Arsenal Post Match Thread

[Guest ttfn]

4 minutes ago, jmono84 said:

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

They weren't goal kicks, they were free kicks (and Vardy and Ulloa were offside)...

[jmono84]

Just now, ttfn said:

They weren't goal kicks, they were free kicks (and Vardy and Ulloa were offside)...

If that's the case they should be bollocked... I'm sure it happened about 4 times!

 

thanks for clearing up

[shen]

14 minutes ago, EnglishOxide said:

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.

But Shinji does get on the end of some decent chances now and then. Considering this, his return is not good. It's strange, because he is alert and he moves well off the ball most of the time, but he's really struggling with skill and composure on the ball. When he's already severely lacking in physical presence it's a significant drawback that he's also a poor finisher.

[EGBFitness]

8 hours ago, fuchsntf said:

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....

 

 

 

We played deep to frustrate Arsenal, endless amount of teams go to the emirates and do the same thing! Arsenal are noturious for trying to walk the ball into the net. If that deflection didn't go in everyone would be saying how good it was coming away with a point against Arsenal there. 

 

There was a few good performances individually across the team but yes we lacked ambition going forward going forward in the second half, as I've put in previous posts we more than likely played for a point/nick a one nil today and try to slow speed/play down as we are playing WBA in 3 days time we will expect to win - I'm sure we will play our more usual style of football of high energy/ high pressing. However much we all love watching that 'no fear' style of football, you can't go into every game playing it. That's same for everyone as you will even see top 5/6 teams go to Arsenal and do the same thing. 

 

Pointless calling james back now with so little of the season remaining, I'm guessing you haven't watching Kapustka in the under 23's to make that suggestion and King is an average player. Yes Drinky hasn't been in the best of form currently but he is the best option we have. 

[ealingfox]

Okazaki's return is fvcking woeful. Let's not dress it up. The bloke couldn't score in a brothel.

 

It's an incredibly frustrating problem because he actually is a good footballer and we play better football with him in the side. He should have started last night and I thought playing Ulloa was a strange decision. But when the system you play employs two forwards, how long can you honestly persist with a forward who doesn't score goals? It's not like he's creating loads of chances or laying on assists to make up for it.

[MC Prussian]

1 hour ago, ealingfox said:

Okazaki's return is fvcking woeful. Let's not dress it up. The bloke couldn't score in a brothel.

 

It's an incredibly frustrating problem because he actually is a good footballer and we play better football with him in the side. He should have started last night and I thought playing Ulloa was a strange decision. But when the system you play employs two forwards, how long can you honestly persist with a forward who doesn't score goals? It's not like he's creating loads of chances or laying on assists to make up for it.

I've made the point before, and I'm making it again.

 

When you look at Okazaki from a distance, as a neutral, then you're right. Because one connects a "striker" with scoring goals. That's a given.

HOWEVER, when you look closely (and you know this as much as I do), then you do realize given his role on the pitch, as a deep-lying centre forward or even attacking midfielder, his primary function is not a great return, it's hassling opposing defenders and mostly midfielders, trying to force mistakes, closing down the lanes, making a nuisance of himself, putting his body in where it hurts. Of course, this all affects his effectiveness up front, as it takes time, energy and space away from positioning yourself better in order to create chances.

 

With Japan, there's where he actually plays as a proper striker. His goalscoring record with that side reflects that change in position and strategy.

[RonnieTodger]

Without sounding spoilt, that really was utter garbage and we should expect a lot more. 

 

I get that a draw away to Arsenal is a great result and we nearly pulled it off, but we got we deserved. Absolute negativity for 90 minutes, when Arsenal were also poor. We really should've given it a go.  

Absolute stinker of a football game. 

[HighPeakFox]

Next. 

[Moksky]

I wasnt happy with that performance last night, lacked intensity, and was very reminiscant of Ranieris strategy this season.

The lack of tempo shocked me, and we should have ran hard and pushed them further after having 8 days off, 6 of their outfield players played 120 minutes on Sunday. We never really extended them, and if we did they looked rocky. Nobody wanted the ball, it t was like a hot potato and the pass went backwards in most instances.

 

Paid far too much respect and we got what we deserved, zero. Yes you have to repect Arsensal, but to play entirely into their hands was

suicidal.

 

Honeymoon period over

[shen]

53 minutes ago, MC Prussian said:

I've mad the point before, and I'm making it again.

 

When you look at Okazaki from a distance, as a neutral, then you're right. Because one connects a "striker" with scoring goals. That's a given.

HOWEVER, when you look closely (and you know this as much as I do), then you do realize given his role on the pitch, as a deep-lying centre forward or even attacking midfielder, his primary function is not a great return, it's hassling opposing defenders and mostly midfielders, trying to force mistakes, closing down the lanes, making a nuisance of himself, putting his body in where it hurts. Of course, this all affects his effectiveness up front, as it takes time, energy and space away from positioning yourself better in order to create chances.

 

With Japan, there's where he actually plays as a proper striker. His goalscoring record with that side reflects that change in position and strategy.

I don't think many are questioning that his role is limiting his own scoring opportunities. It doesn't excuse the subpar finishing when he does get on the end of chances though.

I am assuming that his goals for Japan are mostly down to poor opposition and quantity of chances because I fail to see the quality he offers in front of goal for us.

[RonnieTodger]

Also imagine singing that we want Wenger to stay when he's never actually lost to us. 

[Koke]

Maybe this has already been posted but I thought this was pretty funny.

 

 

[Callabinho]

I thought we should have risked 3 at the back...we were phenomenal second half against A Madrid...what's the point in us tip toeing into games? We can't play that kind of game because we can't string passes together....we best not take the same approach against West Brom.

[Aidan]

11 hours ago, jon1bc said:

Oh let's not play the Mahrez was shit record again, sick of hearing it.

 

Gray is not up to it and never will be a Mahrez replacement

He has absolute shite like Drinkwater playing next to him who can only pass backwards

He has mupped Ulloa ahead of him who puts absolutely fk all effort in tracking back

Fk this if I were him looking at some of the pathetic comments on here i'd be off to somewhere I'd be appreciated

Agree. I think Mahrez, Drinky and Slimani should leave for other clubs. I truly believe it would be a win-win situation for Leicester and those players. RM and DD have simply become jaded and need new challenges and Slim just does not fit the current strategy. 

[Koke]

1 hour ago, MC Prussian said:

I've made the point before, and I'm making it again.

 

When you look at Okazaki from a distance, as a neutral, then you're right. Because one connects a "striker" with scoring goals. That's a given.

HOWEVER, when you look closely (and you know this as much as I do), then you do realize given his role on the pitch, as a deep-lying centre forward or even attacking midfielder, his primary function is not a great return, it's hassling opposing defenders and mostly midfielders, trying to force mistakes, closing down the lanes, making a nuisance of himself, putting his body in where it hurts. Of course, this all affects his effectiveness up front, as it takes time, energy and space away from positioning yourself better in order to create chances.

 

With Japan, there's where he actually plays as a proper striker. His goalscoring record with that side reflects that change in position and strategy.

 

Even as an attacking midfielder his assist return is abysmal. Has Shinji ever had an assist for us? Genuinely cannot remember. 

 

I'm sorry but a CAM needs to contribute more than "hard work". Okazaki doesn't even get into positions to assist or score.

[foxy boxing]

really disappointing to lose the game in the final five minutes after working so hard for eighty five minutes but that's the way it goes sometimes!. let's just dust ourselves off and prepare for the West Brom game which will be just as tough

[MC Prussian]

6 minutes ago, Koke said:

 

Even as an attacking midfielder his assist return is abysmal. Has Shinji ever had an assist for us? Genuinely cannot remember. 

 

I'm sorry but a CAM needs to contribute more than "hard work". Okazaki doesn't even get into positions to assist or score.

I was more on about his positioning on the pitch, we play with a midfield four and Okazaki is oftentimes the only link to Vardy up front. Of course, he's not the natural attacking midfielder, he was moulded into that role here at Leicester.

A bit of a makeshift solution. It used to work fine last season, but I suppose it's run its course a bit.

 

As a centre forward, he'd be even more effective, but then again, there's been too little supply from our central midfield pairing this campaign.

Ndidi comes across as a bit too shy going forward and Drinkwater has been lacking the quality that made him stand out last season. This in turn affects Okazaki's impact up front.

 

Which leads me to the question whether he'll be off in the summer (back to Japan?).

 

[Babylon]

5 hours ago, WigstonWanderer said:

About as negative a performance as I've seen all season.

I'm not sure we even set out to be so negative, I think it came about because their formation had our pants down. How we went the whole game without changing it I'll never know, it was screaming out for another man in the middle from the first minute. If we actually had a decent option on the bench we probably would have to be honest, but when your only option is King you're always limited.

[shen]

16 minutes ago, Babylon said:

I'm not sure we even set out to be so negative, I think it came about because their formation had our pants down. How we went the whole game without changing it I'll never know, it was screaming out for another man in the middle from the first minute. If we actually had a decent option on the bench we probably would have to be honest, but when your only option is King you're always limited.

I do wonder why Kapustka still doesn't feature. Is he really that bad? I'm all for graft, which Drinkwater still provides, but we are crying out for some positive use of the ball in the middle.

King never was a great passer, but maybe him and Ndidi sitting deep would free up Drinkwater and force him to be more forward thinking. I'm trying to think of how CS can help them out in the middle, because it's clear that help is sorely needed there.

[shen]

32 minutes ago, Koke said:

 

Even as an attacking midfielder his assist return is abysmal. Has Shinji ever had an assist for us? Genuinely cannot remember. 

 

I'm sorry but a CAM needs to contribute more than "hard work". Okazaki doesn't even get into positions to assist or score.

He was a mainstay in a title winning squad. Obviously he didn't give the squad a handicap then. His role when attacking is to act as a link-up/decoy, allowing Drinkwater, Albrighton and Mahrez to run into space or make combinations. The disappointing thing is that he's so blunt when he does get chances that the opposition can rightly focus their attention towards Vardy. If they isolate him, you effectively take a massive step towards nullifying our attack.

[Footballwipe]

2 hours ago, Moksky said:

I wasnt happy with that performance last night, lacked intensity, and was very reminiscant of Ranieris strategy this season.

The lack of tempo shocked me, and we should have ran hard and pushed them further after having 8 days off, 6 of their outfield players played 120 minutes on Sunday. We never really extended them, and if we did they looked rocky. Nobody wanted the ball, it t was like a hot potato and the pass went backwards in most instances.

 

Paid far too much respect and we got what we deserved, zero. Yes you have to repect Arsensal, but to play entirely into their hands was

suicidal.

 

Honeymoon period over

I think this posts sums my feelings up coming away from last night's game. It just felt totally flat, and a totally unnecessary way to play. The most predictable thing was that the ending to the match was so predictable, pressure pays of. 1-0 loss.

[fuchsntf]

5 hours ago, EnglishOxide said:

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.

Not for me...The nr on theit backs and position they play means expected goals....Shinji hasnt produced.

[MC Prussian]

16 hours ago, st albans fox said:

It was his shoulder

... and his face.

[waylander]

Well put my tin hat on. Was a much better performance than so many under Ranieri This season . If we had nicked it everyone would be raving . Even if we got a draw . We worked bloody well as a team on to the next one . ?

[st albans fox]

22 minutes ago, MC Prussian said:

... and his face.

according to AW, he got his fat lip from the coming together with huth at the end. the throw bounced well off his shoulder. wouldn't have done that if it had ricocheted onto his face. it was pure rivaldo 2002 ...........