₦airaland Forum

MSGAMBLE9:
I laughed when I see people called out Zubi, I remember Rodri faced the same when he came in vis-a-vis Toure... Even with those 2 you mentioned Rice has never had the numbers he is having now with Zubi, 2nd only behind Bruno in chances created in EPL despite Zubi allegedly limiting him 🤣🤣🤣🤣, that he (Rice) is the odd favourite now for PFA Award and 4th in Balloon d'Or power ranking...

When it's comes to his (Zubi) job as a DM, he's leading the League in Interceptions and second ball, he even has more successful long passes than all our midfielders combined despite allegedly playing safe 🤣🤣🤣...

His tactical knowledge is acknowledged and captured better in this link...

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c2lr9rp9q12o

Right now, Zubi doesn't play as a DM in our system. Whenever we have possession, Zubi pushes higher and occupies the attacking zones Rice previously occupied, particularly last season. It is the reason he is also scoring a lot of goals. Without possession, Rice is sitting and rotates around Zubi's triangle whenever we don't have the ball. Zubi is extremely jittery with the ball under pressure, he struggles with making good decisions and prefers to keep things simple.

Rice being odds favorite for the PFA has nothing to do with Zubi, if anything it shows how much of Zubi's deficiency Rice covers. Rice has shown tremendous progress since he joined Arsenal and he is such a versatile player. Have you watched our positioning in the final 3rds of our attack? Right now, Rice is central to Arteta's tactics. After last season, we all agreed we needed to see Rice in those attacking zones more but that hasn't been the case this season because we have to accomodate Zubi. Zubi can't play the lone 6.

When we got Zubi, I thought we were getting a Deep-Lying (DLP) midfielder who positions at the 6 and helps us build from the back but that hasn't been the case. Zubi can't even receive the ball from the Raya to help us build the attack. Rather, we see players like Odegaard/ Eze come deep to build. In the absence of these players, you will notice Raya uses the width of the backline to restart possession because Zubi isn't reliable. We have seen him lose possession over and over again, some have cost us goals and nearly did again yesterday. My expectation was a player who can be incisive with his passing but we are seeing more lateral, back and safe passes from him.

Another game where Raya was magical and guaranteed us the W.

iamoyindamola:
Olise have always been like this, he's unstoppable
The guy was a menace in the Paris Olympics, this WC go bloody well
If agbaya Descamps can do away with Konaté and upamechanic they have a huge chance

Without both disasters we have M. Lacroix left to partner Saliba. Fofana isn’t an option sef.

raumdeuter:
Omoh he has become a terror to the kingdom of opposition

Musiala has been off form since the recurring injuries

I will give Musiala a break, he has been out for a while. Olise my goodness is playing in his own world. He is so fearless, decisive and unpredictable with the ball.

What player M. Olise has become.

Just get the W

iamoyindamola:
Rice in the left back position to accommodate calafiori long passes

I don’t like it. It makes absolutely no sense for me. Calafiori inverting means Rice had to cover the left side while Zubi continues to push forward.

I don’t like how we have continued to sacrifice Rice’s attacking quality to accommodate Zubi’s defensive frailties. Zubi is the one that is supposed to provide that cover if Arteta is choosing to invert his LB, but we all know he is horrible under pressure.

Gyokeres offside.

Zubi scores.. Checking Gykores for offside

Looks off

Odegaard has been useless, especially with these back and lateral passes. Alaye progress ball!!!

Sporting have started the second half strong

iamoyindamola:
Wanted to say this
We are forcing madueke wing, trossard is dead in this game
Gyokeres is trying to get in place but no forward passes

The constant search for width, particularly with Madueke means there is so much space between our attackers.

Can we try to attack from the middle for once at least?

We are constantly looking for width and crosses.. We can mix it up a little bit.

Diomande's shot goes wide. That should be their 1st shot I think..

Just look at Zubi..

Nearly repeated the same mistake he is now renowned for.

I am sorry, there is absolutely no way this guy is a Partey upgrade.

Sporting trying to stay intense even without the ball. We have not done much with the amount of possession we have held.

Good holdup play Gykores

White dey mad gan

Back to rubbish slow build up and sideways passing.

Una dey mad!

White did not see that pass again. God abeg oh!

Saliba is a problem...

Odegaard loses possession. It has been a cagey match so far. We are building faster than I have seen in a while but haven't been decisive with our final 3rd passing.

FK Arsenal

iamoyindamola:
This white is an ase

As in ehn! His regression is so steep.

I just hope Timber doesn't become another Tomiyasu.

Good player (RB again) but can't stay healthy.

That was a good chance. The cross was curling into the net but hit the post and Odegaard's shot goes wide.

Good effort

Cornerkick Arsenal

This Timber groin injury is beginning to bother me.

Ibime:
Victor Ighalo hailing his "81 year old mother"

And he's claiming 36 years old, meaning she "born" him at 45

For information only

Odion Ighalo shared a touching moment with his mother, who recalled how she went from market to market searching for boots to fit his feet. She added that now is her time to enjoy the fruits of her sacrifice. pic.twitter.com/HUSMIiSWBM

— 𝐀𝐬𝐚𝐤𝐲𝐆𝐑𝐍 (@AsakyGRN) April 3, 2026

Wahala no dey finish..

Politano scores..Make I just go rest.

S. Gimenez is back from injury as he replaces Fullkrug. Allegri still keeping Puli and Leao on the bench.

Come on ref you have to protect Magic Mike there

Conte is animated as always