Overthinking or Lack of Ideas
I was left baffled as I couldn't understand the changes made by Arteta over the weekend against Everton. From the starting lineup to the substitutions, it's either he's overthinking things (something we've always associated with Pep Guardiola) or he's becoming a bit bereft of ideas.
For starters, it's been established that Thomas Partey has had a Partey season so far. This is arguably the longest time he's been on a streak of games without injury in an Arsenal shirt. Not just that, he's been our best midfielder by far and dropping him to the bench in a must-win game was disturbing.
City have not really found their mojo this season and one would have thought that Arsenal having given them a run for their money in the past two seasons would take advantage of that, but it feels like Arteta just loves competing with City even when they're on a poor run of form.
As if that wasn't bad enough, when he eventually brought Partey on, he decided to switch his best right back this season, Jurien Timber to the left, taking out the impressive Myles Lewis-Skelly and restricting Partey to right back, knowing full well that Partey, while he's been decent whenever he's been required to play at right back, cannot make those advance runs into the opponents half that Timber can do, and that give us options in attack.
I see no reason why he cannot start with a backline of Gabriel, Saliba, Timber and Lewis-Skelly and allow Partey play in the middle.
Taking off Martin Odeegard for Ethan Nwaneri in a game where we were lacking creativity and clear cut chances was another no-brainer for me. Yes, we know Nwaneri is a direct replacement for Odeegard and we've clamoured to see more of Nwaneri, but as a coach, you don't take out your best creative player in such times. Either look for a way to play both (giving you more outlets to create chances) or leave Odeegard.
I think the hierarchy and fans have been too patient with him and perhaps, he needs more stick than he's getting. Playing well is one thing, winning games and titles is another.
It would be very sad and disappointing that in a season where the only one team that has stopped us from winning the championship in the last two seasons has failed to come to the party, we fail to take advantage and allow an outsider (Liverpool) take the glory. This is not even accounting yet for Chelsea who may take everyone by surprise
I'm seriously hoping they get their acts together from the next game. Every game now is a final if we're to still be in the title race.
I think you're missing Ben White. The trio of him, Odegaard and Saka doesn't always get the credit that it should.
I think Partey's started more at Right Back than anywhere else this season, similar with Timber at Left Back (although I could be wrong). But it's hard to highlight individuals - aside from Saka, I can't think of another play who's been at the top of their game. Havertz seems to be anonymous, Martinelli / Trossard have been ineffective. If it weren't for Gabriel and Saliba and the current efficiency from Set Pieces, there'd be very littls to get excited about.
There's still a long way to go though.
Arsenal really have a long way to go through because with what they perform against Fulham it really unbearable, nobody believes the match will end up draw, but it turns out to become what we didn't think at all.
Sometimes Arsenal play ball that made me praised them just like last season they have a good performance but at the end everything reduce due to their unseriousness, the only advice I have for them is to sit up and struggle back and also i believe they can do it.
Good luck to the Gunner.
0.00 SBD,
0.27 STEEM,
0.27 SP
Fulham did follow it up with a deserved draw at Liverpool so certainly aren't a pushover. Fulham arguably should have beaten both of them.
Yes that true, Fulham current formed now it very surprising to everyone, Let see what they play this week against Southampton
Chelsea current squad now is something that other club's will be very hard to win them because they are all complete without injury.
The fault of city is that they play ball with only one player, how can you tell me that is only one player that owns city, because 13 games without Rodri, they won one of them and lose the remaining one, it will be very hard to see city competiting for the title race.