“Before we’re done, we still have one promise to keep.” Marvel Studios’ #AvengersEndgame is in theaters in 10 days. Get your tickets now: https://t.co/8ZQEVpvXbH
My theory about Arne Slot is that he's recognised the individual ability of these Liverpool players on the ball - and given them more chance to think and play.
Which is not to diss Klopp's work. Maybe they were ready to switch from high intensity running to a more crafted style.
Huge risk from Arsenal not to bring anyone in. Arteta has spent the past month saying they were short in attack and that the players needed help. Nothing has changed. Those players are going to be pushed to the limits between now and May.
It’s a massive gamble with a squad that is weaker now than it was when the window opened. It feels crazy not to have filled the hole left by the injured Jesus. Havertz has been given no help. It almost feels unfair the demands that are now going to be asked of him. He has to stay fit.
Liverpool have Darwin. Arsenal have not evolved. #LFC bring on Nunez, a No 9 who scores twice. #AFC struggling to catch #LFC because they don’t have a good No 9 starting, let alone one off the bench. Failure to buy a clinical centre-forward likely to cost #AFC this title chance.
Chickens came home to roost for Arteta today.
Small squad at breaking point.
He went all-in against MUFC. Didn't get a performance. Lost Jesus long-term, maybe lost Jorginho.
Didn't get the attacking bounce.
Went to extra time, lost on penalties.
Fatigued starters for massive PL week
Arteta is the head fitness coach. Dead players is on him. Until he learns to manage player load, we'll always be like this. Awful day out. An absolute disaster.
Can someone give me one other example of these incidents?
1. Martinelli v Wolves double yellow
2. Tomiyasu two yellows v Palace
3. Declan Rice incident v Brighton
4. Trossard v Man City
5. Saliba penalty decision v Brighton
I can’t remember any of them happening elsewhere?
My third thought is that Arteta is culpable for sacrificing too much technical / creative skill having lost Odegaard. If you don’t have him and you need Partey in defence (ie not in midfield), you can’t have Jorginho, Zinchenko and Nwaneri all on the bench. One of them has to come in to rebalance the team. Too much physicality not enough creativity and when you then go 1-0 down, that’s going to tell.
My second thought is that when you lose a played as big as Ødegaard, you can maybe cover it for a few games but over a longer time period it starts to tell. The 424/442 tactic we came up with to cover Ødegaard’s loss ran its course and we didn’t have another answer.
I'm obviously grateful for my son in a lot of ways but mainly because after moving towns I found myself to become extremely lonely. Fast forward 8 years I have loads of dad mates due to his school/football clubs and they're all top blokes, thank you my boy.
Arsenals last 3 premier league games:
Brighton - 3 restarts delayed - no yellow
Arsenal - 1 restart delayed - yellow
Spurs - 3 restarts delayed - no yellow
Arsenal - 1 restart delayed - yellow
Man City - 2 restarts delayed - no yellow
Arsenal - 1 restart delayed - yellow.