₦airaland Forum

Jodera:
You are talking the bolded as if we won't have injury, covid or red card. We are thin in most department wen one or 2 injuries occur and you're saying we've players that can blend.

Can you beat your chest confidently that nketiah will lead that line confidently if Laca is unavailable? Can you win 3 points if elneny and lokonga is partnered together?

Make we no act like that 5 foolish virgins in the biblical parable who took oil that is "just enough" for their lantern then at the end of the day their mission was jeopardized

I remember saying this especially the bolded. My prayer this season was not to have any injuries to any of the regular first team players even if na Xhaka. Unfortunately, it was one of our key players in Partey whom our plays revolve around and Tierney.

Now we now looking like those foolish virgins who decided not to carry that extra oil when we decided not to strengthen in January, now our top 4 fight is slipping away right before our very eyes. God knows I'm so sad and I was praying for this event never to happen

popizaino:
Thank you.

The thing about generational talents from the past that I know, is that they are excellent creators, they have eye for passes that no one has, can spot passes that only an eagle could spot with goals as added bonus to their games, some are even dead ball specialities, they also got silky movement on and off the ball. They are also rapid. These are many more are mostly missing from Havertz's game and it's the reason why I am still sceptical about him being a generational talent.

Generational talent wey rival fans no dey drool over, is that one a generational talent??

I still dey look how generational talent and havertz go dey one sentence

CAPdan21:
We know dayo...his work is to thrash other teams players...If you talk about how Lewy has been leading his polish teammates to disgrace in international comp. or how robben/Ribery has poor stats for attackers he will disappear...Na to call hazard Pius Ikedia, Terry Carryalong, Firmino defensive striker and VVD traffic warden na him Sabi... that's how elruditor followed him until he had no hands but Dayo is still here..

Jencejyde:
I

Boss we all care and yes we can agree to disagree that this team really really wants to do well given that most of them are still very young. But like a hall of Fame basketball ER once said, "Talent in not enough" This team needs help to understand that your heart cannot win you games and can not take you to the next level. You heart and hardwork, hardwork in this sense means realising the urgency to succeed and doing all it takes ,however it takes to succeed. You and I know that if arsenal played crystal palace in the manner they played us and harrased us giving nothing away. Even if we still lost which I doubt , we would all be here commending them knowing fully well that should they consistently continue in that manner at every ground and at every game, the results will come.

Does it not pain you to see us get continuously beaten by Liverpool to a point where it's almost impossible to be optimistic whenever we meet them. Haha what kind of mental block is that? Must we everytime go into defensive whenever we meet city?

Have lesser teams not beaten Liverpool or city and how is it that our entire crew cannot find a way to get positives when going up against opposition of this quality ? No we are accepting that Palace away is a difficult game. Very soon we will accept that Norwich and all lower table teams are difficult games as if they are title contenders too.

Sometimes it's just hard to take not because it cannot happen but looking at where Arsenal is coming from, this is truly bad and I really feel for the young lads that they have the burden of being here to carry us through this difficult times.

Why I believe talent is not enough but hardwork, I also believe we're lacking talent or quality in squad depths. While I believe it's not the players' fault but the management, I still feel this squad have that attitude to be up there. Talent-wise maybe not yet(we need a lot of culling), but we're getting there.

The Liverpool didn't reach this height in one season the way klopp wanted them. I remembered arguing extensively in Man United thread how Klopp was not a fraud as against those who thought he was because Liverpool were flip-flopping in his first season and first full season. Fast forward few years later and everyone wants to be like Liverpool. What I'm just saying Is that I'm seeing the process/progress Arteta is trying to do and as long as he's still steering in the right direction, we just got to trust him and the team.

Yes, They've made mistake not recruiting anyone this Jan Tw (I complained about that sef) but one thing I believe is that we're not totally out of this top 4 fight. Just as the top 4 ushered a new dawn for Liverpool when they displaced us during Klopp first full season, I think this also will usher ours. I could see how the boys wants it, I can feel their attitudes. I just hope we make it(injuries or not). We might be pushed back 2yrs back if we don't. For the sake of these boys, I just hope we do.

Spy360:
You see, you are making the same errors you accuse me of. But I am not taking it seriously.

Generally, people who criticise others hate to be criticised themselves because it exposes the same weaknesses they call others for.

You call my response trash, and expect that I should treat yours or other people's opinions with respect?

If you are not willing to get hit by my criticism you can as well stay silent. If anybody's criticism doesn't go well with me, I will criticise them in the same manner they have criticized others. If you don't like to be criticised then don't criticise.

That bros came here just to criticise, and I questioned his criticism using his own logic which he now feels it is an attack on his personality. That's funny because he also attacked the player's personalities.

This logic is simple. You have to apologize to me.

I am demanding it as soon as you get this memo.

Spy Spy

Take it easy abeg and calm down.
If to say we no know who jence.jyde be, it would have been different but we know who he is, we know he's an arsenal fan.

We all give opinions and reasons concerning our thoughts concerning our beloved arsenal. You might misunderstand where he's coming from, it's fine, that's why we have diverse opinions .
It's painful attacking his personality or his mentality instead of the message and I think that's where you erred.

The goal is to always attack/counter the message civilly instead of the messenger (either subtly or not).

You demanding the bolded is unnecessary tho, except if you're just pulling Rolan.d legs

Spy360:
It's sad that someone does not see the progress and only waited for a bleep to make a point.
I nor just understand all his complains when we have started seeing some light inside the dark tunnel

Lol, I feel I understand where he's coming from. His standards regarding arsenal is high and he's seeing arsenal as a top 4 team as against some of us that still sees arsenal as top 6, so he wants arsenal to act as one(and the fans I suppose) not just brushing aside the team's loss cos "they were tired" or some flimsy excuse. I mean, if it were arsenal of early 2000s, would we easily brush aside this loss that easily and just give that "int'l break" excuse? With his points he gave it was convincing, reason why I said he raised very good points.

I know beginning of this season he was among those who said this season we ought to finish in top 4. I was among those who view us as that too even with the embarrassing results. So it's just due to the standards he's expecting from arsenal and not because he's waiting for arsenal to have a blip before he bare his thoughts.

Roland17:
100%… Thank goodness say no be me write this one, if not, dem for don call am agenda.

Well written, not many will understand this perspective..but some of us do.
#COYG

When I read the post you quoted, in my mind I just said "Roland food don done".

I'm glad you didn't disappoint

Jencejyde:
Surely the attributes of a good side is to always consistently get results whether you are playing well or not and mentally Liverpool is light years ahead of arsenal. But like I said, even with their low performance on Saturday
, they still had less recovery time and had to travel away to Portugal in a fierce encounter and still managed a result. I mean we are nowhere near Liverpool level right now but can we boldy beat our chest and stay that our team even played to an acceptable level enought to get a result at Place?

Even talking about international break and fatigue. I want to believe that the likes of Mancity and Liverpool have more of a right to that excuse than arsenal given the number of games some of their players have to play.

As far as I'm concerned that excuse of tiredness holds nothing. If they showed more desire to win rather than the slow lethargic start and tempo, we could have gotten something from that game.

So when of if we qualify for Europe, is it this same excuse that we will be using everytime. Teams are winning doubles and triples and going to win world club and super cups and we are here using excuses.

I love Arsenal and honestly want them to succeed and will back them if they show the right attitude and desire consistently . I also will understand when we lose such as the game against city at the Emirates which for me has to go down as the best performance of this team even in defeat. That performance on a consistent basis is what we are clamouring for and football never lies, you will not just show up and expect 3 points, you will work hard for every point everywhere and everytime. This team are not showing signs of them wanting to fight for everything everytime and it's sad .

Well let's hope and keep on believing that they will show the right attitude and desire consistently enough to get them to be contenders rather than pretenders untill we ultimately get back to those high levels we were once know for

You give good points that it makes it easier for me to agree with.
But one thing I do notice is that this team really cares than previous teams we've paraded. I don't know about others but I can feel their desire and attitude.

I'm hoping to see what the team offers against Brighton

Bacteria8:
Jodera bro this one is actually the worst among them.
His Brian always hyperventilating

Lol... Andrew na my very correct guy ooo

andrewbaba44:
E Dey Barca be say e Dey Barca

Tohh... I give up

Bacteria8:
See most of the Barca dudes here their brains think anti-clockwise... that's why I ignore the reply.

Imagine we are talking about last 2 matches and he jumped to 10 years ago

Na the 12yrs ago clapback off me

andrewbaba44:
Xavi is still at Barca

Clap back wey go havard

Xavi is still a player??

Olarewaju89:
My brother leave people that scored goal... Leave the messager and face the message which is 5 nill

Lol, this message suppose don expire na. 12yrs ago??

No football fan dey bring trolling of 12yrs ago na

Olarewaju89:
Benzema was there when they chop 5 nill

Of all the people that scored the goals name me 1(just 1 oo) that's still at the present club?

This your clapback get as e be

airmark:
We will see if your Benzema will score hat trick against Chelsea.

Benzema na nairalander

daveP:
Watched some compilations of assists Alex Song gave RVP.

RVP wont even look at the Goal and he'd volley the aerial ball in with his left feet.

Song Van Persie telepathy of 2011/2012 eh

Really amazing!!

daveP:
Xhaka flop, we call him out
Same for Laca and Cedric and Nuno. E reach Odegaard and Partey you want to make it look like they weren't a big part of that problem?


Anyways, that asides, we are in a prime position of the season where the GD is going to be a painful decider of last minute scenarios, and as such we should be trying all to step up in that aspect. We have two games before Chelsea to do just that. We need those numbers. We really do. Conte has already taken up the reins vos he knows whats ahead in terms of fixtures. 15 to 10.... Same Points.

If na Defenders we go score most, no p.


Formation wise, Arteta will have to depend fully on 3man defence till Yasu comes back. Xhaka is a big aspect of our middle this season. The Commentator affirmed that ESR didn't know his position and place to play when Xhaka took LB and ESR took Xhaka position. Arteta had to shout from the Sidelines but it was not working. Thus Lokonga.


Seems this is where Elneny comes in, im afraid.

For the bolded, There's a reason why I talked about balance. Most people might look at Xhaka and says he does nothing cos he doesn't score or assist but they don't know he brings something else to that role which aids In that structure. He helps defensively helping Partey, he recycles ball very well and his positioning is good. All these things we might not know cos he's not always on the scoreboard, or he might get one needless yellow card . ESR might not give us that.
Granted ESR might score or assist but he might not help us have that dominance.


You see this season, I think it's between we and Tottenham. I've said it that we need more than 70points(at least 75) cos Conte Tottenham no come here come play. I dey fear that Man after all his winning runs he did while at Chelsea and Inter. It's just so sad that injury chose now to strike us. I just pray we overcome

Spy360:
I agree. No one seems to blend well with Lokonga. Probably this is because he lacks good positional awareness. Hence my suggestion he plays lone DM.

Another option is to play Elneny and Xhaka double pivot. But I don't trust Elneny much. This will also mean dependence on Tavares to hold that LB position. Tavares' performance against Palace was just terrible mehn.

As for Partey, I don't think it's loss of form earlier in the season. It's just tactical adjustment.

Well, let's see whether Arteta will use Sambi as lone DM this weekend.
My eyes will be open for his performance

Spy360:


It's not that Nketiah is my type, but I feel he can offer us something better than Laca is doing especially the threat of scoring as he is a poacher kind of striker, so with consistent game time I believe he will deliver.

As for the formation, we should stick with the 4-1-4-1

...................... Nketiah ...................
Martinelli.... ESR.... Odegaard... Saka
......................... Lokonga.....................
Xhaka..... Gabriel...... White ..... Cedric

Xhaka will be restricted from overlapping.

Tavares can come in for ESR/Martinelli as Xhaka moves to attacking midfield. Lacazette for Nketiah. Pepe for Saka/Martinelli/ESR/Odegaard.

Tavares needs time to become competitive.

Why am I seeing "softies" in that midfield and attack?

Ahh

God knows I won't be comfortable with this formation if Arteta uses it this weekend
Seems to open and soft

mostob:
I don't just fancy Nketiah as our CF. The guy is too slow and sluggish

Spy360:
Can you recall how Partey was fluctuating while playing in a double pivot but quickly started shining the moment he was deployed as a lone midfielder?

For most DMs, they prefer playing alone as it gives them more time on the ball and more options for passing. Playing in a double pivot limits the players freedom as he must move in tandem with his partner. Those who succeed as a double pivot are those who have mastered themselves.

He wasn't in form then

But on a serious note, even during the pivot Partey wasn't that bad alongside Xhaka this season. He was just 6/10 when paired with lokonga than the 9/10s he's been giving with Xhaka.

I feel he blends more with Xhaka than Lokonga

mostob:
And Balogun is probably in form of his life right now
Can this just get any worse?
Maybe Marti or Pepe as the CF. Nketiah no be am abeg

Not balogun oo. Make him grow, develop and mature during his loan

Lol, you no even like Nketiah sef

Me I even prefer Nketiah to Pepe for that CF role. Pepe to me no dey inspire

Spy360:
I second this motion. Let's start Nketiah.

Lol, shey your food Don done?

Anyways, if you were to choose formation and personnel for next game, what will it be?

mostob:
I'm not comfortable with Sambi as a lone DM at all.. except we go back to 352.
And if Tavarez will play, Xhaka will need to drop back to help him which will allow Marti to come inside.
And it's time we start using this false 9 approach to at least see us through this season.

True.
If we no get top 4 this season, e go hard us to get am again.

mostob:
4231 when defending and 433 when attacking

Me too I'm even afraid of Sambi as lone DM sef, but the options we have aren't even encouraging either.

I'm suspecting Arteta might default back to 4231 back while giving tavarez last chance

It will be interesting to see what Arteta uses as formation this weekend.

Another thing is that Laca have been in terrible form for the past one month. He isn't scoring goals, he isn't pressing from the front and he isn't linking up play. It will be better he sits this one out perhaps it'll refresh his head

Injury update.

Tierney — He will undergo surgery during the weekend. Definitely, we won't be seeing him this season again

Partey — He'll be assessed during the weekend. Hopefully it won't be serious as first feared

Tomiyasu— Recovering exceptionally. Hopes to be available on matchday Squad against Southampton

Source : arsenaldotcom

mostob:
This idea of Sambi as a lone 4 no go work.
His physicality is not there yet and he lost the ball too much.
I don't know but I'll prefer we pair him with Elneny with xhaka at LB.
Sambi will combine with Marti the way Ode and Saka do. Elneny sitting deep...Cedric overlapping with xhaka staying back to make it 3 man defence.

Do you mean Sambi in 4231 or 433 formation?

Spy360:
He will be fine if he can replicate that second half against Palace. He has to because his career with us will depend on that.

I also feel he is a like for like with Partey in terms of their preference to be the lone midfielder. Lokonga was terrible when paired with Xhaka or AMN.

Let me also add that ESR didn't do well enough playing as an 8 when Xhaka dropped deep. You see Xhaka eh, forget how bad his decisions sometimes can be, he is a really useful player for a manager that likes tweaking and changing tactics.

Well, I'm not holding any briefs for lokonga yet. I just hope he slots in seamlessly. I like lokonga as a person but I know that role is too demanding. I don't want to use palace 2nd half to fully rate his good display cos I know palace reduced their pressing tempo when he came on reason why I said Brighton will be a good time to watch him.


As for Xhaka, I've always been saying it, he's very important to that team. He might not look so, but he his

Spy360:
Yes he did. Xhaka played LB,

.......... Nketiah.... Lacazette........
Saka ....... Odegaard..... Martinelli
................... Lokonga....................
Xhaka ... Gabriel... White... Cedric

Okay, cool.

Lemme see how he'll do against Brighton at full stretch.
Hopefully we win that match

Jencejyde:
There are no excuses to make. Arsenal as of now are simply not good enough. We only have the league to play and to come up with excuse of international break, training regine, blah blah is weak and pathetic. Same Liverpool and Mancity that played on the weekend still went out to play Champions League Football recording impressive wins and still have other competitions to play in aside the League.

Its sad and truly it's a case of either how bad it can go or when it will ever get back to the high levels.

If you watched Liverpool's against Watford you'll know Liverpool played nonsense from beginning till the end. It's just quality Liverpool had plus Watford being Watford that Liverpool snatched the win.
I didn't watch Man city match so I can't talk about it.

For ours, we know that crystal palace are a very very good side. If truly the guys are tired due to int'l break, then crystal palace is that wrong team to play against.

I just hope we pick up our momentum starting against Brighton

Spy360:


I love you man.

I presume you were carried away by the sad day and didn't notice how Lokonga performed after replacing Partey.

Please do not get me wrong, quality matters but if the system or tactics is right, the influence of quality reduces.

Lokonga will fit in as long as the opponents aren't Man City or Liverpool.

But Lokonga didn't play base 4(sole DM)

Did he?