Come on. Bit of a slump. Still top of the league, still a bit of cushion, still overperforming (most?) expectations
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More a slip than a slump.
Still it doesn’t feel good. Villa were definitely for the taking and we fluffed it.
He’s been given nothing in terms of backing, he’s working with what’s been left behind and no other coach (Klopp included), would have us in the position we’re in now. The football hasn’t always been thrilling but he’s getting the results keeping us top. Honeymoon still on for me.
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Just on the tactical side when we are passing it around our defenders.
We tend to move the ball slowly which allows their attacking players to jog to the covering positions, for me if you pass it quickly one and two touch their players have to do more sprints to stay in shape.
I see it regularly that the pass is going to Ibou from Virg and he holds the ball and delays it, rather than playing it crisply and early and their guy is already there, in front of Ibou blocking the passing lanes.
I just can’t fathom how delaying the pass makes them work harder?
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If he was he’d be posting on TAN rather than standing on the sideline
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Think it’s to take time out of the game. It happens enough times that it looks like it’s a deliberate ploy. Previously we’ve been able to counteract any kind of pressure by having midfield to stay available either on the sides or Grav coming in and quickly turning past marker, but the players look a bit tired and it was a tough away match to a bona fide CL team. A lot of coaches have sort of system up this pattern of play. And Emery is really one of the top in the business, so I did expect today to be a tough one.
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The issue is that our players are already stood in position to receive the ball and we still slow it down when a quick pass would make the opposition have to run more.
Just watch how many times we play across the back and delay a pass that goes to the obvious player but IMO too slowly.
We extended our lead to 8 points. Was it more of a point gained, or two points lost? Time will tell.
Slot is exceeding expectations. At the start of the season most all of us would have settled for top four, as the new man needed to come in and get to grips with it.
As it happens he has been brilliant, and we are top of the league and still firm favorites for the title, and we are going well in the CL too.
Villa, Man City and Newcastle is a tough run. Let’s see how Arsenal navigate some tough fixtures coming up too - they have an easy one against West Ham at the weekend, but tougher tests are coming.
I think we need a bit of calm. It is very rare that a title win is a procession. We are still in the box seat.
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Has anyone asked him why he thinks the same defence (+ midfield stability) from earlier in the season until December time when we had the best defence statistically of any side in Europe’s top 7 leagues, is suddenly conceding goals at will if he doesn’t think fatigue is playing a part?
Abso-fucking-lutely.
I’m overjoyed to be where we are right now. That said, after the near misses going back even before Klopp, and as likely the last chance of a second PL title for several of this group, I’m desperate for us to not let this opportunity pass. This team deserve more than just the one PL title and supporters deserve more than just the COVID era title and to be able to send some of these boys off with a proper celebration in May.
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We will do it! YNWA
Arsenal only drew with Villa in January, at the Emirates, after being 2-0 up. That was two points lost; I’d say our draw last night was a point gained, seeing that we were trailing at one point.
My concern with Arne is his over-reliance on his core players. The midfielders, in particular, look absolutely knackered. He needs to have more faith in the “second tier” of players, even if just for the last half hour or so of games.
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Needs to sign a couple if he’s not happy with Elliot or Endo having more minutes.
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His refusal to rotate might end up costing us the league.
This has been a running theme - he was asked about it even before the season started and I’m certain that there have been discussions about rotating the team with his staff and perhaps Klopp. Still, he didn’t do it when he ought to and now it’s starting to take its toll.
He’s done great until now but it’s starting to look that his persistence with the same players has undermined all his good work.
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Has? Last time I checked, we were eight points clear at the top of the league.
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It’s natural enough though when you think about it. None of these players are ‘his’. He inherited a strong squad of players and has improved many of them. Understandable that there will be some in squad that he just doesn’t fancy.
It may be natural, but it isn’t smart. It’s not as if these players are not fit to be at Liverpool.
To be honest, there are times when I look at those players and ask myself “how many of these would get into Arsenal’s starting XI, let alone that of Real Madrid”. I think that this squad is, on average, weaker than team’s current position suggests and that position is down to Slot, in my opinion.
I do agree that players like Gravenberch should have been rotated more but I think that a slump in performances of some of these players coincides with opposition managers actually figuring out what makes Slot’s teams tick and doing their best to nullify those threats, especially in team’s build-up phase.
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Or, now and then, miss a man out.
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Yes, I don’t understand the principle, if you miss a man out or switch play, the defensive shape of the opposition has to cover more distance and with speed to respond, therefore tiring them out.