Match reaction - Citeh at home

[IBK]

My 'next day' thoughts.

I said in the match thread that this would be a narrow defeat for us with a creditable performance and that was pretty much how it went down - albeit I didn't anticipate 2 goal conceding errors and a pretty dismal second half performance.

I'm afraid that I agree with HCZ that this isn't the time for remembering that we have had a great season so far and weren't expecting to be in a title race.

My prediction of the match was based on our pre-existing form, just as my optimism of 3 weeks ago was based on the evidence of consistently winning games.

But for me we are now firmly into a situation similar to that where we blew up at the end of last season.

- A first 11 that has been overplayed and looks mentally and physically exhausted.

- A system that does not mix things up to put other teams out of their stride - and is adversely affected by any drop off in players' performance.

- Back ups that are thrown into the mix not having been seasoned by playing time.

- Injuries to key players (where the F*CK) is ESL BTW??

- A young team bucking under pressure.

I'm afraid that I don't see where the return to our previous indomitable form is coming from. I think that we will stutter for the rest of the season. While I think we will make top 4, I would not be at all surprised to finish behind both Manchester teams. This is not blind pessimism, it is seeing the signs. The disappointment is that (while winning the league was always a streach) I really thought we had moved on from the above key weaknesses.

Thoughts?

[Marc Overmars]

As I said in the other thread, I saw team that lacked belief and quite frankly looked frightened last night. It was textbook Arsenal, getting cold feet when on the cusp of possible glory is something we specialise in. Some fans seem to be taking solace in the fact we gifted them goals but the reality is these mistakes happened because we were constantly on the ropes and never settled. It was very much a case of being humbled by a superior team.

If Arteta doesn’t make a couple changes for Villa then he’s sabotaging it. I suspect we’ll see some changes though due to the quick turn around having to play at 12:30.

It can still be a great season but it’s hard to see how this wobble now doesn’t become an earthquake. Football eh, what a shitter.

[Chippy]

My 'next day' thoughts.

I said in the match thread that this would be a narrow defeat for us with a creditable performance and that was pretty much how it went down - albeit I didn't anticipate 2 goal conceding errors and a pretty dismal second half performance.

I'm afraid that I agree with HCZ that this isn't the time for remembering that we have had a great season so far and weren't expecting to be in a title race.

My prediction of the match was based on our pre-existing form, just as my optimism of 3 weeks ago was based on the evidence of consistently winning games.

But for me we are now firmly into a situation similar to that where we blew up at the end of last season.

- A first 11 that has been overplayed and looks mentally and physically exhausted.

- A system that does not mix things up to put other teams out of their stride - and is adversely affected by any drop off in players' performance.

- Back ups that are thrown into the mix not having been seasoned by playing time.

- Injuries to key players (where the F*CK) is ESL BTW??

- A young team bucking under pressure.

I'm afraid that I don't see where the return to our previous indomitable form is coming from. I think that we will stutter for the rest of the season. While I think we will make top 4, I would not be at all surprised to finish behind both Manchester teams. This is not blind pessimism, it is seeing the signs. The disappointment is that (while winning the league was always a streach) I really thought we had moved on from the above key weaknesses.

Thoughts?

I agree with most of what you have said.
I believe our squad is big enough, just not good enough.
Jesus and Partey leave a gaping hole and sorry to say it, Eddie is not the answer up front.
I said in a separate post, I honestly think both Gabriel and Saliba are struggling. This was evident in the Everton, Bournemouth and City games. Not sure where we go from here. We are in danger of being title contenders to fighting for a place in the top four.

[Chippy]

As I said in the other thread, I saw team that lacked belief and quite frankly looked frightened last night. It was textbook Arsenal, getting cold feet when on the cusp of possible glory is something we specialise in. Some fans seem to be taking solace in the fact we gifted them goals but the reality is these mistakes happened because we were constantly on the ropes and never settled. It was very much a case of being humbled by a superior team.

If Arteta doesn’t make a couple changes for Villa then he’s sabotaging it. I suspect we’ll see some changes though due to the quick turn around having to play at 12:30.

It can still be a great season but it’s hard to see how this wobble now doesn’t become an earthquake. Football eh, what a shitter.

I also said on a different thread, that I would actually change the central pairing against Villa. Holding is not the best in the world but less shaky than Gabriel. I would also consider Kiwior to start. Something must change before the whole season goes down the shitter.

[HCZ_Reborn]

I agree with most of what you have said.
I believe our squad is big enough, just not good enough.
Jesus and Partey leave a gaping hole and sorry to say it, Eddie is not the answer up front.
I said in a separate post, I honestly think both Gabriel and Saliba are struggling. This was evident in the Everton, Bournemouth and City games. Not sure where we go from here. We are in danger of being title contenders to fighting for a place in the top four.

Yep especially Saliba.

Yeah Eddie as I said last night is a good squad player, but he simply doesn’t have the versatility in his game to be anywhere near the level we require to start week in, week out.

But I agree with IBK that there is an inability to rotate

I think we’ve pruned a lot of the terrible from our squad so almost every player in it is capable of doing a job to one extent or the other. But if we don’t give them game time they are going to look rusty when we have to throw them in.

City have a better team and squad than us, Chelsea with their absurdly high risk strategy may have a better squad than us but other than that I think we have one of the strongest squads in the league but with the caveat that we need to strengthen certain areas. Up front would be one area, and central midfield would be another. There isn’t one player that can replicate everything Partey does for us, but then we need two players to compliment each other and provide that quality.

[Letters]

As I said in the other thread, I saw team that lacked belief and quite frankly looked frightened last night.

I think this is more true of the second half. It was worrying how jittery we looked at the back. And we are worryingly toothless up front - Jesus is not the answer there, he's not prolific. We don't have a Haaland or a Rashford.