Arsenal made hard work of the first half against West Ham, and could easily have conceded many more goals, but you also must agree that our old keeper Fabianski had another great performance against us. We improved in the second half and although we still made defensive errors we were much more positive going forward and finally put the game to bed.
I would say that Emery definitely knows how to change games with his substitutions, which is a bit of fresh air for us Gooners who are used to 70th minute subs whatever the situation. It would seem that Emery also believes the changes are working, although he admits the Hammers caused us lots of problems.
He said after the game: “They are also a good team with a good coach and good players. Also, they can give us problems for our defence. It’s clear that if we defend with more people in the moment, we can lose our performance for the attacking moments. For that, we need the balance not to lose our attacking moments with this balance. But I think we need to improve. Today, I think the first half and the second half is very different. I think in the second half we found this balance better, because we spoke in the dressing room and after the substitutions of players, it made a difference in the second half and it is very important also to help and we need every player.”
This is telling me that he knows the value of each player and in what situations they can be useful. I have certainly been impressed with his use of substitutes and long may it continue!
Sam P
i urge you guys to watch the atleti v rayo match and understand what it is like to win ugly
Atletico Madrid’s 10 men defense at the Emirates has shown us how tough and well drilled their squad is
Emery must have known that Lacazette and Welbeck would usually make fast impacts if coming in from the bench
My biggest concern for the next match is Guendouzi. The boy did very well with his high interception and work rate, but he has made three grave errors (which Cech saved brilliantly)
Because the next EPL game is an away match, they better use 4-3-3 without a no 10, to help Guendouzi and Xhaka with another CM. They can swap it to 4-3-2-1 if Cardiff are in defensive mode
*I mean they can swap 4-3-3 to 4-2-3-1
Emery can clearly see the impact his subs have… So why not start them in the first place?! Just get the job done in the first half, rather than waiting till the second half to put things right!
Fitness, same reason that some players are more effective are coming on and studying the opposition from the bench – lacazette does this very well. He is intelligent and knows who to target and the space. Same way we used Giroud as our Super Sub because defenders were used to a player and switching throws their game off.
Could also be fitness – some players don’t have the same energy, Lacazette was also nursing an injury towards the end of last season
Spot on sue, fitness BS Lacca and Torriera are as fit as the other players it’s poor team selection
Totally agree with you. Although everybody saying that Xhaka played well, I think that he is a player from the last century. So I would start Torreira as a real DM, and Guendouzi littlebit infront of him.
Bellerin is improving in oponents part of the pitch but dfensivly he is totally lost and we can not play him as a RB any more. Only place for Bellerin in my first 11 would be with 3 at the back and Bellerin on the flank in formation of 5 in midfield. And if untalented headless chicken had to play when Ozil is not in the team, why not put Mkhi as a no. 10 and ramsey to help RB? I know, I know, ramsey has a workrate but can not and doesnt want (?!) to defend. He rather run but rearly attack oponent player who has a ball. Yesterday, ramsey, as no. 10 did not pass any ball at all to Auba! and has a two decent touches with the ball, everything else where mispasses, and stupidity all over.
Aubamayeng , wast e of space . looking for tapins .Doesnt do hold up play. Laca should start with torriera
Aubamayang scored 13 goals in 14 games last season under Wenger.He will score loads more when he is eventually partnered with Lacazette (with Ozil behind them)
From our matches thus far, these are my submissions
(1) Mkchi should be played in the number 10 role. This is his natural position both at shkatar Donetsk and Bdortmund. He flourished in that role and he even travelled to Brazil as a youngster just to learn how to play in that role. Lastly, his problem with mourinho was because he was playing him on the wings and more defensive duty for him. He didn’t run up and down as a winger when he was young but all of a sudden we want him to show such energy at 29. Also, he is used to the pressing role as a number 10 at Dortmund. Pressing as a number 10 isn’t about pace but closing down spaces up the pitch where the opposition want to pass into I.e it’s all about positioning
(2) Bellerin should be utilized as a winger to give width while the left wing can have an inverted winger. Monaco won the ligue 1 doing exactly that. The player is simply not a right back
(3) Toreira should be starting ahead of whoever. He just needs to start
Yes I agree Bellerin should start as a winger, he’s better going forward than in defence.
The first half. was really messy with West Ham tearing at our defence.
Often exposed Arsenal were dead lucky to still be level 1-1at the break. Great goal by Monreal.
However. The introduction of Lacazette & Welbeck in the 2nd half brought about a new dimension to our game. Offensively we were in control.
Danny (Nice to see him playing again) rounded off the final score to 3-1
Note: still work in progress.
The score could have been 3-3 or worse, Czech kept us in the game. A high line is going to be suicide against Westham next time. They are just becoming a team. Proper teams will get behind the back line with east. The scoring was not convincing to be a top five team. Westham simply were not there yet and gave up.
Emery refers to balance between attack and defense. He cannot do that without dominating the middle and that means having a version of a 3-5-2. such as a 3-4-1-2, which is more balanced than a 4-3-2-1, which is obviously back heavy. We will score less this season, but if we concede very few goals it might be worth it.
I still cannot see how we make it to the top five. City, Liverpool, United and Spur are ahead of us. So are Chelsea.
Yeah…it looks that way now…but alot can happen between now and the end of the season….I for one has seen some changes especially with the players mentality given the fact that we came back from a goal down yesterday…and almost, should have won against Chelsea despite being 2 goals down. ..and the fact that we creating alot of chances..these as positives with much more to come this season….i hope we make it into the top four…and I actually think we can.
I’m very happy with the following players: Cech, Monreal, Torreira, Guendouzi, Mkhitaryan, Aubameyang, Lacazette
Mildly Happy (so far) with Iwobi, Welbeck, Lichtsteiner (should start next time) and Mustafi/Sokratis (with lack of Koscielny, Kolsanic they are doing the best they can even though they are average quality- Would like to see a KK partnership)
Not happy with Bellerin, Xhaka, Ramsey and Ozil
They have underperformed for 3 matches in a row.
Bellerin May be a better right winger than right back
Sorry Ozil didn’t play today lol
People seem to Hate Ramsey on this game he did his best in the team. He was there in defense and attack. May people want him to change into someone else and maybe the player we have right now.
Ha ha ha another ramsey FIFA lover!
I will say just one fact…
yesterday, as our glorious no. 10, ramsey did not pass any ball to Auba at all!
What was your hero before ramsey? Spiderman?
Arsenal must maintain the Wenger philosophy of entertaining football, we need that.
Not a good game by Arsenal. West Ham is a very weak team right now but managed to outplay Arsenal for most of the game, except last 15 minutes of the game. By now Emery should already have figured out what his best 11 is, but seem to be having trouble doing that.
Our Best 11 Inc injured
Cech
Lichtsteiner
Monreal
Koscielny
Kolsanic
Torreira
Guendouzi
Niles
Aubameyang
Lacazette
Welbeck/Iwobi
Our Best 11 not Inc injured
Cech
Lichtsteiner
Monreal
Sokratis
Mustafi
Torreira
Guendouzi
Mkhitaryan
Welbeck/Iwobi
Aubameyang
Lacazette