Arsenal Post Match Thread

[daddylonglegs]

Part of our success last year was due to the fact we carried momentum from the season before.

 

We aren't setting ourselves up for next year well if we play with such a lack of ambition like we did this evening. 

[urban.spaceman]

Have I mentioned before how much I utterly hate Arsenal?

 

As you might expect I am not happy.

[fuchsntf]

8 minutes ago, Foxesmints said:

Let's. Nothing against Gray hopefully in time he will mature into being a good player.

I would play him against WBA and put Mahrez in behind Vardy with a free role.

Thats what I would like to see..

[shen]

3 minutes ago, LcFc_Smiv said:

Others in the team have no way near as much quality as him and they have still managed to carry him for the last 8 or so games. He wasn't dispossessed as much tonight but he still didn't produce much. Everyone is aware of DD's poor form and he is getting just as much stick. I don't know what we expect of Ulloa when the only support we offered around him was Vardy who was largely marked out of the game. Albrighton didn't produce much either but we look for more positive with him attacking from the left, his weaker side, as he shows far more intent. The bottom line is that he's not producing anything, as he's not one to get stuck in too challenges and chase down other players, work that Albrighton, Ulloa and numerous others do put in then I'm at a loss to what we do with him. The fact is he others very little ATM.

He offers a damn sight more than he did under CR earlier this season. And it's excessive to say he's been carried.

 

It's boring now to keep having to meet the argument that Mahrez "doesn't get stuck in". He never got stuck in. But few of his critics want to acknowledge that he still does his bit defensively and that he has improved a lot in that department since he joined. You might even argue that it's getting to a point that his defensive duties restrict his attacking influence too much.

 

You say Ulloa chases down, but he doesn't have the pace, persistence or aggressiveness to put worthwile pressure on defenders. Albrighton harries, but in games like today, it means he's nowhere to be found in the attacking third and his long punts proved futile all game. So these two players are limited by their quality. Should Gray have come on for one of these? Probably. But if anything, you need someone like Mahrez who can thread a pass (now that Drinkwater has totally forgotton how and Ndidi is so knackered he just releases sideways to Drinky or Mahrez) or who can make a late run into the box, otherwise you're not going to much out of Gray.

 

Your argument is pretty pointless because having an Albrighton clone on the other wing is not going to do much for our forward play in a game like today, Replacing Mahrez with Gray would be a gamble in most cases would not pay off. Like so often on here, when players are not playing, their reputation weirdly enhances. Gray is raw, his decision-making is erratic at best and his end product the same. It's not like he hasn't got major drawbacks.

[fuchsntf]

24 minutes ago, EGBFitness said:

Well minus tonight you have 2 games against maybe one of the best teams in Europe we held our own against and deserved more, Palace we threw away ourselves but still good performance especially after midweek game in Madrid, Everton which we had good spells but quite clearly one eye on the Madrid game and then Sunderland game which was the 6th win in a row we had. 

 

Talk about a knee jerk reaction after a 1-0 deflected goal loss to Arsenal 

I wish I could knee jerk all of them, including Shakespeare..!!!

.Again it was not the loss, but a miserable performance

after a weeks rest and preperation....Yes unlucky goal, defenders had a great game, but against Arsenal you have to

Show more commitment, when moving forward...Strange I actually thought Mahrez was ok,

but midfield were back in the changing room. I dont know if it would make a difference, but with no real backup

for DD, I would be tempted to try and get James back...Or commit with a 3 man midfield..King playing ATM

Plus I would have Kappu on the bench. Just my own preferences..

I dont like us Playing  with fear, and chose backfoot tactics....

 

 

 

[Harry96]

Really need a competent 10 in the summer. Apart from vardy the other striking options just Don't contribute enough goals scoring wise.

[Nalis]

The Emirates Stadium Atmosphere -  If thats what the home fans produce then give me a 1-0 defeat and the KP any day of the week, the silence is bizarre.

[smudger63]

Very disappointing performance, in terms of being positive, and giving Arsenal something to think about.

We may have been unlucky with the deflected goal, but if you are set up and happy to just hang on defensively throughout the game, then you risk the bounce of the ball going against you at some point.

Tonight reminded me of the first three quarters of our great escape season, when Pearson set us up to stay in games, rather than go out to try and win them.

I hope Shakespeare is not going to go down that route again, because if he is, i see trouble ahead!

 

[RGFox]

very poor performance. little control but stubborn defence. 

 

mahrez really needs to close down attackers and try to tackle. 

 

and sanchez is on my hate list. what an utter tw@t!

[Sand cats]

Sanchez couldn't believe he just was hit on purpose and then got a yellow card, i just wished Fuchs aimed better.

[shen]

I don't think Arsenal are getting quite enough credit for shutting us down, but the way they set up and their physical and technical superiority in most parts of the pitch was evident tonight. 

 

We didn't help our cause admittedly, but let's not make out we are a team that is ever going to get more than two or three chances away at Arsenal. We just don't have the quality, nor do we have the same belief and conviction as last season.

[Foxxed]

I don't mind sitting back and soaking up pressing against Arsenal, but we normally use that as a catapult to counter attack something we were completely lacking tonight.

 

Drinkwater was barely in the game and so no-one unleashed Vardy. And no smiling Japanese chap was harrying their midfield forcing a chance through a mistake.

 

I can understand that without a decent Drinkwater and no real replacement then the midfield and Vardy will suffer.

 

But then there was little excuse to persist with an absent Ulloa after 45 minutes when it was clear we were overwhelmed in midfield, something the guy he replaced could clearly help us with.

[Dan]

This is the one fixture that the luck just never ever shines on us.

 

Although we invited the goal really. I get playing on the counter but we are so bad at keeping the ball that we're eventually going to crack when we invite trouble like that. We were negative from the off tonight and I think despite how well we defended, we didn't really deserve anything.

 

We definitely need a midfielder in the summer. I'm really losing faith in Drinkwater. I genuinely can't remember the bloke's last good game. Even in the recent winning run he was still identified as an under-performer. It's weird because in November time he'd been comfortably our best player this season but it seems like ever since he got that suspension from the Watford game he's come back a different player, and not in a good way. The lack of alternatives in that area are poor as well, King & Amartey don't fill me with any confidence and Mendy's out for the season.

 

I just thought the whole mindset tonight was wrong. This is a side who are a complete shambles defensively and we did next to nothing to test that. Shakespeare's got it right a lot of times but tonight was a bit black mark against his name for me.

 

I suppose you expect to lose at Arsenal but the manner of that disappointed me. Will still take one hell of a swing for us to go down but I want us to go out this season with a bang. Tonight we played how I'd expect Sunderland to play there.

 

Not good.

[Dan]

Oh, and as for the referee, utterly embarrassing showing, yet again.

[foxes_rule1978]

Disappointed to be honest, but I'm sure we will be safe. It is crazy that we are talking that way giving the players we have though. Should be well clear. 

[FoxInTheBirstallBox]

Not too disappointed in today's game actually

 

We defended excellently and they only scored from an unlucky deflection, let hope we look at this game like we did last season.

If it takes them a lucky goal and dives to beat us then from now on we should be able to be anyone.

[foxes_rule1978]

1 minute ago, FoxInTheBirstallBox said:

Not too disappointed in today's game actually

 

We defended excellently and they only scored from an unlucky deflection, let hope we look at this game like we did last season.

If it takes them a lucky goal and dives to beat us then from now on we should be able to be anyone.

True , I'm frustrated though giving that had we defended like this and played when we needed to from the start of the season we wouldn't be looking down. Clearly I see at least a top 8 side here

[tom27111]

We sat 10 yards too deep. Invited pressure.

 

I don't get to go a lot but was there tonight, although I stream everything. 

 

Mahrez is lazy as ****. Arsenal recognised that, he switched wings...they switched which wing they attacked down.

 

****ed off they got a late winner, but that's what they do.

 

Had a banging day out though, much appreciation to @BridgfordFox for the tickets.

 

Fuchs chucking the ball at that little c**t was well worth the entry fee! One of the funniest things I've ever seen at a match!

 

Got back to Kettering at 1:45 this morning. Saw 2 old boys getting off the train, I made a quick remark about footy, turns out they were Leicester fans too. They looked so bloody proud that we were champions. 

 

Puts it in to perspective for me. And many of you know what I've been through recently. 

 

We'll be ok, but need to step up again next year.

 

I just hope Kasper doesn't go. My mate I went with tonight is a United fan, but he's played semi pro as a keeper. He really admired some of Kaspers saves tonight. 

 

And all the players congregated near the halfway line to applaud the fans, Kasper came right over, he loves it as much as we do.

 

For me, every player has their price. Not Schmeichel. He's a must stay.

 

If he does leave, it's got to be for United. I'd understand that. But break the bank for him. Top 5 keeper in the world, seriously. 

[WigstonWanderer]

About as negative a performance as I've seen all season. Was hoping for something like Liverpool home, but got this instead. Shithouse goal from a shithouse cheating bunch of cvnts, but if we pressed a bit more and gave them something to think about at the other end perhaps we wouldn't have been on the defensive all match.

 

Gave the ball away for fun. Unlucky in the end not to get the 0-0 we obviously went for and which I would have been happy with, but the almost total lack of ambition is a risky strategy that did not pay off.

[Guest Mickyblueeyes]

7 hours ago, Al-aLondon-Foxile said:

We were so much better when he came on, he brings more to the team with his work rate off the ball, you've a far too simplistic view. He flatters to deceive I guess, and he isn't the most talented player but he is a very important player in our set up imo. 

He is mobile and energetic. He causes chaos, which ties up defenders/midfielders and allows others a bit of freedom to create. I see exactly what he brings. However, is it something that can be replaced relatively easily? Of course. Stick Iain Hume in there. Paul Dickov maybe.

 

As a footballer, he needs to bring a little bit more to the party. A decent touch maybe? Hold up play? An ability to score a goal or two. 

 

While watching yesterday, when we did attack. Subconsciously, my first thought was don't pass it to Shinji. I would love to see the stats of break or our play. Turnover of the ball, when Shinji has it. 

 

 

[funkyrobot]

7 hours ago, EnglishOxide said:

Shakey isn't going to get the job setting us up like that. Tbf he did say that he was disappointed we weren't more positive with the ball and that could have been fixed by not starting Ulloa over Shinji. Problem solved and i hope he sees that.

 

Ulloa said he would never play for us again and shouldn't be selected just because he might have been unfairly treated by the past manager and felt sorry for. No way would a more authoritive figure like Big Nige have welcomed him back into the team after running his mouth in public.

 

The match felt like a game pre great escape where we were learning our trade and keeping it tight at the expense of attacking and exposing ourselves. And then getting done by the odd unfortunate goal.

 

We are better than playing like that nowadays, and we have set higher standards for ourselves. Shakey should realise that and trust in our attackers like Shinji and Gray because both are much better than Nugent and Schluup.

Shinji is definitely not much better than Nuge. 

[hejammy]

Yesterday for the first time I thought Shakeys inexperience as manager came through. For me Shinji should have started that game against Arsenal, we were miles better when he came on. Also we were clearly being drowned out in midfield and Shinji becomes that 5th man in midfield. Also Gray should have come on a lot earlier. It was quite clear he was playing for a draw and our strength is to play our usual pressing intense game. It was almost "earlier on in the season, Ranieri-esq"

 

As much as I think Danny has lost the plot recently, we have no one to replace him. Unless we change formation there's not really a like for like swap. Amartey doesn't fill me with confidence that he can fill a role to pick out that killer pass.

 

Onwards and upwards anyways, let's play OUR game vs  West Brom

[st albans fox]

7 hours ago, daddylonglegs said:

Part of our success last year was due to the fact we carried momentum from the season before.

 

We aren't setting ourselves up for next year well if we play with such a lack of ambition like we did this evening. 

the great escape included these type performances at Burnley and Sunderland which were designated 'must not lose' fixtures.  But I don't believe last night was this. If we just going to get a 0-0 and hope for a snippet on the counter, why start with Leo and not have an extra midfielder? Didn't make sense to me the way the game progressed. 

[jmono84]

5 hours ago, Dan LCFC said:

Oh, and as for the referee, utterly embarrassing showing, yet again.

Do you kno why he blew for a free kick every time we took our goal kick and vards or ulloa challenged for it?

 

the ref blew up about 4-5 times and stuck his hand up like it was an offside and I Kno there's no offsides from a goal kick.

 

anyone else seen this? Still don't understand why he gave free kicks all those times

[EnglishOxide]

44 minutes ago, funkyrobot said:

Shinji is definitely not much better than Nuge. 

He's quite clearly better.

 

Both perform(ed) the same role for us in terms of linking up play and making our attacks more fluid.

 

However, there was a clear difference in quality straight off the bat when Shinji made his debut. He was more aggressive, pressed harder, was more commited in challenges and 50/50s and is probably quicker than Nuge.

 

You could probably give Nuge the edge in being slightly more prolific in front of goal, but thats about it, but then I don't think Shinjis return is that bad considering Vardy and Mahrez were our focal points in attack last season and this.

 

Okazaki is a level above.