Cue the defence slating. Arsenal post match thread.

[jimmeh]

Huth is our best defender by a long way. It's Wes and Kasper that should be worried

Wes is the captain though. It's unusual for teams to drop the captain

[SecretPro]

Think maybe trying to work Fuchs and maybe even Benny into the back line in the coming weeks could be a good idea. Need to get some clean sheets and the back 4 looked pretty Solid against the hammers. Was particularly leaky today, very stretched, didn't have any pace in CM. Huth hasn't looked at his best at all yet, nowhere near his level of last season. Think we need to get the wallet out in Jan because there simply isn't enough quality in the defence or anything much in the way of defensive cover. Schlupp leaves a lot to be desired defensively and IMO the right side is always going to get shown up if we keep playing Mahrez on the wing, he needs to be in the hole and I'd stick Dyer, when fit, out on the right wing.

[Freesolo]

Good side Arsenal, so don't feel too bad about the way the game went, on to the next game we go!

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

I'm not a Ritchie fan whatsoever but if DeLaet put the shift in that Jeff did today he'd be ****ing mullered on here. I love Schlupp but I've never known anybody get caught out so often when trying to see a ball into touch and completely misjudging whether or not it's got the legs to go out.

 

Strange substitution at half time considering we were chasing; but we did attack well, Kante covered every blade of grass and Vardy's first was sublime. Always got to take results against the top sides with a pinch of salt but we can't ignore the fact that our defending is schoolboy at times, we HAVE to go back to a back three, now. It's not even like it's a switch that'd stifle our attacking threat, Albrighton, Jeff and Mahrez excelled when we switched to it the back end of last season.

 

Take the positives and move on.

[Swiper]

Okazaki and schlupp need dropping. Ulloa and Fuchs need to start. Defensively we are pathetic.

 

Probably this. I'm going to start rioting if Fuchs doesn't get a look soon. It's time to tinker with the defense because it's awful. 

[The Guvnor]

For a neutral a hell of a game to watch but there's a difference between showing too much respect and showing none, still put this one to bed and move on.

[AdamN]

I'd prefer to lose like that than the way we were doing during the barren spell last season. Gave it a real good go and the only major difference was their star player being on form, and ours not being.

 

No need to panic and if we continue to play the way we have been doing then we'll be fine. Maybe a change or two in defence, mind...

[Swiper]

Wes is the captain though. It's unusual for teams to drop the captain

 

Captains shouldn't be exempt from being dropped if they aren't playing well. Morgan started the season great but he's been poor lately.

[Nick]

I wrote before the game today that I thought we'd lose and was worried by the number of goals we were leaking.

And thus it's proven.

To lose to a class team and a world class player on form is one thing.

To concede 5 at home is something completely different.

We now have to shore it up at the back and bounce back straightaway.

 

Col

 

You said we might lose to a class team and that our defence wasn't very good.

 

I'm not sure that warrants a Col 'I told you so post' !

[Foxhateram]

This hurts so bad. Haven't missed losing. Why do strikers come back in form against us? It reminded me of Torres a few years back.

Great game though. If you were a neutral you would have given us credit for having a go. I think its a bit of a wake up call to some. A reminder that we aren't a top 4 side and we haven't quite got the depth to be right now.

Loads of positives to take though. I am going to put my neck on the line and say that actually despite us spending on it. The midfield is unfortunately the issue not the defence. The midfield that attacks so well just can't cover in defence and when there is no cover then we get caught.

I.e. De leat came across for their second (he had too) no one covered him. It should be mahrez, drinky or kante reading that and covering it. And then the amount of time players can drift unchallenged. Last year cambiasso sat and covered in a 5 man midfield. I think we need to consider someone on that role again from now on.

[Blanesta]

A back 4 can't cope with this league, that's why we went 352! I hope we remember this! Ranieri even said this in his first interview, then changes it back to the system that had us rock bottom of the league.

[m4DD0gg]

We went for it and looked good. Arsenal had one of those days where they would smash anyone. Disappointing to loose the run but we played well and even at 5-2 we were still going for it.

[Finn Claw II]

Arsenal were good, very good. We are just not at that level.

I don't think anyone was really bad, we just went for it and got punished.

[Frank to be]

Massive respect for how we approached the game, would have been easy to try and protect our weaknesses but we didn't, instead we went for an open, attacking display and that's really great to see. Would much rather watch that and lose 2-5 than play some defensive crap and lose 0-1.

First half we gave as good as we got and were unlucky to go in behind. 2nd half we weren't so good with mahrez in particular not reaching the standard we know he is capable of.

All in all I'm not disappointed at all, Arsenal are perennial top four contenders for a reason and we looked very dangerous against them even without being at our best.

[Richmondfox]

These are the games where they defence has to stay sharp and focus.  Jeff switched off too many times and didn't track back quick enough or gave the ball away.  If we aren't using Jeff on the wing for his pace then it has to be Fuchs next game.

 

Mahrez was shocking, tried too hard and couldn't execute the basics, a few flashes but when he lost the ball they countered easily.

 

I'm sure it will be a tough week of practice before Norwich.

 

I feel we missed Shinji breaking up play early and making his presence known.  The first half was really good football, second not so good against a team whose world class players hit their stride.

[Freesolo]

They Showed up and their best players were on form not much more you can say really, we can score against anyone but no clean sheets all season is worrying a little

[RedSoxUK]

Again, don't really care if we don't keep a clean sheet. However 5 is a load to concede - One of the few teams not to lose by more than 2 goals last season, we've done it in our 1st loss this time. It's not worrying, it's just a lesson not to get ahead of ourselves. Arsenal are real quality Champions League oposition. Their passing was emmence, ability off the ball beautiful and our wingers / wing backs were caught out of position far too many times. If you give teams like Arsenal space they punish you.

 

That can be resolved and worked on in training though, What should be replayed to the players is the final 20 minutes. At 1 - 3 Arsenal worked the killing of the game so well, timed substitutions, the right substitutions - slowing it down making sure we can't do anything, and our fight back is exactly what we needed to do, not to make up 3 goals, but to leave the game with a better feeling than conceeding 5.

 

SO many chances in the final 8-10 minutes for us, congrats Vardy, clinical himself - post and crossbar as well, very good to see that. Giroud's final goal shows how frail and easy it is to score against us. but Vardy's brace and the amount of chances we had proves our own ability infront of goal.

[Vardinhio]

We did not "box clever" in this game. We took the lead and then went level and then behind. Not once did I see the team adapt their approach.

Today was a good opportunity for the full backs to remain solid when we went 1-0 up. Prior to today Arsenak had really struggled to break teams down, we played in to their hands.

[Nick]

First defeat in forever, 4 points off top spot.

 

There's nobody on this forum that wouldn't have taken that at the start of the season.

[Jaspa]

Beaten by the better side no doubt, we have to take some credit for the way we went at them constantly and the confidence and energy we play with. Unfortunately Arsenal played their game today and played us, snuffed Mahrez, kept us penned in whenever possible, used some gritty defending that bordered on what they could get away with and showed their class in attacking movement and finishing.

 

All seemed so bright when we went 1-0 up but we just couldnt plunge the knife in again for whatever reason, defense was lapse but were committed to offense so can let them off abit. Not sure how Kingy changed it up front and Shinji got bustled about again. Ref was 3/10, missed blatant dirtiness and it was like he had a timer on his cards that ment he wouldnt use them til the 70th minute, doubt he would control a game if things got abit more tasty.

 

Chin up and keep going lads, were doing good things; just get it right next time 

[steflcfc]

Thing I don't get with the defence is the full backs positioning a few times today was poor, could have cost us a few more goals.

Against teams technically worse we may just about get away with Jeff and Richie.

I do like them from an attacking sense, But their main priority is to Defend hence that why they play LB and RB respectively.

An upgrade is needed if we are to persevere with 4 at the back.

Otherwise

3 cb's and 5 in the midfield I feel would suit us a bit better. Giving Mahrez (who was very poor today) A free role and maybe also Kante a position as a defensive midfielder just in front of the attack.

[RowlattsFox]

Back 4 can work if you're defenders are good enough or if you protect them. Two full backs not good enough defensively. If only we had an international captain who has played most of his career at a high level.

[lestajigs]

Shit shit thread title

[yorkie1999]

1 nil up, should have booted them of the park.

[yorkie1999]

1 nil up, should have booted them of the park.