₦airaland Forum

Ibunkun1:
Na Arsenal woes dey keep those Arsenal folks calm all this while. Vayolence dey their blood . Na Jo.dera own surprise me pass, that bros get better vayolence for mind and I been dey think say im gentle

Haba na, I gentle egbon

daveP:
Martinelli dropped from WC list.

No Martinelli, No Gabriel Magalhaes. Injured Richarlison included!

Omo, na only God know wetin dey Tite mind sha

My Thoughts On The Game(both Nottingham and Chelsea)

1... I feel this our defence is even appreciated enough. It's very very rare to see a defensive back 5(Partey making the back 5 and not Ramsdale pls). It's a back 5 where each individual is highly technical, supremely strong and physical and at the same time highly composed. It's difficult penetrate or match up each players whether in ground duels or aerially. The way Gabriel and Saliba bullied Awoniyi last week, then completed the bullying on both Auba, Havertz and broja ystdy was awesome. Ben White is criminally underrated both attack wise and defensively. In fact, defensively, nothing gets past him. If you think Ben White is that good, then we've not even talked about Saliba. He's easily one of the best defenders now in England. Nothing gets past him either land, water or air . Then we've Gabriel who's always been outstanding. It's good thing that's he has cut out his rashness in his game and even though he made mistake last week that it wasn't really punished but his overall game have been excellent. Zinchenko showed rustiness ystdy but it's easy to see his quality Ystdy while I'm beginning to see the reason for Tomi experiment even though I'm not convinced yet.
Who noticed how easy it is for our defenders to pass out from the back and beat opposition press. Their positioning, confidence, composure and technicality is something that's only rivalled by very few in the league (and that's just me being modest here )
There's a reason I said I was very okay with our defence even when statistics was saying we've not kept a clean sheet at home. I knew that it wasn't because of the defence was bad but it was just mostly Gabriel's schoolboy error and if he cuts it out, we'll keep cleansheets. And now that he's cutting it out of his game, we're now seeing cleansheets

2... I've always been saying it that we've one of the best Midfield trio in EPL and week in week out, they've been proving so. Xhaka and Partey are two Midfield dynamos that can uplift any team. How Xhaka combines his late attacking runs into the opposition box, still helps in maintaining possession and Midfield control as well as helping out defensively is really out of this world. Week in week out he's proving to be press resistant with quick one touch pass and move. When Xhaka was bought, this was exactly how he was advertised as, thank goodness he's living up to the billing. Partey adding goals to his monstrous world class performance means he's now the perfect DM one can finally ask for. The way he just wins all balls and 2nd balls with ease as well as quickly pushing attacks helps us in transitioning attack rapidly. Odegaard needs to add accuracy and power to his game. Great goal last week but great miss this week. Other than that, I love the way he has understanding with our attackers. Those three helps dominate teams (as well as the defence), and aside Southampton and Leeds in which we dropped intensity in the 2nd half, I've not seen any match in which we've not played at maximum level

3... One thing I love about the attack is the positional and rotational fluidity. It's one thing why I'd love Jesus not to change his ways when drifting out of the cf position to the wings or drift from the wings to CF position or drift deep in carrying the ball. Cos such movement confuses defenders and drag them out of position for to Martinelli or Xhaka late runs to exploit. And when he finally turns to occupy the zone, most times he's usually left free which is why most times he gets to see the team's big chances. I believe his goals will come as he seemed unlucky ystdy and with the way he's always seeing chances per game, sooner or later he'll break his duck. I would have been more worried if he's not seeing chances at all. Like I always say, I prefer my front 5 to give me 14 goals each than for we to have a striker that will score 30 goals while our wingers scores 8-10 goals and our two attacking midfielder scores 2-5 goals combined. I don't like such disparity at all.
Such rotation, fluidity and interplay is what is making our attack unpredictable and the good part is that we aren't even clinical yet


4... Kudos to Arteta big time. Not only have we broken the mental block of playing big teams but the way he's always setting up the team have been excellent. You could see the effect of training ground moves as each player knows the zone they'll occupy or run into without clashing and each player know what do the at the particular time. Notice how our fullbacks know when to overlap or underlap or when to tuck into Midfield to give us territorial advantage. It's never coincidence and it's the effect of good coaching. Also kudos to him for his subs. They've been mostly timely in perfect this season, especially in holding out a win.

I've always had faith in Arteta and believed in him and even though my faith quivered two seasons ago, I'm finally happy that he's finally able to get it right and move arsenal the way he wants it to be. Being in first position while playing beautiful football since August down to November in a league containing Pep guardiola Man city that have Haaland as striker is no mean feat. I don't know whether we'll maintain it till May but one thing is certain, this team is one of the best in the league.

Top of the league
Brighton next in Carabao then Wolves next

COYG!!

1st pix : Our darling team

2nd pix : What did they say about arsenal ontop of the tree again?

3rd pix: how I'm laughing at rival fans who said we'll be struggling for top 4 at the end of Oct and beginning of November especially when we start playing all the big teams.
Ironically, ALL OF THEM ARE STRUGGLING FOR TOP 4 AS NONE OF THEM IS IN TOP 4

Spy360:
You requested for heat maps of PL strikers, I brought it. But you couldn't use it.

Understand How To Use Heat Maps

1. The first thing you want to take note of is the spread of high concentration. What that tells you is activity. ACTIVITY.

That's exactly what I am saying which you admitted but turned it upside down.

Jesus is too active in the build up. I have said so repeatedly. You call it hardwork but where has it led him? 4 goals. Kane has 9 and Mitrovic has 7. I brought up that of Haaland, you said it's because it's Haaland.

2. You mentioned that the high concentration is less for all even in the box. That's true because it's obvious that's not where they will stay all day. Kane and Mitrovic drops deep too, but thats mostly when they have to defend. The moment their team gains possession they sprint quickly to the box. That is why you did not see red markers near the box but inside. For GJ there are red markers all the way from midfield to around the box to inside the box. That's too much activity for any striker who needs goals.

Once again the heat maps you requested are here. Kane, Mitrovic and Jesus respectively. I have included that of Haaland for more emphasis.

Now please answer the question I asked you or simply apologize.

Lol, you brought Halaand heatmaps showing he doesn't have any higher concentration outside the box (red marker) compared to Jesus who always drops deep and "form activity" outside the box. When I told you to provide other strikers and you brought two, seeing they have higher concentration outside the box like Jesus too(red marker), you don turn am to "when they wan defend"

So now, it's no longer they that they don't drop deep but it now has a defending clause like say Man city and arsenal no dey defend shey? First you brought Nketiah as your inbox man, I no see red marker for 18 box(even though you claimed there is).
Now you bring two other strikers' heatmap guilty of what Jesus does but their own get security excuse while Jesus doesn't

Amala turning at its finest init.

Let's even ignore that Alexis once thrived playing this way .
Also let's all ignore that not all teams makes use of target men and that not all strikers are target men.

I've dropped my pen sha, I don't intend to prolong this thing any further cos there's no verifiable metric to say that it's tiredness that makes Jesus miss goal. It's just you speculating while I gave you facts.

The most hilarious is you saying strikers dribbling means they're wrongly positioned. I don "learn" many things From you this month sha . Many many things all under one month

"Even our legendary Henry was a target man and he was always always sitting in the box. He doesn't dribble too"

Bro Spy, I've dropped my pen on this matter biko

Searchingvictor:
Be like na Netherlands he dey claim as nationality sha

Lol, just noticed it now

So the issue with Gabriel Jesus for his lack of clinicality is just wrong decision-making and not being ruthless in front of goal. If he likes, let him don't press or let him marry that 18yard box, if he doesn't work on those two, we'll still complain the same thing and still be putting the blame on him doing buildups and pressing when in actual fact, that's just the wrong diagnosis.

If I'm the arsenal attacking coaches, I'll sit him down, show him all these videos and tell him to dribble smart to score(he have that) not just to dribble in order to dribble
In other words, he should always dribble to set himself up for goalscoring opportunities and that you don't need to dribble everybody in order to achieve that. Just one or two (highest) and you're good to shoot or pass. Sanchez was a master of that.

He also needs to work on his placement shot. Learn to put the ball at the far corner, at least make the keeper work. If the keeper makes a save... Then fine. But any curler perfectly well executed at the far post is hardly saved by the keeper. Most strikers and attackers are always fond of that, that's why the goal rate is high

Once Jesus is able to work on these two things, we'll have a world class striker there just as we had it in Sanchez!!

I drop my pen(and shalayes to those who might see it as one )

In terms of him being lacking that ruthlesslessness. This is Jesus Vs Southampton(1st Half)

1.. The first picture is at the 43rd minutes. Odegaard played a chipped pass to him. That pass beats the entire defence and sets the ball nicely for Jesus. What he just needs to do is pick his spot at the far corner. Since he's a right footer, it's expected of him to place the ball at the right corner of the post but what did he do?

2.. the 2nd picture, he played the ball straight to the keeper(the blue marker is the ball). The keeper didn't even needed to dive. That's a big chance wasted and don't tell me Jesus is not in the right frame of mind(or tired) as early as the 43rd minute. FYI, this was exactly the same goal ESR scored last season against Leeds In our 4-1 win. Same chipped pass by same Odegaard

3... The 3rd picture is also another example of him lacking ruthlessness. This is also before our first goal. He was setup, he positioned himself nicely for a curler to the far post (as expected of strikers). The blue marker is the projection

4... The 4th picture shows that the ball hit the goal keeper straight at his body again(the blue marker is the ball). He didn't even needed to dive (again). That's another big chance missed.

NB: I intentionally brought first half cos I don't want to believe a professional player will be mentally or physically fatigued as early as first half. Research have shown that most professional players when fit often tire out at 60+ or 70+ minutes.

I can go on and on bringing different scenarios and screenshot of Jesus lack of ruthlessness and poor decision-making that is making him pass on good goalscoring opportunities but I'll just stop.

a4turitoroman:
Xavi Simmons is dutch

Oh, so he's not Xavi son?

I thought he was the one o. Apologies then!!

Searchingvictor:
Xavi pikin don dey play ball?

Ehen Na.

From Barca academy him go PSG now he's in PSV.

Xavi Simons

Expert17:
Ellexy did you watch Gakpo against Arsenal?

Cc Jodera

The guy try wella ystdy
Him and that Xavi pickin.

Omo, na dat Xavi pikin wan kill me pass

Now this is Jesus Vs Man U.(early this season)

1.. In the first picture, we could see Man u defending deep there by giving Jesus an opportunity for a curler at the zone that I spotted (the zone I marked with orange colour.
But before he could get into that zone, he'll need to beat that obstacle in Bruno Fernandez first who's obstructing him to get into that zone.

2.. From the 2nd picture, you could see he successfully beat Bruno Fernandez cleanly. Got into that zone, which was already setup for him for a potential goal scoring opportunity.(curling or placing the ball in the far corner with his right foot (stronger foot)). You could see my projection.
But guess what he did again?


3... From the 3rd picture, he took another extra unnecessary touch attempting to dribble the first man u player (I think Casemiro), as well as dribbling the 4 walls of Jerichos at the back of of Casemiro like say him be spirit(the straight line I drew to highlight them). They intercepted the ball, won it cleanly and our potential goalscoring chance is gone.

FYI, This was exactly the same goal that Odegaard scored last match of last season against Everton (when we won 5-1) but in the opposite side. You'd expect our striker to do better.

So yeah, that's is another wrong decision making due to over dribbling and taking another needless extra touch again.


I can go on and on with different matches with his wrong decision-making that have cost him goals but let me just stop with this one and focus on his lack of placement (and ruthlessness).

I'll do that In the next post

Spy 360, This was against Southampton upto 10min before our first goal (still very early in the game).

1.. the first picture was that he received a pass from Xhaka, having just one defender to beat and score. From the picture, you could see that he has already beaten the defender, placed the ball on his right foot(stronger foot) for a possible curler(you could see my projection). You could see a possible goal up here but guess what he did..

2... The second picture, he decided to re-dribble the defender he had already beaten by taking that extra touch towards his left. That singular act does three things

a. Jesus potentially closed the goal scoring chance he initially created for himself

b.. He automatically narrowed the angle he needed to score thus making it very impossible for him to score

c. He further disadvantaged himself by setting the shot on his weaker foot(left), thereby even limiting any goal that might come out from there. And you can see from my projection, he actually took that shot like that and that was where the ball ended.

From these the pictures in these given scenario we can see how Jesus automatically killed a goalscoring chance he himself initially first created just by an unnecessary last re-dribble (extra touch). That is the clinicality I'm talking about and anyone will tell you he didn't lose that chance because of any "right frame of mind" but just wrong decision making.

I'll drop another example again

Spy360:
Ok no problem. apart from the speed of light thing.

1. It is due to not being clinical. He is seeing big chances but he is not having the composure (if this word is the problem check it out) or right frame of mind to finish those chances. He's usually involved in the build up and by the time he arrives in the box, he is either not in a preferred position or have exerted himself so much as to lack the right mix of power and accuracy. Some strikers deliberately avoid build up. They just want to be in the right frame to be able to finish off chances. GJ should know that scoring is his primary duty and not chance creation. So he must not always be part of the build up. He should spend more time positioning himself either to receive a final pass or to make a splitting run. Most times he is found in the build up and while it has benefitted others it has become detrimental to him. So he is seeing opportunity but he is not taking them and that's because he drops deep all the time which makes him to lose composure.

2. Lol at the bolded.Mention a striker (a) in the frame of GJ - that drops deep and (b) is scoring goals unlike GJ.

Make your choice from any point in history when we can draw stats.

For the benefit of doubt I have dropped that of Kane (he does drop deep but knows when to sprint to the box. Note that he hardly touches the ball around the area near the box.) and Mitrovic. The second and third highest scorers this season in PL. The last one is that of GJ. You will see that GJ gets too involved. All are obtained from PL stats as posted by Sofascore.com

1. From both heatmaps, we can deduce that both Mitrovic and Kane also do much work outside the box and even down to the midfield (we can see red markers which denotes higher concentration in their midfied) and the worst part is that their midfied red marker is greater than their box red heatmaps. Them and Jesus are almost doing the same thing, the only difference is that Jesus is just more of a hardworker than them. That is why even though Jesus heatmaps concentration is greater (more touches) than them, his heatmap concentration in the opposition box is also greater than them too. Your point would have been valid if their heatmaps (i.e Kane and Mitrovic) was more concentrated in the box than out of the box (just like Halaand) but unfortunately it's not. It just proves that Jesus has more energy and fitness levels and agility than them, and that's a skill on its own.

2... Players with Jesus' kind of skills(especially with his kind of energy levels) are rare and are rarely found in found in Europe. Such players are street guys' players mainly found in South America and Africa (where they play alot of street football). So to answer your questions, I'll tell you Alexis Sanchez.

Alexis Sanchez drops deep, tackles, make runs, involve in build-ups, hassle defenders and he still scores goals. Do you remember the season when he played as a striker for us(2016/17)? He did exactly all these things Jesus is doing yet he scored 24 league goals and due to his build up and creativity output, he got 11 assists. I don't know of any person/striker in arsenal aside Henry that have given 20+ goals and 10+ assists in the league alone a season. I'm a regular here during that period (though not registered) yet I don't remember you or anyone here saying Alexis don't need to drop deep or always stay at the box or his composure due to tiredness is what is affecting his scoring. The difference between Sanchez and Jesus when it comes to scoring is decision making. And I'll explain that to you in pictures my next posts.

johnjunior39:
Is not too late to recall Patino, I don't understand the nonsense this Arteta does sometimes. Pa Wenger fielded almost academy players during a champions league match, went on to lose but already qualified. Maybe he wanted to win this and field a junior team next week but even the players are jaded. no effort

It depends on the agreement they had with the loan club, can they call him back at anytime? But then, even if they can call him anytime, it's still too late cos we have only one Europa group stage match left and he won't be seeing much game time after that.

Wenger uses Carling cup and in his last season he used both Carling cup and Europa League group stages to brood in the youngsters. That's how dem Walcott and Chamberlain dem was being prepared for EPL actions. Now, I can't even count on any youngster coming through at all.


One thing I'm 90% sure is that Arteta will use his full squad against Zurich next week. Worst part is that, we'll be meeting Chelsea during the weekend and since they've already qualified, there's high possiblity of them resting players in anticipation of our games.

It's just not looking good at all

mostob:

He don carry B2 for team building already.
Right now, e be like baba wan carry F9 for trophy too.

Baba had two trophies in fa cup and community shield oo.
No matter how, him no fit collect f9

Why do I now feel that Patino's loan wasn't really planned

If we've loaned Patino out last season, he'll had gained experience. Then this season, he'll be the one deputising Xhaka in that advanced LCM role. Azeez I believe will have been a better player than what Sambi have been dishing in that DM role , while Lokonga/Viera will battle the RCM role (or Lokonga sits on the bench and comes in for any of Viera or Patino in 2nd half).

Nketiah will be flanked by both Marquinhos (RW) and Nelson (LW). Motivate them by telling them that if they give their all and give outstanding performances, their chances to first team squad will be sure using Saka, Martinelli and ESR as good examples to them. Look at how Turner improved from the jittery hands that he was during the preseason and early season all because of game time in Europa.

This would not only have our first team players fully rested and focused on league in this highly busy scheduled period but we'll also be grooming a good 2nd 11 that wouldn't be too raw in transitioning into the first team when called upon.

But then, here we are still starting a whole Xhaka, Saka and Gabriel Jesus, Martinelli and fragile Partey in Europa League group stages all because of lack of trust and planning

mostob:

The guy was just frustrated yesterday.

Lol..

mostob:
If he doesn't win the next game, they should sack me asap before we return to square one.

Sack ke?
You think you're supporting chelshit?

Lush100:
Arteta should always take chances with some U21.
The results could have been the same or better

I remember during Emery last season here with us. We had two different sets of teams playing league and Europa. While the big boys were floundering in the league and playing boring football, their younger counterparts was playing very good football and winning. Before the end of the season, Saka was already starting ahead of kolasinac while Martinelli was already knocking on the door for first team action. In fact, it was only injuries that delayed him being automatic starter. By the next year, ESR was already a starter too.

This all happened because Emery at least trusted them for Europa and gave all three(Saka Martinelli and ESR) their debuts which Arteta is enjoying today. Maybe we won't be shouting about squad depth if he had just trusted a boy or two from the U-21s this season

mostob:
Xhaka's yellow card yesterday means he will miss the next game against Zurich.

Since dem no wan rest am, him go rest himself

mostob:
Now, I can't wait for Sunday to come. It's really strange (for me though) that 8m always eager to watch the next arsenal match anytime we lose.

Lol... Finger crossed till Sunday

mostob:
Nah bro.... Our FBs don't overlap...they play an inverted role. Though,they do overlap once in a while. The focal point of our attack is our wing. Once, our wing has been marked out, e don finish which is why both need to be flexible roam once in a while.

Sanchez ehn...I wish we can get his younger fashion. He is the major reason I started preferring American players to European. I don't think he has ever been caged in a match.

Yeah... Martinelli and Saka is playing far away from the box nowadays. They are now needed to drive with the ball to the 18yard box and that's one thing difficult to do. It's one of the reasons I'll never blame Jesus sha for always dropping to the wings to help them sometimes cos to beat one or two defenders all by yourself is never going to be easy.

As for Sanchez, if I was close to Jesus I would have told him to start watching Sanchez clips since both have the same style of play. Sanchez himself na boss. He's the person I trust in all our attackers post Henry when it comes to play and decision making

mostob:
I'm not a professional coach neither am I a professional footballer but I still don't know why this team couldn't identify the problem.

They have been too rigid since that match... Saka and Martinelli will stay wide, Jesus will stay up front alone, our FBs will be marked out while Partey, Saliba, Gabriel and Xhaka will continue to pass the ball among themselves till they lose it .....

Xhaka's goal against the Spurs is an example of what I'm saying. Martinelli was on the wing, tightly marked by Romero(?)...the moment he shifted inside, he was able to receive a clean pass and we scored.

Chai...make Dem go watch Sanchez's clips

I think we're getting found out as most coaches are getting our hint. We need to shuffle and be fluid once again.

Once Martinelli and Saka stays wide, it's expected of Xhaka and Odegaard to shift into the midfield front to aid transition but now opposition Midfielders choke/pressure our players (both Xhaka and Odegaard) and until our FB advance, our two wingers can't cut inside. So it's just like a ripple effect. If we can't make our 2 advance Midfielders to transition (both Xhaka and Odegaard), then our full backs can't overlap. And if our full back can't overlap, our wingers can't shift/cut inside. And once that happens, then e don be for us.

PSV and to some extent Southampton in the 2nd half worked that out. But I believe, just a little tweak can get everything rolling again. It's now up to Arteta

Meanwhile, no dey make me remember Sanchez. Chai.. I too miss that guy

Lush100:
Arteta should always brake chances with some U21.
The results could have been the same or better

Aside the trusted first 11, it seems he doesn't trust the rest at all bar few. He still haven't promoted anyone from the academy

Imagine him starting Ramsdale in today's match. Like was it necessary?

BlueRayDick:
I don’t care whatever position we place in Europa league cos I know Arteta will start his first eleven vs anybody in the Knockout stages of Europa and we will surely progress .

What I’m more concerned is we winning Nottingham forest in the league ; it shows we are now back and still ready to drag the top spot as far as possible .

Tbh, that first position is really really crucial. If we secure top spot it means that our February will be very very free of European commitment so that's less stress. Being 2nd won't afford us such luxury


The boys needs to win Nottingham forest and I believe we will. But first thing first, I just hope Arteta doesn't start Tomi at Lb again

Ballzproblemm:
arsenal defaulting back to their Normal performance? things I love to see ,jodera your salty tears will be enough to flavour my rice

Salty tears ontop Europa wey I don qualify from the group??

Well...
We'll just need to beat Zurich no matter what cos PSV has so many advantages over us. Head to head advantage and goal for advantage.

Anyways we move.

Nottingham forest next!!

Spy360:
May be he wants to try Vieira as another possible backup to Saka and he has to do so with Odegaard. If not I can't see why he is playing these guys. It still doesn't make sense to me. But as long as we win, I'm cool.

This just proves that we no get better 2nd 11.

If Arteta and the board no wan kill our season, they'll need to invest in Jan

johnjunior39:
I don't want to complain again.I have never seen who enjoy self distruction like Arteta

With this loss, it's certain that we'll use our very first 11 against Zurich.

And it's just so sad we have Chelsea away that weekend

This one wey Odegaard, Xhaka and Martinelli dey play. I no know why him just wan run these guys to the ground. Shey Cedric don retire ni?

Is it that there's no small boy to promote to the first team. Omari would have played that Viera wing (if he was here)while Viera will play Odegaard's wing. Nelson in for Martinelli and we'll have 3 starters fully rested but Arteta must just force our players to play.

Na wa ooo

Spy360, by tomorrow I go answer you. Make we watch ball fest

mostob:
Jod.era and spy e don do abeg ..

Lol, spy sabi turn Amala. When you catch am, him go start to talk subjective

Something that is fact go turn subjective for him eyes