What went wrong against Fulham?
Arsenal, for the first time this season, walk away defeated two games in a row. Dropping another three points away at Craven Cottage on Sunday Afternoon and ending 2023 with more questions than answers for Gooner fans. Arsenal again had every chance to make this game their own but crumbled at the pressure, and have left Arsenal fans around the world wondering what went wrong?
Arsenal started the game looking like the better team and although Bukayo Saka’s goal was a bit scrappy, it looked like Arsenal were well up for it and would dominate the game, but things didn’t pan out like that and it was almost like as soon as that first goal went in, the squad dropped their heads and thought they could sit back and see the game out.
The moment the first goal went in, you could feel a switch of attitude from the Fulham players, and you could almost sense that they would score an equaliser. We let them pin us in our own half and have all the chances. It felt like the Arsenal squad looked at the scoreboard and were satisfied with a 1-0 win, whereas Fulham put their heads down and started to pile pressure on the game and it didn’t take long for them to equalise.
Arsenal looked like they underestimated Fulham’s resolve to want to win and were punished for it. Fulham haven’t had the best season but when they play at Craven Cottage they always give their all and it isn’t the easiest of places to visit, especially when they’re performing well and in the mood. Arsenal let the game slip away and looked rigid throughout the entire game.
The first half wasn’t too bad, but a lot of questions need to asked about the second. As soon as the second goal went in, the Arsenal squad looked to have dropped tools and given up and nothing seemed to be going our way. Saka and Martinelli both had chances but again were not clinical enough. The lack of desire was clear and maybe the lads were just extremely tired after a huge load of games through December, but it was disappointing to watch.
I think Arteta could and should have made some earlier changes and going to a back 3 after the 2nd Fulham goal, for me, was a bad idea. I understand bringing on as many attackers as possible and throwing the kitchen sink at the game but consistency is key and playing a system our players are not used to was a huge risk for me.
The first goal for me could have been avoided, we lost the ball in our own half and then Fulham pounced on our mistake and the second one was even worse, a ball whipped in from a set piece corner that could and should have been cleared, but miscommunication in the box resulted in a goal.
Our defence has been solid all season but looked lost, our midfield were also ran through and didn’t look up to it. We can blame the amount of games and the short turn around, but that’s two games where we’ve dropped points when we have needed them the most.
What’s your thoughts Gooners? What do you think went wrong?
Daisy Mae
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We are the victims of VAR and the fixture list
There was nothing we could’ve done to pick up at least 1 point out of 6
The problem is EPL teams have already figured out Arteta’s 3-2-4-1 tactic and blocked the half-spaces with human walls
If Arsenal keep using the slow build-up tactics, they would need a physically-dominant CF, who can push those human walls and beat them in aerial duels
Arteta’s tactic is similar to Guardiola’s 3-2-4-1. But Arteta’s lacks variations in the final third and relies too much on Arsenal’s diminutive CFs, whereas Guardiola has the big Haaland and the strong Alvarez
I’d just play this till we get a proper CF
Raya
White Saliba Gabriel Zinchenko
Jorginho Odegaard Rice
Saka Harvetz Martinelli
It could work, because we won against Man City twice with Havertz in the CF position
Hunn, interesting everyone is gradually seeing with all of Jesus work rate playmaking and skills, there comes a time the fans would want more. Goals, wins and trophies is the Hallmark of a football game And at the moment Jesus isn’t offering enough of that.
What does hunn mean? Is it honey?
His work rate was protecting him when we were scoring. Naturally after goals have dried out he has come under scrutiny.
Jesus’ work rate and technical skills worked for some games, but we need another CF type for the rest
*reply to @Sylva
Raya
White Saliba Gabriel Zinchenko
Jorginho Rice
Jesus
Saka Harvetz Martinelli
I would prefer this.
it was a strange performance.
Arteta should to do the following:
1. Bench G. Jesus and Nketiah. there will be much pressure on them to score goals. they lack that composure at the moment. Always trying to impress not clinical enough.
2.Play Jesus as a winger as a rotation/competition for Martinelli and Saka
3. Play Havertz as a CF for the time being.
4. ESR should play on the left side of midfield(Xhaka Role) He should start games now.
Ideal starting line up for our next games
Martinelli Havertz Saka
ESR Rice Odegaard
5. Sign Ivan Toney
6. Sell Thomas Partey
7. Sign Paulinha from Fulham on a loan deal.
We are 5 points off liverpool. we are still in the title race
I don’t think there is much mystery in this question… The answers have all been floated during the last few days. Ian Wright is correct in saying that teams have figured out the tactics and Arsenal need to be able to switch it up more.
(1) As per GAI’s comments above, a straight-forward way to do that is to get a proper back-to-goal target man that’s a very good finisher.
(2) On the left there is Martinelli / Trossard / Havertz to use. On the right we have Saka and then Nelson. I think some proper competition & rotation for Saka is necessary. My choice would be Pedro Neto from Wolves.
(3) There is clearly an issue with Zinchenko’s defending, but then Arsenal seem to play worse without him. Maybe a top quality new LB that can do both is what’s needed? However that one is difficult to judge because bear in mind that our marquee CB signing has been injured all season, and perhaps Timber’s abilities were supposed to compensate for Zinchenko’s defensive issues?
So basically 2 or 3 signings + some proper “Plan B” tactical development and this is a team that should be challenging every season for the next 8-10 years given the young age of the squad.
But the problem is Arteta hardly rotates his squad. He plays same 11 week in week out. Even if he buys a pedro, he wont give him the required game time. he will only rotate when there is an injury to Saka. We have Reis Nelson. we have Trossard. These two deserve more playing minutes. We are becoming so predictable recently. The team is also low on confidence, we dont need another winger for now. Rather, G.Jesus should play as a winger going forward. We need a target man and a DM in January. Ivan Toney
That’s true actually…. Getting a proper striker solves the “rotating with Saka” issue as well.
When someone like Jon Fox starts to question Arteta(and rightly so), then you know that this time around something is really, really wrong. I’ve seen Jon Fox defend Arteta through thick and thin, even at Arteta’s lowest. But when someone that had so much faith in Arteta starts questioning if he’s the right man or not then you know the wheels are coming off very fast. This is what some of us have been saying for a very long time now.
Apparently White has been playing with a long term injury that is being managed. The reason why he is not to bump forward to support Saka as he did last season because the medics are trying to manage the injury.
Ridiculously, Saka too also happens to be managing an injury the medics do not want to aggravate.
In other words, our right side is completely dead. No surprise we have been getting below par performances from them recently. Question then is why is Arteta still playing them? Especially Saka, practically running him to the ground. Why don’t he give other players opportunities? What happened to Walters replacing White? At least we’ll get to give youth a chance, for once.
What Arteta is doing is not just making us play dreadful football by continuously fielding unhealthy or below 100% players. What he’s doing is also setting up players for fan backlashes and criticism. Just imagine how many thousands of fans will attack a particular player for continuously playing below standard not actually knowing that said player is playing through a LONG TERM INJURY. That’s beyond ridiculous from a coach who lacks faith in his bench.
Or is he trying to use the players as human shields after being found out on his sub par tactics.
Reis Nelson, Trossard, and G. Jesus can play on the right wing. We just need 2 signings. Ivan Toney and Paulinha. Partey should be sold in January. Too many injuries. we need fit players that are available in the second half of this season.
Arteta should be flexible. he should learn when to evolve.
We have players who are more than capable of playing the right wing. I’m not the coach but if I were I would have tried Reiss Nelson at right back
How can the youth improve if not being given an opportunity. How will he know their capabilities. Mark my words a lot of them will not be renewing their contracts and will move on to make name for themselves somewhere else
Chapo. You flatter me but I dont deserve flattery. I accept that I was too unbendingly a huge MA supporter, though toi be fair to myself, I often criticised his transfer market dealings all along, both for incomings(some strange and unfathomable arrivals , HAVERTZ, VIERA, LOKINGA, TAVARES), and for his franklyfoolish re -signing of Wenger long term hopeless buy, Elneny.
. ALSO the completely unnecessary bringing in of RAYA. I SAID THESE THINGS CONSISTENTLY ALL ALONG AND STILL STAND BY THEM.
But I hav changed from a staunch firm MA man to a fan with serious forward looking doubts, by his refusal to learn from his mistakes , esp the ones EVEN I often mentioned.
Simply put, Chapo, there comes a time, as with Wenger before him, when A CONTINUED REFUSAL TO PUT RIGHT GLARING LONG TERM MISTAKES is no longer acceptable or fully supportable.
I have NOT GIVEN UP ON MA, AS SOME HAVE.
BUT I am now a wait and see what happens next type fan.
Mud hit the fan, that’s what happened. A Wake up call for our ‘monolithic, small thinking, delusional coach.
Arteta has these dreams where his favourite players (who don’t even gel as a team) beat all the hard working, talented, merit selected teams in the league. Delusions of grandeur that only exist in his mind.
Let’s call it what it is: he really just wants a “Lilly-white Arsenal, whittled of all Africans, except the light skinned ones perhaps, peppered with a certain colour Brazilians and one or two Asians”. Defend him all you like but that’s the psycho managing the Men’s soccer team, groomed by his big brother Pep. Bite me!!!
I’m nowhere near ready to give up on Arteta, and most other Gooners were not until 2 games ago. It’s all fixable, but the injury management really needs to be addressed if there are non-fully-fit players playing week-in week-out (As per Chapo’s comments above) and the striker issue has become well overdue.
What went wrong? Mikel didn’t unleash them! 😎
It true that Arteta lack plan B and don’t trust players on the bench. He needs to adapt counter game to create chance for the like of Martineli and Sake to strive.
Oh Arsenal! Definition of confusion
1. Retired one of last season’s best GK to the bench.
2. Played a good midfielder at RB till he got injured.
3. Benched one of our best CB to play DM at RB
4. Playing a midfielder that can’t mark at LB
5. Paid 65M for out of form player
6. Benching highest goal contributor in preseason
7. Playing a defensive striker that doesn’t strike etc
The main issue is that ALL of our first choice forwards, and even Trossard are out of form at the same time.
Tactically, Fulham bossed us, but this not a symptom of our problems overall this season as we create plenty of chances in the vast majority of our games. Our problem is that we are not clinical in the final third, but our opponents are.
Jesus has been ok, not great. Saka has been our best performing forward, but still well
below his usual standards. Odegaard has been hit and miss. Martinelli is having a very poor season. Trossard’s form has been up and down, and Havertz has been in form of late, but took a long time to get going.
It’s astonishing that all of them are out of form.
Astonishing indeed! lol.
Aost pertnenrt pice from tth writeer. which will surely have puzzled all Gooners, MA included/
I thought she pinpointed many of thereasns we played so rank badly.
It was ,intruth, probably our singleworst perf under MA for two full seasons, if not more.
Cooletively on JA we wil comeup for al sorts of reasons . But to me, I think it comes down chiefly to stadeness and exhaustuin above any other SINGLE REASON, caused entirely by MA’s wilful refusal to rest clearly exhausted players.
What concerns me now, far more rthsn looking back, is lookking forward, as thr past is NOT alterable but th futue can still be altered.
But WILL IT?
Sadly, I see little sign that MA is learning from repeated mistakes in tactical shape, which leaves insufficient physical room for our forwards to strike from open play.
And for his wilful REFUSAL to use his full squad or at least more of them.
Why ESR is continually frozen out, remains a non acceptable mystery, IMO!
Exactly Jon. I dont understand why ESR cant start games. He is fit. he has the pace. He can move with the ball. We have lost our identity as a club. I
The main player that gets trotted out with consistency as an example of poor rotation is ESR. He has had some ok performances but it would be a stretch to suggest he has had any really memorable impact.
At one point it was Trossard until fans realised he wasn’t as great as they made him out to be. Some people keep pointing at Nelson, which has little credibility as most can see that that he lacks the all round ability of the first choice players.
A lot of the time people simply state that there should be “rotation” with very limited additional context. Instead there is very superficial analyses and strongly held opinion.
It is not credible to suggest that Arteta has equally good options on the bench and ‘wilfully’ chooses not to use them. Are we really to believe, as some suggest, that Arteta is on some kind of ‘ego trip’ which means he would rather lose matches than select the most suitable players?
Lots of people have already given ADDITIONAL CONTEXT on why ESR deserves more game time than he’s gotten. You just choose to ignore the CONTEXT as long as it doesn’t suit your selective reasoning to defend MA against any criticism. In fact the Skills1000’s comment you replied to also mentioned some of ESR’s qualities that should warrant more game time but of course that’s not the context you like. Whenever ESR has played, he looked to be a better forward passer and had better close control than Havertz but gets only a tiny fraction of the game time Havertz had.
Fringe players are generally not ‘equally good options’ as starters, that’s why they are on the bench. In the CONTEXT of a good manager, it is down to the manager to bring fringe players into the fold, develop them into useful squad players to help the team rotate and avoid fatigue. If a manager needs bench players to be ‘equally good options’ before using them, then he would always pick the same best 11 players, kind of like MA has done, which is the easy way out until it comes back to bite him in the ass when players start to burn out
Our forwards need more freedom imo they should be able to move away from their wing to join up with other forwards so we don’t have a two-on-one on each wing. Also, fullbacks need to overlap to help the winger out and Odegaard and the other eight should be in the box more than they are. I would try these small changes
Watching from abroad Arsenal seem to lack the “X” factor in attack. While the defence has held up pretty well for most of the games to date (even playing sore) the forwards don’t seem to click proven by the number of wasted opportunities to date. The club needs a Toney to straighten them up and allow the sweepers in the club to pounce when he brings the ball to ground.
I don’t think just moving players to alternative areas to which they normally operate would make a difference ie Jesus on the wing etc. Our problem is, is that we don’t have enough individual dynamic players and don’t seem to have a really dynamic tactic/method to get a collective, dynamic performance from the players we do have.
We are too slow everywhere on the pitch and it’s by our own design in the main. Unless the ball is with Oedegard, Saka or Martinelli our game is at snails pace and is easily dealt with by the opposition. However, even when the ball is with Martinelli or Saka it’s pretty much the same thing. Try and take the player on, on the outside and get in a low cross in the hope someone will be on the end of it or, make for the goal line, cut in and get a curling shot in at goal, in the hope it at least tests the goalie. That’s become the main two attacking options from the play book. Both Saka and Martinelli have been found out! And when that’s not working it’s Oedegard and Saka interplay on the right advance side of the pitch but not making headway as the intricate play is hindered by extra opposition bodies who have had time to regroup. So when that fails, it’s Oedegard to White, to Saka, to Oedegard, to White. That’s not working either so White to Saliva, to Gabriel to Raya, to Gabriel (meanwhile, the oppo are doing their nails)………ooh hang on a minute, a gap has appeared, let’s knock it to Saka quickly. Go on Sak my son, take on Tarkowski, McNeil and A N Other…… Oh dear that’s broken down. Let’s give back to White, who can then give it to Salina, who can then caress it to Gabriel.
Okay, a long way of demonstrating a point. Apart from some flair and forward motion we get from a few players that provide us with a modicum of success. We’re too encumbered by our lack of players that are are effectively able to drive us forward beyond those few. So we try to compensate by adopting a containing play and keeping the ball for longer periods.
At the moment we don’t have the numbers in terms of personnel that can open up the game even from the full back positions , right the way through the team. Although it pains me to cite Spurs. They attack from all quarters (albeit a bit gung ho) and when the ball is with the likes of Udogie, Porto, Royal, they’re straight on the front foot looking to take on the wingers in front if them. This brings players onto them opening up space to either continue they’re venture or, if they do get closed down have sufficiently opened up space of Spare to get the ball and continue to find someone in front of him and it continues.
We need more offensive players (hoping Timber when fit will provide some of that) and I hope White can turn into that type of player also. We need a player like Partey, who can receive the ball from the back and again be offensive and unlock the doors in midfield.
We’re too conservative and timid in our approach and that’s both in the calibre of players and……the tactics that have been adopted by out manager.
We’ll be nothing more than a team that can retain possession and that plays dainty football in the opposition box with actually scoring. An entertaining (for some) top four/five team at best!
My observations, if at all they make sense, Arteta should bring back Kierney to left full back, and play Zinchenko in midfield as Xhaka did, then move Havertz into a false 9. Zinchenko should NEVER be deployed as a left back. He is creative going foreard, not defending. Jesus should play from the left. Martinelli needs a rest. The team will be solid at the back and retain its fluidity going forward.