This has to be fake
Partey launched 11 throws into the box on Wednesday. Apparently that is some sort of record.
I prefer teams that play but I am not a purist. I think you hurt teams in the ways that are available for you to hurt them. I think it was Paisley who said something along the lines of it’s not about a short ball or long ball, but the right ball when addressing this idea, and it was one of the things I loved about Luis Enrique’s version of Barca. They retained the ability to pass you off the pitch but would go long quickly if there was room over the top to do it. I find it incredibly funny that this Arsenal side could go from a reasonable comparison to that Barca side to this, and in such a short amount of time without even really changing their personnel.
Yeah but by number 5 they were floating in like they were on a balloon and were struggling to reach the penalty spot. This is another example of Arteta being a one trick pony he had decided this was the plan and it was been stuck too very much like the corner routine.
Thing is I only remember Bournemouth doing it twice and they scored from one. You want teams to guess what you’ll do.
To be fair, he might still win trophies.
With Spain.
Still can’t quite fathom this guy turning us down and then going to Arsenal a year later.
I think Arsenal wanted him last summer but couldnt get him so got Merino instead. We then tried for Zubi later in the window when it looked like he was willing to leave after all. This summer we’ve probably decided not to go for him, either because we now have Ryan doing that role or because of the player/ agents behaviour putting them on our blacklist.
Are they going for a 4-6-0 line up next year?
Arteta? That adventurous?
Nah.
How about 7-3-0?
Another midfielder. Another CB who is played at FB. And another summer of explaining why he cannot find/does not need to add a forward.
Gets a big fat meeeeh from me, was never that fussed about us signing him as I didn’t think he looked that good and his stats were distinctly average, think we dodged a bullet by saving the cash and playing Grav instead like we did.
You can see why Arsenal like him. Rice was effective when moved forward into the 8 when his primary role is to defend high up the pitch and allow Arsenal to win the ball back quickly. But that move started when he had Jorginho behind him who had a lot of the responsibility to dictate the play after they won it back. With Partey behind him Rice felt like he was being misused. Zubi is a like a younger, fitter Jorginho so maybe this is a signal of them wanting to get back to the version of themselves they were 12 months ago.
Im sure they’ve got great intel on him given how long they’ve been interested and with Merino already on board, but my main concern over him is he is going to be 27 this season. He has been on the radar of top clubs for 5 or 6 years and stayed put throughout. And this was not an honourable “I want to try to win things with my hometown club” because with all due respect to Sociedad that has never really been on the cards for them. So he’s spent his prime development years turning down challenges and opportunity for growth for the comfort of less stakes football at somewhere where he’s familiar. The episode with Liverpoool last year really highlight that. Is that whose shoulders you want to put the pressure of reviving your old style of play?
Not that fussed on Zubimendi joining arsenal.
Good player , perhaps but Grav and Macallister provide enough in the double pivot. No point getting him in for bench strength when we can get younger understudies by selling fringe players like Morton and still keep Endo for a further year in the double pivot.
We should at this point be looking at buying some affordable prospects like how Brighton and Bournemouth go about it.
There will be enough game time considering the increased number of games we play.
People in the 20-22 age bracket.
Keep Endo there for the coming season.
Arse can have all the bench strength and the bloated midfield they want in their 4-5-1 (4-6-0) formations. Doesnt matter one bit. They’ll still be in this position at the same stage next season moaning about what ifs.
I hope Zubimendi likes the mountains of London. Prick.
Assume hes not watched Arsenal this year.
Hate to say it , but London does hold a certain allure for certain footballers over residing in the suburban areas where the Liverpool / Manchester club players seem to prefer.
Remember Sanchez rejecting us for Arsenal because he was intent to stay in London.
Can’t see why. Maybe it’s the night life.