Arsenal lost 2-0 to Manchester United in a highly anticipated pre-season friendly in the United States. For some Arsenal fans, the loss is insignificant; it is only pre-season. Nonetheless, there are lessons to be drawn from that game, and here are three that Arteta should have picked out.
Defensive Errors May Be Their Undoing
Manchester United’s two goals were the result of defensive errors. Goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale could not stop Bruno Fernandes’ powerful shot, allowing the ball into the net. Furthermore, an error by Arsenal centre-back Gabriel allowed Jadon Sancho to score the second goal. These lapses in concentration highlighted Arteta’s need to be thorough with his defenders for them to get their act together and avoid making such blunders next season.
Failure to Respond
Unlike last season, Arsenal failed to respond after conceding the opening goal. Despite several early chances, they could not penetrate Manchester United’s formidable defensive structure and failed to establish clear-cut chances. In the coming days, the Gunners must return to their winning mentality. They must demonstrate their fighting spirit and determination to bounce back in games.
Inefficiency in the Midfield
The midfield combination of Odegaard, Rice, and Havertz has yet to gel. They were at the centre of the pack, outplayed by Manchester United; they lacked creativity and struggled to manage the game’s speed, leaving their forwards isolated and unable to pose a meaningful threat.
In the next few weeks, Arteta and the boys need to work on their mentality; they need to get their midfield in order and sort their defence, agreeing on where Jurrien Timber and Ben White fit in the defensive equation.
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4th lesson is they must learn to pass the ball quicker whilst being kicked by a dirty team. 5th lesson is they should take a leaf out of the itallian league and roll arround on the floor after being fouled from behind and at the same time surrounded the ref until he grows a pair and issues a yellow card. 6th lesson they need to start with a more defensive midfield against the bigger teams or like the other night against the dirty tactical teams, at least until the ref pruduces a couple of yellow cards, then they can change it after half time to a more attcking side.
Only 3 lessons? Arteta hinted it would take about 55.
ALWAYS FORWARD!! (step by step & lesson by lesson)
Arteta boys are not sharp still and they take it as friendly where he will try and test many plans while United are for rivalry
Just 1 lesson. Partey and Odegaard a must in our midfield. Am sure those arrogant Rice fans who thought we don’t need Partey can see now. Partey makes the midfield THICK!
👍 Tim, Partey as well as making the midfield solid (thick?) also makes it TICK.
Odegaard, Partey and Rice should be first choice combination for solidity.
I am dumbfounded people dont understand, pre season friedlies, all that goes on on tour and the total irrelevance of the score. I cant believe what i am reading sometimes. It was a PRE season game, no points, no relevance and no consequence. Players and staff do not plan the same way or train the same way as important games. You dont understand obviously. Dont use pre season as any relevance to our position. Its rediculous.
– Ramsdale got beaten from tight angles too many times, by Firmino, Jota, Grealish and Sancho
He is also not good in penalty shootouts, which makes him not suitable for major knockout competitions. Arteta should let him know that his status as our main EPL GK is no longer guaranteed, by starting Turner ahead of him in some EPL games
– Man United could bypass our entire midfield using direct passes, as other counter-attacking teams did against us. The coaches need to prepare our main defenders for that scheme or try our other defenders
– We couldn’t break the defense of a well-organized team, despite having one of the most valuable group of attackers in EPL. Arsenal had better sign someone who can hold the ball well in the final-third, because none of our current attackers can do that
Gai, I agree with almost totally. Ramsdale shouldn’t feel too comfortable. Turner is very good one vs one compared to Ramsdale and should be used in some EPL games for the purpose of competition. Odegard should be encouraged to build his muscles he is light weight. We should sacrifice flare for some steel in midfield against ball playing opposition ie play Rice+Pathey+Odeagrd or Rice+Jorginho+Odegard Arteta shouldn’t be too stereotyped. I think Trossard should start in some games instead of Matinnelli because of his trickery and his assist skill. Against ManU, the midfield of Pathey+ESR+Trossard was much better.
You have commented on the goalkeeper not once and I agree with you. This is my second time agreed with you by replied to your comment. He is not up to our past goalkeepers.
Surprisingly, we have 3 past goalkeepers who are the first choice in EPL. There are also past goalkeepers who are number 1 in Europe top leagues.
While I agree there’s some improvement needed to the squad, I think this pre-season should exactly be treated as that.. pre-season. I’d rather they lose and get more experimentation done NOW, rather than being FORCED to experiment later on during the season either due to injury, exhaustion, etc.
ARSENAL SQUAD ANALYSIS AHEAD OF 2023/24 SEASON.
GK – Ramsdale, Turner
CB – Saliba, Trusty, Mangalese, *One new signing needed*
SB – White, Tomiyasu, Kiwior, *One new signing needed*
DM – Partey, Rice
AM – Odegaard, Trossard, Havertz, Emile
CF – Jesus, Eddie, Flo
WF – Saka, Martinelli, Nelson, Marquinhos
Holding is not mobile enough for the team’s CB role. Wherever our fullback is tucking in from be it right or left side of the defense, Mangalese thru the middle will always be a big tactical error, he doesnt have the pace and composure to that. It has to be Saliba or Kiwior or even Trusty that plays thru the middle in a back three, Mangalese can’t do that role for now. He is good at what he does as a LCB in the back three, Arteta should keep things easy and simple for mangalese at that please.
Timbre, Zinchenko, Cedric, and Tierney all lack size and power for the team’s SB role. I honestly do not agree with Timbre signing. He is a great guy and footballer but not what we need. He is a mix of Tierney and Zinchenko, but lacks the size and power to the job like White, Tomiyasu and Kiwior would. With Timbre in that defence, we would ship in goals despite playing fine football…. same way it is with Zinchenko, Cedric and Tierney.
Jorginho and Elneny both lack the size, mobility and power for the team’s DM role. They surely have no part to play in this team. If they dont go, Arsenal wont achieve anything this season.
Vieira lacks the power for the team’s AM role. He is not ready both physically and mentally. He needs to go on a loan. He needs to play regularly for a premier league side first.
Lokonga lacks the size and intelligence for the team’s DM role, as well as lacks the technique for the team’s AM role
Pepe lacks the intelligence and technique for the team’s WF role
It seems referees favour united wherever they play in the world.
Even though this game was part of the pre season schedule, referees should do their jobs properly.
Saka could have been out for weeks with the treatment he was getting and, while this goes on unpunished, it will encourage other players / clubs to do the same thing.
We seem to have got our regular scapegoat(s) lined up for the season in Havertz and Viera, while Gabriel at the back is not far behind.
For goodness sake, give MA and his players time to adapt to each other – as Saka said, they need to get to the same fitness levels as last season and know what each of them is doing.
I do despair sometimes, I really do!!!
Clearly, the combination of Rice, Odegaard and Havertz did not work and will never work in the future especially against top 6 opponents.
The truth is – Havertz is just a taller version of Odegaard; both are left-footed and slow with a tendency to drift to the left side. On top of that, this combination lacks cutting-edge intensity and pace to break defensive lines.
The obvious fix staring us in the face – is to add a player like ESR into the mix. He plays well between the lines, he has pace and very good in one on one battles.
Timber in midfield would be just as good and maybe even better than ESR because of his strength, pace and ball-winning abilities.
Regarding Ben White. We need to stop messing with his brain. He is my preferred choice for RB, the best partner for Saka.
Keeping it simple, stupid. The best way to go.
Agree with the 2nd point completely. Last season begining towards the mid, arsenal always fights back with persitance and will even if a goal down. Towards the end of the season they lost that fighting spirit.