***The Official Arsenal Gunners" Thread***

[eyeamg0dly]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal Gunners" Thread***

i only got to see the second half, but man they were playing like they were late last season. giving the ball away and playing like they don't even care. so many sloppy passes by everyone and nobody wanting to get back on defense. if anything we needed someone out there putting their boot up the arses of our midfielders.

[Perceptor]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal Gunners" Thread***

Even against a weakened Dortmund, were you surprised? We knew they'd come at us like they did, and always will under Klopp, and I think 8 times out of 10 we won't be able to hand it, and completely lose our heads.



I wanted a better result, and I was so pumped for this game, but the outcome wasn't too surprising.



And I agree the 4-1-4-1 is not working at all. Maybe we'll see something different on Saturday.

Surprised? No and it's unfortunate that I'm not surprised. I just thought we'd see something more from them especially since they won there last season.

I'd like to see 4-2-3-1 with Flamini and Rambo in the middle and Ox on the wing with Sanchez. Put Ozil in the middle with Welbeck up front. Flamini isn't our long term solution but he offers more than Arteta in terms of defending and allowing Ramsey to drive forward

[Krebstar]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal Gunners" Thread***

i only got to see the second half, but man they were playing like they were late last season. giving the ball away and playing like they don't even care. so many sloppy passes by everyone and nobody wanting to get back on defense. if anything we needed someone out there putting their boot up the arses of our midfielders.

It didn't help that we played City on Saturday, in a very physically demanding game against a team that was pressing us. So, of course we send out basically the same team to play this game.

There should've been rotation. Why did we not utilize Campbell or Ox from the start? We knew they'd press and leave tons of space for us.

When we finally have depth in positions, we don't even use it.

[~LiverpoolRed~]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal Gunners" Thread***

When we finally have depth in positions, we don't even use it.

Podolski has played 26 minutes total in 4 games he's been available. Why doesn't he play?

[Krebstar]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal Gunners" Thread***

Podolski has played 26 minutes total in 4 games he's been available. Why doesn't he play?

Arsene clearly doesn't trust him at this point. He certainly is laughable defensively, which is why he doesn't start, but he's still the best pure finisher in the entire squad.

I don't know if he should be starting, but he should come on more at 60 minutes than 75 or 80, or whenever he came on last night.

Also, we refused to sell Campbell, yet still haven't given him a chance to show what he can do. Last night, against a team who presses, would've been a great chance for him to use his pace.

[OneDrop]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal Gunners" Thread***

Arsene clearly doesn't trust him at this point. He certainly is laughable defensively, which is why he doesn't start, but he's still the best pure finisher in the entire squad.

And finishing is like the only thing he can do. Doesn't bring anything else to the table. When you field him there's a 50% chance he does **** all.

[Rhys1218]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal Gunners" Thread***

I really am annoyed at the fact we didn't sign a backup defender or a DM. This squad really lacks depth at the moment. Once Theo is fit we must play him and Sanchez with Ozil in the middle, and Rambo and Wilshere behind. But that probably won't happen, so frustrating that we don't have a proper defensive midfielder! As much as I like Arteta, he doesn't bring much to the team. Just a shame that Wenger seems a bit too stubborn sometimes, I don't wanna slag him off but it just seems we don't adapt as fast as other top teams might do.

[cdawg44]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal Gunners" Thread***

Podolski has played 26 minutes total in 4 games he's been available. Why doesn't he play?

Been busy this week, but an absolutely disgraceful performance. If Dortmund had and Reus and their first XI they would have smashed us by 4 or 5.

LR Podolski is hard to put in our line up. If he could play through the middle consistently, he'd be there now, but he just can't. He has to play down the left side and cut in to get goals. But guess where most counter attacks are targeted against us?? Down the left side mate especially when the Nacho man is on the left side too. He has zero pace to prevent getting abused by pacy RW and RM. See what Navas did to him all day last Saturday and what Lukaku does to him every time we play Everton. Roberto Martinez takes Lukaku out of the number 9 position and puts him on the right and just let's him go to town. You add in Lukas' absolute ****e defending and we will get smashed to pieces. Plus Podolski focuses better with a defined role in a much more rigid system like DFB had around 2008-2010. When he has that sort of system, he's lethal and World Class. When you throw him into a side like Arsenal or what the German National Team is doing now with versatile guys that interchange roles and positions constantly throughout the match, you see he struggles greatly.

When you have no balance to your midfield with zero physical presence, you have no chance against tactically disciplined sides. Until we buy a DM we are just gonna keep getting embarrassed against these squads. Fernandinho did it masterfully for City in their last two games . He was just a pest that broke up play when we went for it and when Bayern was trying to play their game. It doesn't look like much, but it matters and takes a lot of pressure off and can annoy and put off opposing teams.

[Perceptor]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal Gunners" Thread***

Yeah so Ozil plays in the middle and he gets a goal and assist....

[cdawg44]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal Gunners" Thread***

Don't understand why people didn't think a lot of his issues were caused by him being out of position. You are asking someone with zero pace to play out wide. SMDH

[clipperfan811]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal Gunners" Thread***

Great to see the Gunners playing like this, especially after that Dortmund game. I hope this really kick starts Ozil's season!

[OneDrop]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal Gunners" Thread***

Don't understand why people didn't think a lot of his issues were caused by him being out of position. You are asking someone with zero pace to play out wide. SMDH

Zero pace? He clocked 32 k/ph.

[rsnomar05]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal Gunners" Thread***

On the negative side, we almost gave up a goal from a set piece again.

Everything else has been positive though, and what a rebound from the Dortmund match! Playing Ozil in the middle has done exactly what many of us thought it would. Let's hope he stays there.

[Suntan Superman]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal Gunners" Thread***

Zero pace? He clocked 32 k/ph.

speed is just one aspect of pace.

[Perceptor]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal Gunners" Thread***

The only other "negative" was Ramsey. He gave the ball away a lot and for me looked tired. I think he needs a good rest before the Spurs game. Other than that it was a good performance after a poor start. First half definitely one of the best so far. Hope this kickstarts our season