Oh I understand. We looked clueless. So did Chelsea yet we helped them more than they helped us. 
Another shite weekend of football (Mancs and Arse won 
). I need this 2 weeks break.
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Seems to me its a stat pulled to cover the lack of real assists or goals.
No opinion on that, as I’d have to go back and check each and every one. But I do think that some of them should have been finished, and would have been assists if so.
I think that’s a part we see differently.
I’ll keep believing in his potential, just way too soon to write off.
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I agree its too soon to write off.
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Wirtz needs to pull his socks up, quickly!
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Against Palace I was annoyed, today I’m pretty much resigned to the fact that it will probably be a transitional season. Even the wins felt lucky and we never looked 100% convincing.
Also our attacking depth is a big problem, 200m on two strikers and no actual backup wingers (Rio and Chiesa play 5 mins per game when they’re lucky).
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Could not even begin to tell you how frustrated I was when Isak, rather than Gakpo, got the hook. When I heard the away fans singing Hugo’s song, I thought he would be coming on for Gakpo. I was complaining to my dad that I did not understand the sub.
Later, I was hoping that Fede would come on to replace Gakpo but that did not happen…and when I realised that Slot has used all 5 subs, I just sank into my sofa and fumed.
Anyways, all is in the past now. Good time for a break from PL, and get my patience back for our newly assembled team.
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Seriously, why does Slot find it so difficult to make decisions to shut the game down. Palace last week, minutes to go, just take the point. The same this week and it’s not difficult. Bring Gomez on and put five in midfield for the last few minutes. It doesn’t always have to be like a fucking basketball game. Just take the point.
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But isn’t that we keep on criticizing Arsenal for, that rather than go for the win, they sat back and gladly take the point?
I knew Chelsea would raise their game. If they played like that all season they would be top of the league. The only thing that is stopping them from being title challengers is consistency.
Another loss to a last ditch goal leaves us frustrated as fans, but it’s time to take a deep breath and step back to see what’s what.
We are one point off top spot. We all know the score, the performance level has been below what we expect. The key to fighting all the way for the title will be to not slip too far off while we are playing our way into form.
On that last part, there were some decent things in the second half but not enough.
I’m making this point a lot now, but it is so clear to me that the system is wrong. We are playing with two wingers but we do not have elite wingers. I am advocating for a midfield diamond or some sort of 4222.
Salah should not be guaranteed a start, much less 90 mins week in week out. Persist with Wirtz as he will come good. His pass for Mo as soon as he came on was exquisite. Salah missed an easy chance. Ugh.
The break has come at a good time. Regroup, think about what we are doing, and go again. We might yet end the season with a big prize or two. Improvement is needed. Keep the faith.
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I would say, go for the win, if we weren’t as leaky as a colander in defence. But we are incredibly vulnerable to the counter attack at the moment. So no, I say shut the game down and take the point.
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Really? Caicedo aside, I thought they were crap
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They were there for the taking but we faffed about and let them off the hook, Neville kept mentioning they had 6 defenders out injured and we would win. We only got 3 CBS and two are injury prone.
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I thought they contested every ball and were all over us like a rash. Their passing was a bit sharper than ours too. They were physical as well, although I did not like their diving every time we touched them.
We had our chances, but that was a very difficult game for us.
I remain hopeful for the season ahead. We have so much quality that at some point we are going to click. I would change the system but even if Slot has another solution to the one I am suggesting, I know that with training and hard work we will see improvement.
The break has come at a good time since we are in a bit of a funk. Three losses, one CL, is poor, and it needs a little rethink.
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I think everyone was scared to engage…as the plastics feigned foul and injury at every chance…but someone could’ve helped Robbo…thats how we should or used to play…RB/LB send the ball down the wing to the striker…mid should help cover…but we struggle on that system now…
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Disappointing performance against a weak Chavs side. They have some good players but considering the players missing we should surely have done better.
Poor first half, individually and collectively. They did nothing of note but we gifted them a goal. Irgun and Marma made a mess in possession, after the got hr ball, Macca overcommitted in midfield, Grav went AWOL and Virgil backed off… 1-0. Frustrating.
Second half (much) better. We created some good chances and got a (lucky) equalizer. I thought we would push on from there but we ran out of steam. Actually they looked more dangerous the last ten minutes and got their winner.
Slot seems to have (temporarily) lost the plot. I thought the in game management was a bit odd. His subs didn’t really work, especially the Endo one. I was asking for Chiesa to come in for Cody as he was clearly tiring. Endo on didn’t make much sense. I also don’t get why Kerkez was hooked for Robbo, when he had quite a solid game for once.
I don’t think we have to be too negative. The season is clearly in the early stages and we can still salvage it, we just need to get back in form. I personally think we need to to get Macca back in his prime 24/25 form, that would instantly improve the midfield.
Problem is so many of the players who evidently could do with a period without football will be again busting their gut for international teams. I do think the likes of Wirtz probably could do with it but then again that German media is going be full on garbage for his 2 weeks.
I do think after last week I think playing for the draw would have been the best bet it would have left us level and something to build on.
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If ever a defeat was on the manager this was it, 100%
Pre-game I, along with the vast majority of the fanbase, wanted to see a number of changes made to the starting 11 as it was clear we were carrying regular starters who were turning in one poor performance after another.
Konate, MacAllister, Salah, Gakpo for starters. Bradley and Kerkez could have no complaints either.
But what we got was more of the same, and unfortunately this has become the norm for a manager who is either stubborn or vindictive. Neither is a good trait.
If I could sit down with Slot tonight there are a number of questions I’d put to him.
- How did we end up with our 2 best midfielders playing in the back 4 while Joe Gomez sat on the bench the whole game?
- Konate has been absolutely abysmal the last 2 games but played 74 and 90 minutes, yet today when he was somewhat improved he gets hooked 10 minutes into the 2nd half so we can move a gifted, progressive MF into central defence?
- How did Salah, MacAllister and Gakpo last the whole game when all 3 of them were utter garbage again?
- Why were we so inept and unable to create decent chances against a severely depleted team with no fit CB’s?
- What is the point of Gomez, Endo and Chiesa even being at the club?
- Is it acceptable for this team to have played turgid, uninspiring football for over 7 months now?
The time for excuses has passed, we are lacking composure on the ball, we are still incredibly profligate in front of goal and porous at the back. We can’t control a game or see one out and there is no discernible style of play.
This is a massive problem for the manager now and he has shown no indication he will find the answers.
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This team and their manager have a lot of credit in the bank let’s give them time to sort it all, we have been spoilt last year when we would have been happy to finish in the champions league spot but we did better than that and not only won it but started the new season by winning the first 5 games. We are still in a good position and Arse will be the ones feeling the pressure of leading the table.
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