went down, that was a big loss. He was basically the only central defender who was reliable and mostly error-free.

According to my scan of his game logs, Holding played 16 games in all competitions. Arsenal won 11 of them, drew 5, and lost none. When Holding played, Arsenal outscored opponents 38-14.

In the Premier League, Holding played 10 times. Arsenal won 6, drew 4, and lost none, (22 points from 30) with 24 goals scored to 11 conceded.
In the 10 Premier League games without Holding, Arsenal have won 5, drawn 1, and lost 4 (16 points from 30.) They've scored 18 goals in those games and conceded 19.
I don't know if there is a good source of advanced stats that would prove this, but I also thought Holding was their best defender before he went down. The extra makeshift-ness of the current d with Lichsteiner (who is cooked and playing out of position) and Kos thrown right back in full time after most of a year out, Kolasinac playing in a back four where his defense gets terribly exposed rather than as a wingback, Xhaka sometimes playing in defense, etc doesn't help, but this team really should have added a defensive player in his prime rather than the spackle they bought. Sokratis would be an okay third option able to add some bastardly moves to a back 3, but he's not solving much in this D right now.

But I think if the defensive issues were sorted out, the offense would more than take care of itself.
 

lars10

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But that speaks to a lack of depth, which to me indicates you're actually not good.

Liverpool should beat a fully healthy Arsenal away at Anfield. They should not score 5 unanswered no matter what.
How many teams carry five or six extra defenders?

Two of the five goals were on pks by a player who wouldn’t normally see the field.. and that second pk? I’m not sure how many I’ve seen given where a player basically fell down on the scrum of a free kick.. you can say there was a shove but those are rarely given.

Point is the team played great when they had their starting d in there.. to simply ignore that and say the winning streak didn’t mean anything/this team is weak because of the last result.. well anyone watching knows that you’d have to be completely ignoring the main problem.
 

The Gray Eagle

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So the team has dropped 13 points from the last 24, Ramsey is heading to Juventus on a free after the season, Emery admitted that they won't be signing anyone in January (only hoping to take someone on loan) Ozil can't even make the bench for Premier League matches, and now Sven Mislintat is leaving. He just got here about a year ago, and he's been credited with bringing in Aubaumeyang, Torreira, Guendouzi, Sokratis, and Leno. Now he is bailing out, leaving without another job?

What the hell is going on with this club all of a sudden?

Huge match against Chelsea this weekend. If Arsenal loses, they're pretty much done in terms of the top 4.

Also, Petr Cech is retiring after the season. Not shocking, but add a backup keeper to the growing shopping list, I mean loan, list.
 

67YAZ

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, and now Sven Mislintat is leaving. He just got here about a year ago, and he's been credited with bringing in Aubaumeyang, Torreira, Guendouzi, Sokratis, and Leno. Now he is bailing out, leaving without another job?

What the hell is going on with this club all of a sudden?
That article was significantly updated. When I first read it, there was no real explanation for Mislintat was leaving. Now it explains that Gazidis had promised Mislintat the role of technical director post-Wenger. But with Gazidis gone and Edu apparently being wooed for the technical director's post...well, Mislintat doesn't want to be head scout. And Mislintat has proven before that he won't hang around in a situation where he's not happy.

I do think it would a strong gamble for a second tier EPL club to bring Mislintat on and empower him to shape the team top to bottom - Leicester, West Ham, or Palace. Newcastle would be a good spot if not for their ownership. Everton, too, but they have just committed to Marcel Brands.
 

shaggydog2000

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That was a fantastic game on Saturday, with a masterful coaching job by Emery. The Lacazette goal was pure skill, but then Koscielny one ups him with the rare clinical shoulder finish. Torreira was tenacious and everywhere yet again, and Gendouzi showed how much potential he has on the opposite side of the midfield. It was a shame to see Bellerin go down for the year though.
 

Time to Mo Vaughn

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Not only was Suarez signed on loan, but they also have moved back into a tie for 4th place and have an even goal differential to Chelsea after the mid week game.

However, they looked pretty awful in the first half against Cardiff City. I think overall Emery is doing a decent job, and is setting the club up for the future, but it sure would be nice to be back in the Champions League and really devote some money to transfers over the summer. I don't even need to see a 60M signing, I'd rather 3 or 4 young players in the 10-25M range and hope two develop. Seems this team hasn't had any of their own youth in quite a while.
 

rguilmar

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He has a history of playing for Emery back at Sevilla. He’s a tricky player and can play any attacking midfield position, especially on the left where Arsenal have been lacking from what I’ve seen (admittedly not too many games this year though). He can be very creative, to me more in the Iniesta mold than the Xavi (despite taking the #6 shirt). Versatile and can play in the middle too.

Denis is a nice player, just buried at Barca. I know I’m not the only one on this board who has wanted him to get more playing time, but I’m glad he signed a new contract to stay at the Nou Camp while getting some game time that he needs elsewhere.
 

Time to Mo Vaughn

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He has a history of playing for Emery back at Sevilla. He’s a tricky player and can play any attacking midfield position, especially on the left where Arsenal have been lacking from what I’ve seen (admittedly not too many games this year though). He can be very creative, to me more in the Iniesta mold than the Xavi (despite taking the #6 shirt). Versatile and can play in the middle too.

Denis is a nice player, just buried at Barca. I know I’m not the only one on this board who has wanted him to get more playing time, but I’m glad he signed a new contract to stay at the Nou Camp while getting some game time that he needs elsewhere.
Not completely up to him or Barca whether he stays at Nou Camp. Arsenal have an 18M buyout clause at the end of the loan.
 

67YAZ

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He has a history of playing for Emery back at Sevilla. He’s a tricky player and can play any attacking midfield position, especially on the left where Arsenal have been lacking from what I’ve seen (admittedly not too many games this year though). He can be very creative, to me more in the Iniesta mold than the Xavi (despite taking the #6 shirt). Versatile and can play in the middle too.
At Sevilla, the crux of Emery’s strategy was having a midfield stocked with players that could fluidly change roles in the course of play. Ever Banega is probably the model for Emery’s midfield - able to lead the high press, drop back into a holding position, spark the counter or organize the transition to attack, and deliver the killer ball into the box as the game dictated. This made the attack dynamic and sometimes confusing to the opposing defense without sacrificing their own defensive shape. Denis is a fantastic fit for this approach. Will be interested to see how quickly Denis can bed in.
 
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Time to Mo Vaughn

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Any chance Suarez is in the starting lineup vs Man City this Sunday? As mentioned above, he has experience in Emery's system, but it's certainly a short window with the team.

Possible Lineup
Aubemeyang
Suarez Ozil Lacazette
Torreira Xhaka
Nacho Mustafo Lichtsteiner Kolasinac

(not full) Bench:
Guendouzi
Ramsey
Iwobi
Elneny
Cech
 
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teddykgb

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Not only was Suarez signed on loan, but they also have moved back into a tie for 4th place and have an even goal differential to Chelsea after the mid week game.

However, they looked pretty awful in the first half against Cardiff City. I think overall Emery is doing a decent job, and is setting the club up for the future, but it sure would be nice to be back in the Champions League and really devote some money to transfers over the summer. I don't even need to see a 60M signing, I'd rather 3 or 4 young players in the 10-25M range and hope two develop. Seems this team hasn't had any of their own youth in quite a while.
There just isn’t much in the 10-25 range anymore. You’ll have to look at really young unproven players
 

shaggydog2000

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I don't know enough about Saurez yet to know whether I should be excited or not. But if he can carry the ball and help with linkup play on the right side (where Bellerin did so much work before) he could be a great addition to the team. I'm also happy they didn't commit to a purchase there, because I think they're going to have to do a lot of work in the summer, and over-committing on a player that would make a modest impact in the future is the sort of thing that weighed down this team recently.
 

Zososoxfan

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I'm a total fanboi but I think he's gonna tear it up in EPL. He doesn't have the physicality so he will get swallowed in the middle, but he's much more skilled than the average EPL MF and if he's given some freedom to roam, he could be a real nice link up with Auba, Ozil, etc. However, that same lack of physicality also means he's not much of a ball winner, so depending on him to help win the ball back in anything but a press is asking for trouble. Playing Ozil, Auba, Lacaz. and Denis is an aggressive approach that would require a press.
 

lars10

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I wish there were more discussion after Arsenal wins... what do you guys think the chances of Arsenal winning this weekend are?
 

Time to Mo Vaughn

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I was not able to catch either of the mid week games, but Arsenal certainly has the momentum going into this match. It would certainly be fun to cap off a week with a win at Wembley and 9 points gained in like 8 days.

What I'm most interested in is whether Ozil is in the starting lineup for this one. Seems that will be very telling as to where Emery views him in this club, but if I was betting I don't think he'll be in it.
 

Morgan's Magic Snowplow

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If you offered me a draw right now, I'd take it in a second, Spurs' recent form notwithstanding.

We are a very average team playing three at the back without Bellerin as one of the wing backs. I don't blame Emery as what he is going to do? We don't have the CBs not to leak goals with a four man defense, so the move to three at the back was understandable. But since we don't have the wingbacks to play at a high level with a three man defense its really just send out a bunch of mediocrity in the back end of the formation and then hope you get some individual brilliance from Laca, Auba, Ozil (on the odd occasion he features), etc.