Dokaka
AM's resident Hammer
I think it's safe to say that modern Wengerball simply doesn't work without a 3 man midfield with a proper anchor. If Elneny is the best you got for that, so be it. Did a good job yesterday.
I think it's safe to say that modern Wengerball simply doesn't work without a 3 man midfield with a proper anchor. If Elneny is the best you got for that, so be it. Did a good job yesterday.
Yes we were lucky. But good teams make their own luck. So have any problems with what he said.Straight after the match he said something like "Arsenal were a bit lucky, but who cares...they're in another final"
Don't see the issue there tbh
It seemed like we went 4 - 3 -3, but then Elneny dropped into the back 4 to transition into midfield. Once the ball was in midfield he moved into midfield. If we lost the ball he either dropped into the back four or stayed where he was depending on where Hazard was.
It also meant that Özil stayed up front with Lacazette on occasion. The most fluid I have seen us in a long time.
Good thoughts.
These points are really valid, but based on our squad I still think Wenger got his lineup wrong.
Elneny did a decent job as the holding midfielder, but he's still not a good tackler, his ball control is mediocre and his range of passing isn't that good.
Based on our formation and our ability to go from a 433 to 343 to 352 during a match, then Xhaka would be the ideal person to play as the holding midfielder.
Xhaka always gets in trouble when he gets caught too far up the field and has to track back. So we should put him in a position where he can sit back defensively and use his passing range. We should also be working with him defensively so that he can cover for Mustafi or Kos when they attack. He's a better tackler, passer and has better technique than Elneny. Elneny runs more than Xhaka, but he isn't fast. Ramsey runs more, is faster, and better defensively than Elneny.
If we replace Elneny with Xhaka at DM, then Ramsey will replace Xhaka at CM. Xhaka scored a big goal against Chelsea when he attacked the box, but Ramsey is still much better than Xhaka in the box.
Right now Xhaka just looks like a player that has been poorly coached this season without a clear objective when he steps on the pitch.
If we worked with Xhaka and tried to play him similarly to how Man City uses Fernandinho then we could have a front six of Xhaka, Ramsey, Wilshere, Özil, Laca/PEA and Mkhi. And we could easily switch between 433, 343, and 352 during matches.
Against Chelsea, it literally took us until halftime to get our tactics right, and we were greatly aided by Willian's injury and Barkley doing nothing all match.
Our tactics are much better now, but our starting 11 can still get better.
See the thing is while your right on both elneny and aThese points are really valid, but based on our squad I still think Wenger got his lineup wrong.
Elneny did a decent job as the holding midfielder, but he's still not a good tackler, his ball control is mediocre and his range of passing isn't that good.
Based on our formation and our ability to go from a 433 to 343 to 352 during a match, then Xhaka would be the ideal person to play as the holding midfielder.
Xhaka always gets in trouble when he gets caught too far up the field and has to track back. So we should put him in a position where he can sit back defensively and use his passing range. We should also be working with him defensively so that he can cover for Mustafi or Kos when they attack. He's a better tackler, passer and has better technique than Elneny. Elneny runs more than Xhaka, but he isn't fast. Ramsey runs more, is faster, and better defensively than Elneny.
If we replace Elneny with Xhaka at DM, then Ramsey will replace Xhaka at CM. Xhaka scored a big goal against Chelsea when he attacked the box, but Ramsey is still much better than Xhaka in the box.
Right now Xhaka just looks like a player that has been poorly coached this season without a clear objective when he steps on the pitch.
If we worked with Xhaka and tried to play him similarly to how Man City uses Fernandinho then we could have a front six of Xhaka, Ramsey, Wilshere, Özil, Laca/PEA and Mkhi. And we could easily switch between 433, 343, and 352 during matches.
Against Chelsea, it literally took us until halftime to get our tactics right, and we were greatly aided by Willian's injury and Barkley doing nothing all match.
Our tactics are much better now, but our starting 11 can still get better.
So the refs didn't even use VAR last night, will it be in the final?
Not sure where to post this but I realised something.
City get 12 days rest for the final whereas we get only 70 hours (due to Europa) . And then we play them again 4 days later in the premier league.
How is that fair?
It will be 6, 7 or 8 days, as we will be playing in the FA Cup 5th round the weekend before.Not sure where to post this but I realised something.
City get 12 days rest for the final whereas we get only 70 hours (due to Europa) . And then we play them again 4 days later in the premier league.
How is that fair?
i think people just dont like the guy for whatever reason. maybe its his hair. or because he came cheap.Theres a part of the game that really summed up what he was instructed to do in the second half if someone could maybe make a short clip of it.
We have a period of sustained possession and at 63.56 Elneny sums up what has been wrong with this club for so long. We get caught on the break because we are never aware of where we should be positioned when we have possession of the ball.
Koscielny has the ball and plays it to Bellerin. He then makes a run forward. At this point Hazard is on the touchline. As soon as the pass is made, you see a light bulb turn on in Elneny's head. He literally sprints over off screen. Koscielny loses the ball and he is the furthest person forward at this point. What usually happens is the other team play a ball down the line or over the top and usually break. However, Elneny is already in front of Hazard and wins the ball for us straight away.
He may not have the physical attributes at this time, but that is a really high level of football intelligence. We are such a possession orientated team, it is really good to have someone who is thinking about what happens if we lose the ball.
Still a fair amount of time more. But as has been mentioned, that is what Europa gets you.It will be 6, 7 or 8 days, as we will be playing in the FA Cup 5th round the weekend before.
Play the first teamers in the away leg and finish them off in the first Ostersund off in the first leg itself. Arsenal play Sp**s on 10th and it is an early kickoff. Ostersund away is on 15th.Still a fair amount of time more. But as has been mentioned, that is what Europa gets you.