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Country: Nigeria
Player:Saliba
The only positive to this result is that it has massively increased Watford's likelihood of relegation.
Imagine this team without Auba converting 30% of our scrappy chances ffs
No matter who plays in defence, we look highly vulnerable in a back 4, often getting carved open on counterattacks against any opposition. Many Emery games, the Ljungberg games and some Arteta games before lockdown show that. Our defenders are simply not good enough, including Holding.
Passing the ball around without much penetration is not new or surprising to us. Happened plenty of times under Wenger. Today it felt more like we had a lot of the ball because Villa let us have it. Much like we let City have it on Saturday.
Many elite teams like Bayern, Liverpool and Real don’t rely on a core creative force, but instead have attackers with excellent vision who can both score and create. Benzema, Firmino and Lewandowski flanked by pacey wingers with great passing is about as simple and devastating as you can get.
Our front 3 are quite poor passers of the ball and technically average outside the box. It makes it difficult for us to keep possession high up the pitch. What they (by they I mean Auba) excel at is putting the ball in the net when spoon fed, which I guess is why Özil’s back on everyone’s lips.
If Arteta played with two proper widemen though e.g Pepe right, Saka left and Ceballos was on it we’d create **** loads more chances. Really simple. It would also allow our fullbacks to make more underlapping runs inside and give us additional thrust in midfield.
For whatever reason though he only ever seems to start one of Pepe, Saka, Nelson on the wing at a given time. It’s needlessly conservative imo.
Lacazette is our best creative threat at the minute which isn’t really good enough. I feel we look way worse when it’s Nketiah, Auba and a winger.
All our problems imo stem from midfield. No creativity or threat in behind means you can press us high and eventually turn the ball over.
Many elite teams like Bayern, Liverpool and Real don’t rely on a core creative force, but instead have attackers with excellent vision who can both score and create. Benzema, Firmino and Lewandowski flanked by pacey wingers with great passing is about as simple and devastating as you can get.
Our front 3 are quite poor passers of the ball and technically average outside the box. It makes it difficult for us to keep possession high up the pitch. What they (by they I mean Auba) excel at is putting the ball in the net when spoon fed, which I guess is why Özil’s back on everyone’s lips.
If Arteta played with two proper widemen though e.g Pepe right, Saka left and Ceballos was on it we’d create **** loads more chances. Really simple. It would also allow our fullbacks to make more underlapping runs inside and give us additional thrust in midfield.
For whatever reason though he only ever seems to start one of Pepe, Saka, Nelson on the wing at a given time. It’s needlessly conservative imo.
If only we had an elite chance creator...
Arsenal Board
This old chestnut. 18 year old Saka has more assists in his debut season than Özil in 3 years
Özil started 10 games under Arteta and produced the whopping 1,43 xA (0,14 per a game).If only we had an elite chance creator...
Arsenal Board
Özil started 10 games under Arteta and produced the whopping 1,43 xA (0,14 per a game).
"Elite chance creator"
We need at least 2 creative midfielders plus Smith-Rowe as much you love Özil but he not taking us to another level again he not going have 15 assists a season.
No, but he would have been of use yesterday. There was no one in the hole behind our strikers for the whole game. Özil would have loved to tuck into those spaces. Like with Xhaka in our midfield its a matter of the right type of player first, quality second.
He definitely would be useful but we can't keep saying he could when neither the manager or club trust him we need replacement and quickNo, but he would have been of use yesterday. There was no one in the hole behind our strikers for the whole game. Özil would have loved to tuck into those spaces. Like with Xhaka in our midfield its a matter of the right type of player first, quality second.
Sokratis can't play form the back and he dreadful under pressure we using Tierney but he needed some restThat was a pretty disappointing team selection aswell I thought, I've liked Torreira for a while but it really is time for him to move on now I'd say. Sead is dreadful at everything, why does he keep getting the nod over a proper CB like Sokratis for example aswell?
We've still got to get rid of Sead without a doubt though.Sokratis can't play form the back and he dreadful under pressure we using Tierney but he needed some rest