₦airaland Forum

Roland17:
Baba, I no come even understand again. The example of Barcelona and City should not even suffice. They forget that both teams invested in defenders and goalkeepers for City so they can start their attack from the back. If that does not make the argument then I don't know what does. The most successful Barcelona side in recent times (from 2008) paraded Abidal/Puyol/Pique/Alves. Do you have any idea how many clean sheets that team had? Abeg I go die the matter.

Like I said in my previous post, my compromise will be to allow them to take all the investment and resources in buying new midfielders and attackers, only if we focus on transitioning away from those agabya clowns we parade every game day. I want to see Mari/Saliba/Chamber/Holding battle for the CB while Mustafi/Sok/Luiz/Kolasinac should respectfully find their way out of the team.

Brother, thank you very much. The bolded is what I've been trying to point out since in the beginning of my argument.
At least, those clowns and agbayas you call them have people that can deputize for them with less error at the back.

That's why I said midfield and attack is what we need cos CBs is already sorted

Spy360:
Please don't get me wrong. The question is not whether we need improvements in our midfield and attack. Off course we do. The question is about which is more priority. And I say that our defense is no where near any thing to be desired and it's in a state of emergency. We can manage our midfield and attack, but we must not take this defense into next season.

Yes actually I believe they can be groomed. But no team goes into a season hoping to finish top four based on grooming young untested defenders. Like I said, I feel our business in that department may have been concluded already, but that goes to show how unambitious our owners are. So we as fans can only HOPE the younger ones turn up.

Mind you, you cannot take away the most important factor in the argument (Aubameyang) and expect anything meaningful. Assuming we don't have Auba, I'd say we get a top stricker first, but then we've got Auba.

Bro, I'm not getting you wrong sincerely. It's you that's getting me wrong. Why do I say so?
You said " attack win you games, defence win you league". And that's the issue here. We never reach to carry league na.. It's top 4 we're hoping on. A good midfield and attack can make us top 4 the way it normally helps us then. Then once we've settled it, we can think of league by getting the best defence. There's hardly any team that win league solely on good defence. I can just name only two (athletico and inter of 2010). But I can count so many number of teams that won leagues and cups with good midfield and attack but average defence.

Spy360:
Lie.

Check the quality of defenders they have at the clubs you mentioned.

Man City= Stones, Otamendi, Laporte, Mendy, Cancelo, Zinchenko
Barcelona= Pique, Umtiti, Alba, Lenglet, Semedo

Don't even try, these clubs invest in their defense. any good coach knows that for your attack to be potent you must have a reliable back line. That was exactly what Klopp did to get his Liverpool to dominate other teams the way they did. all the times we won the league the had an enviable backline. The difference between Rodgers' Liverpool and Klopp's is a reliable defense. A good attack may win you games but if you have a bad defense you will eventually capitulate. Rodgers lost the league after drawing to Crystal palace. The score? 3-3. And that was after they were 3-0 up.

Honestly we shouldn't be arguing this.

Wait wait wait??
Did you actually call Mendy, otamendi, stones, good defenders? Like seriously?
Zichenko isn't even a defender sef but a midfielder. The only good defender I'm seeing there is laporte to be honest. Can't even judge cancelo cos he's been underwhelming this season and his juventus days wasn't elite unlike Alex Sandro. But you see what I'm saying, you're calling poor and average defenders as good defenders cos the midfield and attack is shielding them. It's not as if we're conceding goals up to 2-4 per match. Obviously, the defence isn't as bad as the media is portraying them.

In as much as I'll agree that the incidence lost Liverpool the league, but that happens occasionally. Ac Milan of peak capitulated same way in a champions league final, will you say they have a very weak defence then?
Also, that's the only time such a thing happened and it's not as if such result was a common scenario that season or Liverpool were drinking goals like kunu that season. Why? Inasmuch as their defence wasn't great, their midfield and attack was very very good that year

Spy360:
Good defense.

There is no argument. If Fergie says so, no one must say otherwise. The man that has won more titles than any other manager should not be argued with.

The thing is it even takes a good defense to have a good attack. Just take a look at Sheffield.

Lol . I can also say opposite for man city and barca. Even barca dominance is waning cos they have ageing and poor midfield and attack compared to before.

Spy360:
Realistically, we cannot change the entire team. But if we must start somewhere it should be the defense. Sadly, I believe the club have done their business there after getting Mari and Saliba. We just hope the turn up.

Next is to get a decent DM then a LW according to how Arteta is currently lining up his team. 343. If he is going for a 433, then an AM is needed ahead of the LW.

Will he keep Ceballos, sell Guendouzi? Can't say, but I wish Ceb stays.

In terms of CBs, it's good if they're done buying them sef. Our cb can be groomed esp without injuries to key players in CBs. Chambers, holding Mari and Saliba can do a good job if groomed well. But you see that midfield and attack. Na injection we need to spark live to that place.
Talk your truth, aside Auba, who are you confidently expecting can score a goal wen we need it?

Roland17:
Since guys are mentioning Liverpool up and down. Take a look at the attachment and tell me what you see. What is the difference between both teams? 1 team broke scoring records came close but ultimately failed to win the EPL, the other won the title.

Lol..
Same team that won the title ultimately came 2nd too, just like the Suarez team. The difference between the two was 1 key player left(Suarez) and there was no much squad depth in the former compared to the latter.

Spy360:
They have numbers and experience but not much difference in terms of quality compared to ours.

how is it not much difference? Aside Auba, I'm not sure laca and pepe will see that attack

This wan enter sha

Roland17:
The fact that we can not rely on our defenders to see off a lead except we score 2-3 goals is all the evidence I need to see that department as a priority. We have seen games where we have scored 2-3 goals and still drew/ lost the game but we are finding ways to blame the midfield and attack.

What is the one constant thing from Wenger (end of the era), Ebening, Ljunberb and now Arteta? What is the one thing that each of these coaches have struggled with? I need you to answer this question as that would determine my future responses.

It's defence.
But wenger latter years bad defence with good midfield always yielded 3rd/4th then.
And that's my point, a great midfield and attack will give you top4 certainly but can't give you the league. Let's build on that then we can think of bolstering our defence

Fkhalifa:
We'll stress to score 1 goal a match.

lol

vicenzo:
In theory we have a good front three. Midfield lacks creativity I agree. But who are the creative players in Liverpool midfield?

When Pep bought Sane, he was but a good prospect not a star player.
Pep bought Nolito but he flopped.

Since we have limited budget, I would say we focus more on defense.

Even Klopp bought Matip his first season.

I think this settles it. Theoretically (on paper), they're like MSN. On the pitch and with their attributes, you sef know.

Pep bought sane not as a prospect. He was bought for £37m while nolito(a striker) was bought for £14m. So we know who's a backup and who's a starter.

Liverpool creative players are their attacks MSF and fullbacks. That's 5 altogether.
We who's our own creative players? I guess only saka. Just one, only one.
You reason it na

Fkhalifa:
Let Saka get injury and let me see how Arsenal will score 2 in a game.
When you parade attackers who are scared and poor with the ball. After series of countless possessions upfront, then gbam opposition give our defenders constant pressure and they'll later capitulate.

We only look like a proper attacking team when facing teams like Norwich that gives us much space to operate.

I don't want to think of saka going to injury. To see how our attack was, we were dependent on auba(which isn't bad tho since he's experienced), then we, at a certain was depending on martinelli(our so called nobodyhinho then), now we're depending on saka for creativity. Now It got me pondering, what if saka wasn't this creative this season or martinelli didn't turn up then... How would we have coped?

Akinbahm:
Some fans still believe the attack is as good as MFS and as great as MSN the earlier we realise this PAL is really shit the earlier we start tackling our problems...

That's it bro.. The earlier we know PAL can't take us anywhere yet the better

Roland17:
I respectfully beg to disagree. You are shouldering the responsibility of our defense on midfielders now? What is the primary role of the defenders then? We have to stop pretending like we have the 2nd coming of Campbell/ Keown in their prime at the back. When are we going to call our defenders for what they are? We are choosing to absolve them of their responsibilities despite the glaring evidence!
If we reviewed all the goals we conceded during Ebening and now Arteta's reign how many percentages would be on the defenders versus the midfielders? We were sabotaging our efforts by trying to play from the back and conceding goals. Finishing chances is a lesser worry than teaching players the art of defending a lead. Numerous games where we have scored 2 goals but end up with draws or losses!

Mcgoldrick scored in the 87th, Maupay scored in the 95th minute, Jamie Vardy scored in the 84th minute, Alder scored in the 81st yesterday, what does that tell you? Short of name-calling, Arteta talked about how the performance of the defense affects the mood of the team especially after conceding comical goals like we have.

We need to hold them accountable, these are some of the reasons mediocrity has continued in that department because we are shielding agbayas!

Of course the primary goals of defence is to stifle attack. But attack doesn't just appear in front of defence, it passes through the midfield. There's a saying that the first Line of defence is attack. Once a midfield is completely overrun, there's little the defence can do. Yes our defence is comical and we can never use that kinda defence to carry league, but even our attack and midfield is 5th or 6th it can lead us to.

At the bolded you mentioned, most of the matches are both equalisers, except that of Brighton and Tottenham. What does that tell you, that we're scoring only one goal. Does that tell you the kinda attack we have?. See Leicester for example, we spurned so many chances to make it two that the vardy goal in the 80+ min now seems significant. And that's my point. Not every game I expect us to be scoring 2-3 goals, but any team that wants to rely on a goal lead to win games won't go far, except if you've world class defenders in your team.

I respect your view about our defence, but I want you to look deeply into our attack and see our average goals per match and the goal scorers especially in that attack. Exclude auba goals and let's see where our attack and midfield goals would lead us.

Fkhalifa:
I get your point, and I'm not disputing the problems at the back. But if we can kill games off,put opposition on constant pressure as against the insipid pointless possession, we'll be close if not there yet.

Remember the game at city, we didn't concede till 45th minute, but we never looked like scoring all through, maybe its my eyes, we don't look threatening, you won't see dangerous crosses,shots,defense splitting passes, everything is just pass pass and pass.

See the game at wolves, we defended and got lucky not to concede, but going forward, we were slow,weak and dry, until Laca came on, and immediately we scored, everyone became energized.

If we buy the best defenders, I can assure you if the forwards are not making use of the ball effectively, opposition teams will put constant pressure and the world class defenders will look mediocre also.

We need to fix defense just as the attack. If I were to be coach, I'll focus on attack first as we don't concede or make errors every minute.

This has been our arsenal since. Just pass and pass. No dangerous crosses... Bellerin can't cross to save his life. No pepedem shots, no Alexis type of winger in our team, someone who can beat his man and have a goal. Man city have 2 presently cos Sane is gone, Liverpool have two. Chelsea have 2 in ziyech and pulisic, man u have 1 with martial, but we who do we have?
That's why auba is just the only one scoring, the day he fails to score, we might just be hoping maybe laca or pepe scores at least one that day, if not we're not sure of goal. If our attack are stifled, we should forget about goal in that match cos we know midfield will do Nada, either with goals or creativity? Isn't that worrying?

vicenzo:
When Pep came to City, guess what he did?

His first action was to Change the entire City backline including Hart the goal keeper.

Kolarov, Clichy, Sagna, Zabaleta, Hart, were all axed in one swoop.

Because the foundation of every title winning team is the defense, and at Arsenal, we have ignored defense for so long.

Ferguson broke the EPL transfer record to sign Ferdinand from Leeds to make sure he stays ahead of Arsenal, Klopp broke transfer record on Van Djik, Ole Gunner Splashed big on Maguire.
Arsenal and Arteta needs a top level defender to coordinate our backline. Until we do this, buying any midfielder, or striker will be waste of time.

Kolasinac, Mustafi, Holding, Sokratis Chambers need to go.
They are not good enough or not fit enough.

We must prioritize our defense this transfer window.
If we keep the back line solid. In Auba, Pepe, Laca, Saka, Martinelli, we have enough talent to win the likes of Sheffield consistently. And this should be enough to get us into top 4 again.

while you have facts that when pep came to city, he changed the entire backline. While that is true, that is not the way you painted it. Firstly, they've one of the strongest attack in the league with sterling and aguero. He added sane(attack complete). Midfield is already sorted before he came... Who's better than Silva kdb or fernandinho?. Lol, so why should he buy in midfield? And that's why he have to change the defence back line. Or you think if it wasn't sorted(midfield and attack) he would have gone for defence?

Talking about Liverpool, klopp only bought van dijk and Allison wen midfield and attack is sorted. Aside firmino, salah and mane arrived before van dijk (so attack is complete), midfield he bought wijnaldum before van dijk. So midfield was set, before he got van dijk. All these proved my point, midfield and attack are firstly important as long as defence is manageable. Ours is manageable, but attack is insipid and midfield is worse. Where will the goals and assist come from. Why won't opposition have a go at our defence wen they know we can't bite?

Roland17:
I don’t care who you put in front as attackers/ midfielders, if the defense is abysmal and comical like ours, you can’t win games. You may have to score 3 or more in many instances to guarantee you a win and that is our situation. Our defense is the butt of joke in the EPL.
We desperately need to overhaul our CB roster, it is a joke to put kindly and has caused us so much pain and points. Also we need to buy players for the role they should be playing and stop cutting corners by converting players and having them take roles they are uncomfortable with. There are pieces in the midfield and attack that can keep us competitive if we have a decent defense.

I humbly disagree with this. Check out during our Emery back days, we concede a lot, not because our defence is that bad, but because our midfield is so so bad. Our Midfield doesn't stop the opposition attack before it gets to defence and that's why we're receiving 10+ shots a game. Point is, any team that concedes 10+ shot on target has more to do with midfield and attack compared to defence. Also, how many goals have we conceded since Arteta took over? Our attack is really blunt, none of our player is in double digits aside auba in goals... Isn't this worrying? Assists nko? Worst is midfield...only one goal among all midfielders. Isn't this worrying?

Yesterday, it was all possession without actual breaking of lines. No individual creativity from the attack.
Not that we shouldn't change our defence, but midfield and attack first and you'll see the world of difference it'll make.

Spy360:
Losing to Spurs yesterday is a blessing for me. Since are not going to finish top four this season, so must not finish any where near the Europa places.

That said, it leaves us with less burden as we are no longer tops in England. The earlier fans get used to this the better informed we can be.

Again, we are not going to sign Partey or Upamecano, or any top player. They will be joining the CL sides. The best we can do is to keep our best legs and get some academies up and running.

The likes of Saka, Martinelli, Nelson, AMN, Nketiah, Saliba, etc are our high hopes if they click. They need our full support and prayers and not undue pressure. If they do well, we can make CL next two seasons plus good platform to sign our dream stars. If they fail na another season of of hopes and prayers.

Any fan that assumes Kroenke will bring out 60m to sign any player and pay them big money to compensate not playing in the CL is living in fools paradise.

Yeah.. Inasmuch as I don't expect us to buy a £60m player, but we can get good players on the cheap. There's Brazil league, France league and so on that we can get peak players from. Don't understand what our scouts are doing. Also, plenty players we can put up for sale and buy one or 2 key positions. Someone talked of fekir, I dunno how he was this season but his reviews at Lyon wasn't bad. We need to get shrewd signings and not all these hyped money-boggling signings. Also, I won't lie, I don't have hope in Nelson and willock from the few I've seen them play this season

Hmm...
In as much everyone is shouting cb cb. I still feel cb or our back line can be managed till we sort the pressing issues at hand. Which are good DM, Am and good attack (wingers) before any cb.

Come to think of it, our midfield was sliced open ystdy anytime spurs were attacking, only ceballos was making meaning tackles and interception(which is why we need good technical and robust dm). Our midfield lacked creativity except also for ceballos who tried to string things (tho xhaka gave an important key pass to bellerin which he flounder). Which is why we need good AM. As for attack, the less said about it the better. Pepe who supposed to be our goto guy for creativity in attack had a very sub par day ystdy and have been underwhelming this season. Auba isn't creative neither is laca. That leaves our creativity in attack blunt as hell.
Once midfield and attack are shorn of creativity what do you expect our Cbs to do? Not alienating our cb tho, but the best form of defence is attack, and until we sort that then we can think of solving the cb issues. Let's take a cue out of klopps team. He first sorted attack and midfield, which yielded them top 4. Then he completed it with the defence which now won the league. And I think that's the best way to go about it.

Order of priority(my opinion)

DM
Wingers
AM
Cbs

iamoyindamola:
Bless you for this
Very simple

kokaneprodigy:
I was one of the optimists going into this game iamoyindamola is a witness to that. Saying I am happy with the result and content with mediocrity is a slander on my reputation on here. I am grossly disappointed with the result.

But If you read between the lines of my post you’ll find I’m looking at the team from the perspective of manager influence. If you ask me, Again I’ll say Arteta has improved the team considering what he inherited. Let him get a TW and Preseason cos there’s absolutely nothing much he can do about Kola, Mustafi and Luiz playing right now unless you want him to enter pitch.

I think with the bolded, we would have been on same page. Your previous quote I quoted never talked about the mediocre kinda players we had nor waiting for preseason to fully judge the team. It talked about how we shouldn't be expecting win against Tottenham at their home nor winning every game and also talked about improvement of our play and all(even tho I'm not against the improvement, but my point was, spurs was there for the taking), which I disagreed on.
But no p tho, I've already closed out this season, I'm waiting to see how our tf will be.

kokaneprodigy:
Gbam!!!
Guys are over flogging the result Despite the anticlimax in result. Game play and stats shows we’ve significantly improved from Emery. Gone are the days we were consistently bombarded by shots and getting bossed in midfield. FFS despite MOU’s bus we still had 5 shots on target.
It’s Spurs away and guys making it seem we are expected to win every game is over optimism. Even City with all its form lost to Southampton, Chelsea got trashed by fxking Sheffield.

In as much I understand your points, but mostly your point reeks of mediocrity(sorry to say). Man u beat man city home and away, but we shouldn't expect to beat Tottenham at their home?. I remember the years whereby we beat Tottenham home, away and abroad, but now, we should be thinking otherwise. Our game play have improved, no doubt, but ystdy, Tottenham were there for the taking, I don't see why we should be happy losing wen we can win. What's the difference between yesterday's game and Wenger's latter years whereby we play so good and still lose, yet console ourselves about how good we played. Also, we shouldn't be comparing our results with Chelsea, man city or any other team. That Southampton was strong last week doesn't mean they're not there for the taking this week.

RTSC:
Get pochettino in.
He would be able to tactically maximize the new players coming in.

It's crazy that a manager of that quality is available and Lampard has a job at a major club.

shuoo.
When this one start na. You no talk this one since oo

kokaneprodigy:
I no blame am Arsenal matter fit confuse person

kokaneprodigy:
But u said he should let midfield slide and talk about strikers.

Akinbahm wetin u dey smoke these days. stay one place now.

. Lol.
You sef see am na

Spy360:
So who will play LW? Saka?

sorry, I meant left wing not right wing

Akinbahm:
DM nd 10 role should be prioritize first before any other role bro...

lol, I answered that in relation to our attack you asked. You said, "away from midfielder" that's why I gave my thoughts on attack.
Order of priority
DM
Am(cazorla type)
2 wingers(right wing first)

Akinbahm:
Let this midfield of a thing slide what about our attackers. What's your view?

to be sincere, we need 2 wingers. And an attacking/scoring midfielder.
A good left winger as a starter and a competitive right winger to compete with Pepe. So just 2 wingers (a starter and a sub)

Akinbahm:
I'm not of the opinion of letting mustafi go cause currently our defence is not as poor as media painted it. Our midfield need overhaul nd we can't let go of all of them at once cause it will affect the rhythm of the team...

Lacazette in exchange of Partey is a nice deal.

Grealish is an Epl experienced (it might be another) if Chelsea can't tie Willian down with a new contract I wouldn't mind we utilizing it to get him with a year contract to compete with Pepe cause Nelson is not ready to me...

Saka also need someone to groom him at his position cause I hate seeing Auba operating from the flank.

In summary, we need 2 good signing; a good DM nd a mobile 10 to displace Ozil and probably a Winger who could play both right nd left to compete with Saka nd Pepe...

. You know you've been saying this since. Athletico has 2 strikers already, with their pattern of play, they hardly accommodate 2 strikers, plus a Felix who plays behind striker. So how do you think it'll work out?

Akinbahm:
Guendozi starting ahead of Xhaka back then shows ow he's not good enough for Arsenal standard and even comparing him to Xhaka shows sth is seriously wrong in that midfield...

Bro, sentiments apart is Xhaka a player we can rely on in that midfield to achieve our aim of competing for the league?

In all honesty Xhaka seems to be the one who does this most slowing the attack he's only good with his long range pass and shot nd latter has been minimal for a while so tell me aside those two I listed what's he good at? Slow in making decision, cannot beat his nearest man, cant move ball except side ways pass in this modern day football...

I watched Madrid match tonight Kross at age 30 did sth tonight if it was Xhaka in that position I'm sure he will drop a panick pass to Martinez which could lead to a goal.

What I'm saying is lets face reality and stop worshipping mediocrity...

I think you're getting me wrong. I did not say xhaka is what we need to become competitive again, but as a squad player. Both xhaka and guen are good as sub players, and in terms of who's better between the two, then it's clearly xhaka.
Guen seeing first team shirt is due to sentiment not because he's good.
Most people here acknowledged that

Akinbahm:
up I mean there's someone who plays with agility nd fearless of oppositions without exception.

lol... I guess you're talking about pashun("passion" as they call it).

With all the attributes you mentioned, we saw how our team was getting decimated wen he was a regular 11 unlike now. With all his pashun, he hardly gives key passes, he slows down attack and draws fouls unnecessarily, thereby allowing opposition team to regroup, he's always out of position which mostly affects the team structure.

He's best as squad player presently, and arsenal ought not to have such a player as first team, wen he's not fabregas

Akinbahm:
Xhaka kokane has been packaging all this while he should highlight five matches he has bailed us out with his individual brilliance...

xhaka doesn't need to bail us out. He's a midfielder orchestrating play, which he's been doing well now. People to bail us out ought to be our strikers and wingers (attackers), or attacking midfielder(sometimes). It's not the work of cm or DM to bail someone(team) out, even tho I'm not against it.....

So I think the question is unfair on xhaka