29 Aug 2020 22:54:19
Could of things.

Well done Ed47 mate, credit where credit is due.

Thought we lacked creativity in the final 3rd.

Nico struggled a bit today but he's only just coming into the first team.
Gini's head is in Spain, missed Hendo and Trent.

Once again need to be more clinical when we get chances in a tight game.

Bringing on Brewster for penalties? Not sure that was the correct decision.

And Finally - Last year, City scored 12mins in and we lost on penalties. We won the league.

This year, Arsenal scored 12 mins in and we lost on penalties.

Clutching at straws?

{Ed047's Note - you did mate and not something you normally lack and Hendo’s return will be a big boost. He leads from the front.

Don’t think you need to clutch at any straws either Drogie, I’m sure you’ll be back at it for the Leeds game.

Your boys fully deserved a bit of kick back but they’ll be right up there again, no doubt about mate.

1.) 30 Aug 2020
30 Aug 2020 01:05:56
Actually thought we were decent today. After we scored it looked like we would get the winner would have liked the win and the trophy but losing today will hopefully be a warning like last year.

{Ed0666's Note - in my opinion we were abject for much of that game. We clearly have a differing definition of what decent is.

2.) 30 Aug 2020
30 Aug 2020 08:39:39
I agree with Ed066 here, much of the game was frustrating to watch (yes. only a friendly) we had a good 10-15 minutes when changes were made and started to put the pressure on to force equaliser

Neco had a tough time, but he's young and he needs games like this to help him learn.

I thought it was unfair on brewster to be honest. his first touch was probably the penalty, should have been brought on earlier when we started putting on the pressure.

a running theme is the low shots on target ratio, and as Ed001 said the other day, we need to improve finishing and maybe up the training in that department.

When you look at the Arsenal team sheet their defence gives you confidence that you should score a couple against them, so have to give credit to Arteta, they look a lot more organised and tougher mentally.

Not sure why VAR were checking for a Salah hand ball, leading up to the goal, looked like Holdings arm hit the ball if any.

3.) 30 Aug 2020
30 Aug 2020 08:55:11
I have to agree with Ed666 here even tho abject is not the word I would use. In the first have, we were poor for spells, no doubt. Our best player was Milner which says it all. Arsenal played well and caused us issues with their movement and change of formation in and out of possession.

Came back strongly in the second half and worked out Arsenal’s formation by switching to a back 3 and then shut Arsenal down, pinned them back and got the goal so all in all, a passing grade. Must do better tho cos that first half perf. won’t cut it.

4.) 30 Aug 2020
30 Aug 2020 10:03:57
I’m not sure what exactly is revolutionary or forward-thinking about Arsenal’s approach. Get 11 men behind the ball, drop deep, and hit on the counter.
Rinse and repeat for half the Premiership.
Like watching f paint dry.
Change the record Arteta will you?

{Ed047's Note - some of you guys are so bitter🤦‍♂️

5.) 30 Aug 2020
30 Aug 2020 10:51:03
Juicer, you need to watch the game closely to see what Arteta has brought to this team. I agree that there is nothing revolutionary about it BUT to say they just put 11 players behind the ball is a shallow way of looking at it.

For example, did you see how well Arsenal played out of the back to break down our press? Did you see how their formation changed in and out of possession? When in possession, they switch to a back 4 with Maitland-Niles coming into midfield hence, isolating Auba with Wiillams (see the goal with Tierny overlapping at LB) . Then they become narrow back 5 when defending.

Also, did you see how hard they worked, tracked back and filled the gaps for each other? They made us look pretty ordinary in that first half until Klopp fixed it with his changes and switching us to a back 3 to match up man for man with them. Arteta may not have reinvented the wheel BUT give the guy some credit cos he is showing he is more flexible than his "mentor" at the Emptyhad.

6.) 30 Aug 2020
30 Aug 2020 11:00:19
I think we always, always struggle for fluidity after a break, pretty standard for us over the last few years I’d say.

7.) 30 Aug 2020
30 Aug 2020 11:50:32
RM, so playing on a 19 year old kid is tactical genius?
I don’t think so.
And it’s not being bitter either. But it’s rubbish to watch and no different to lots of other sides.
From Wenger’s beautiful football to this crap.
Take Aubameyang out of that side and they’re mid-table.

8.) 30 Aug 2020
30 Aug 2020 12:59:24
Juicer, did you even read what I posted? Where did I say that Arteta was a genius? He used the so called "19 yr old" (who was MOTM, btw) very well in his system and that was what I was referring to. If you watched the first goal by Auba, you will see what I mean BUT it seems you are bent on giving Arteta no credit at all and you are entitled to that, I guess.

Now you may think their way of playing is rubbish and boring, there is a lot of intelligence in that formation or system they used yesterday and I commend Arteta for that. It shows how clever and flexible he is. I do agree with you that w/ o Auba, Arsneal won't be very good.

9.) 30 Aug 2020
30 Aug 2020 10:41:26
Imagine how bitter we would be if it was actually a league game Ed047😂.

{Ed047's Note - I daren’t Barry! 🤣

In all seriousness you are the finished article whilst we are a work in progress so for me it was nice to see us keep your front free quiet.

You have to start from a solid base and that seems to be what Arteta is doing and we pretty much kept your front 3 quiet all game, scored a great goal on the counter and could even have snatched a winner after you scored.

So rather than some you we’re pants and Arteta “change the record” a bit of credit would be nice. Don’t wanna see you guys getting like United fans up until Fergie retired.

You have been off your game since you finally got the title but I’m certain come the Leeds game it will be business as usual for you mate.

10.) 30 Aug 2020
30 Aug 2020 13:30:44
Neco Williams man of the match?
We saw Pep concentrating on a young Trent in the past, and yesterday was a repeat of that.
Arsenal got no identity Ed047, where exactly do you want or think Arteta will lead you? A City-like side?
I’m very doubtful of him, he’s a sticking plaster on an open wound since Wenger’s departure?

{Ed047's Note - who said anything about Neco Williams being man of the match.

Got no identity, Jesus, did you have one when Klopp first arrived after 6 months.

Take the lemons out of your gob mate.

You took 30yrs to put a sticking plaster on your open wound or have you some how forgotten that! 🤦‍♂️

11.) 30 Aug 2020
30 Aug 2020 13:56:03
We were absolutely shocking. Anybody who thinks we are getting anywhere near a trophy with those type of performances are in for a rude shock. Its been evident that we need to freshen up and make little tweaks to our approach against low block sides (there will be many of those in the upcoming season btw) . I get why Klopp is so heavily interested in Thiago now. We need that midfielder who can pick passes at will and stay ahead of the curve (none of our midfielders can do anything of the sort bar Keita to some extent) .

We need to freshen and tweak our approach and personnel a little as the two year cycle of unmatched dominance has come to an end.

It happened to the very best of teams (Barca signed Suarez and Neymar) after Pep left to move away from tiki-taka whatever. Fergie kept tweaking from time to time to keep his side competitive for a long time.

Man City got found out at long last by a lot of premier league sides and Lyon for the big ozone layered hole in their backline.
It seems we have also reached that stage to change things up to an extent. Fingers crossed we do that without losing our appetite for major trophies during this process.

12.) 30 Aug 2020
30 Aug 2020 13:59:34
Williams was a reply to RM.
Klopp’s philosophy was in place when he arrived and that was always the aim, albeit it’s been tweaked somewhat for the PL.
Of course Arteta is a first-time manager so he’s making his way atm, but there’s nothing ground-breaking in there?
We’ll see. I hope to see a positive development in Arsenal this season but Emery started off in this manner too.

{Ed047's Note - we never looked as good, albeit clearly not the finished article yet, under Emery as we do now under Arteta.

I’m not saying that we are awesome defensively but the team are working hard together and not just falling apart.

It’s early days, this season may give us a better idea of the whole of Arteta’s philosophy but he needs time.

I’m happy so far but want a lot more mate.

And ahh ok on Williams, my mistake, really like him though and it was a great lesson learned.

13.) 30 Aug 2020
30 Aug 2020 14:21:18
Juicer, now I know for a fact that you don't read posts properly. How could Williams have bee been MOTM if he plays for Liverpool and was not very good? Maitland-Niles was MOTM, not Williams.

As for the rest, Ed047 responded way better than I would have cos your bitterness is deafening.

14.) 30 Aug 2020
30 Aug 2020 15:49:38
Not like you to let the Eds do your talking RM 😂.