RacingPhoton
Established Member
Both Partey and Gabriel did not have clear things they could have done to save it. As I said, Tielemans was not the only passing channel. If he covered Tielemans, the other passing channel was open.He didn't blame Partey. He was, – and I paraphrase – saying: 'if you want someone to blame then blame Partey.
I backed that up by saying that in a perfect world you would blame Partey for no closing down Tielemans, after all he almost did block the pass.
I know everyone hates Granit but blaming him for getting outpaced is new territory. If we're blaming anyone, like you said, it's Arteta for combining a slow player with a highline.
Or Partey for not closing down Tielemans
Or Gabriel for not leaving Under to Leno and cutting off Vardy.
Similarly Gabriel could have stayed with Vardy and given a free pass to Under or followed Under. Nothing wrong in either decisions. In the end it's a 2 on 1 and it was always going to be difficult no matter who it was.
On the other hand, Xhaka had one job and he did not do it well. You could blame Arteta for playing him there. But in the perspective of the match, it was Xhaka's lack of pace and awareness that resulted in the goal. This is one of his weaknesses we have been pointing out. His lack of pace makes him unsuitable for premier league and teams will target him.