Arsenal v Leeds Utd Match Thread

[Barlow Boy]

To be fair, it's the nature of forums isn't it.

There is a lot more to critique when we lose, a lot more for people to get off their chests. The numbers of visitors go through the roof when bad stuff happens, when we lose people are happy, content and celebrate in their own ways.

[Jaydog]

Be on the lookout for Duke’s, Jaydog. An upgrade to Hellman’s if you can believe it (fwiw, I’ve always been a Hellman’s lover). Can only find it in Wal-Mart here in Colorado.

https://dukesmayo.com/

Only available on Amazon and I never use them.
Never use anything in a squeezy bottle either especially not Hellmans heaven forbid.
If i could get a jar I’d try it.

[YorkshireSquare]

Win obviously!

[SG90]

It's a real concern, the lack of goals.

James and Gnonto both snatched at a couple, Pascal had the header but Piroe and Nmecha have ahrdly got a look in from open play.

It's the lack of creativity, especially from the width, now Solomon is gone. Players like Aaronson and James are shown up for their shortcomings at this level.

[1964white]

It's a real concern, the lack of goals.

James and Gnonto both snatched at a couple, Pascal had the header but Piroe and Nmecha have ahrdly got a look in from open play.

You can't have players just strolling around hoping the ball will come to them, we need serious movement up top in the PL.

[SG90]

I said after Everton that we don't look fit enough for this level, which may explain the injuries. Remember how super fit Bielsa made them. We had a poor/small pre season in comparison this time around.

[1964white]

It's the lack of creativity, especially from the width, now Solomon is gone. Players like Aaronson and James are shown up for their shortcomings at this level.

Solomon gave us the class we required last season.

Now we need more from the flanks & midfield.

We can't afford to carry passengers.

[SG90]

You can't have players just strolling around hoping the ball will come to them, we need serious movement up top in the PL.

It all just feels poorly planned out from the board and Farke. Did they not look at the last 6 promoted sides? Just because something worked in the Championship, doesn't mean it will in the PL.

[YorkshireSquare]

I said after Everton that we don't look fit enough for this level, which may explain the injuries. Remember how super fit Bielsa made them. We had a poor/small pre season in comparison this time around.

We ran the second highest distance of any team in the league last week.

I think the team is fit, but when you have very little of the ball and are pressed relentlessly when you do, it's going to take it out of you. That's why the bench is so important in this league.

[The Subhuman]

It's patently obvious, we need to improve on the current front three, who would be decent players coming off the bench. A couple of more attacking options, we probably need to spend big on a No.9.

We are not scoring more than one goal against Premier League/European clubs.

Three goals scored in the games against Villarreal, Milan, Everton & Arsenal

At this rate, 38 goals wouldn't be enough to remain in the PL.

and Manure. ..

[weasel]

Again spot on. There's a difference between losing to pieces of individual brilliance, then losing due to our mistakes and non league defending, as we did today. That's the point that's being missed by the Farke fan club.

Who is missing it? I don't blame Farke for today - like you said some of our defending was abysmal, our composure was lacking and for me that isn't down to the manager. Yes if the defence keeps making mistakes then the manager is responsible in terms of replacing them but it hasn't been happening.

It was my frustration too that they beat us without moments of brilliance. The goals conceded were all soft.

[lufc1304]

We were always on a hiding to nothing yesterday, but our all round poor performance made it easier for Arsenal than it should have been. Hopefully lessons learned on how not to approach games against the big clubs and, as others have said, these games won't define our season. How we react is key, would expect changes for the cup game, Farke needs to look at his squad and not be afraid to change things.
No need to panic, but let's have not too many more pastings where we deserved nothing less.

[weasel]

When Farke had the big money team like he did in the Championship worth far more than basically everyone else it wasn't a big factor apparently . . . . . .

It was a big factor and quite rightly Farke won the league. Having the money and better players certainly helps but you still need to get the team performing. Southampton and Ipswich are hardly setting the league alight this season and for all the money Arteta has spent Ten Haag won more at MU than he has won in his 6 years.

No surprise you are out in full force to criticise. I bet you have been waiting ages for that result so you could tell everyone how rubbish Farke is.

[SG90]

Remember we still have the two loan options available, which we must use really, no excuses. Solomon needs to be one and a CB should be the other.

[AcrossThePondAsh]

Be on the lookout for Duke’s, Jaydog. An upgrade to Hellman’s if you can believe it (fwiw, I’ve always been a Hellman’s lover). Can only find it in Wal-Mart here in Colorado.

https://dukesmayo.com/

A southern staple. Any and every store sells it here in our Appalachian neck of the woods. Think it originated in SC if memory serves.

[SG90]

Who is missing it? I don't blame Farke for today - like you said some of our defending was abysmal, our composure was lacking and for me that isn't down to the manager. Yes if the defence keeps making mistakes then the manager is responsible in terms of replacing them but it hasn't been happening.

It was my frustration too that they beat us without moments of brilliance. The goals conceded were all soft.

The poor defending came from how we set up yesterday. You'd have thought we'd be well aware that Arsenal score from set pieces, but Rodon stood ball watching as his player scored, while Gruev moved off the post. Then we concede in the first half injury time trying to play out from the back, rather than keeping composure. That's just schoolboy stuff, which will be punished by every team, and has nothing to do with how much Arsenal's team cost. For example, Southampton lost 5-0 at home to Brentford last season, as they kept trying to play out from the back. It goes to show you, you can be punished by any side.

[SG90]

It was a big factor and quite rightly Farke won the league. Having the money and better players certainly helps but you still need to get the team performing. Southampton and Ipswich are hardly setting the league alight this season and for all the money Arteta has spent Ten Haag won more at MU than he has won in his 6 years.

No surprise you are out in full force to criticise. I bet you have been waiting ages for that result so you could tell everyone how rubbish Farke is.

I don't think the 49ers will have been impressed by yesterday, especially as they've spent a lot and those signings aren't playing. Farke will be under pressure to get results or he'll be gone.

[The Subhuman]

We ran the second highest distance of any team in the league last week.

I think the team is fit, but when you have very little of the ball and are pressed relentlessly when you do, it's going to take it out of you. That's why the bench is so important in this league.

But can Farke use it well... I still don't rate Farke at all as a tactician and you need to be able to set up and counter well as a manager in this league. Bielsa lost to Liverpool first game up last time but he scared the s**t out of them and other teams took note, that initial result went a long way to how our season went, had we capitulated we probably would have been in a relegation battle from the outset. Yes Arsenal are out of our league by a distance, but the performance was really poor, it was scary how much better they were and they're not that far ahead of the likes of Everton/Brentford who'd both cause Arsenal some problems and give them a game.


Howe will watch that game v Arsenal and he'll exploit that knowledge, Everton looked like they got stuck not knowing how to play us. They basically played passively to see how we'd play and it cost them.

And like the 6 teams that came before us, plus the other two this season, we haven't been able to add the requisite quality..... yet.

Going to be really interesting to see how we react v Newcastle, Longstaff will play because local knowledge and changes will be made but I don't think he's better than Tanaka and had we started him yesterday not a difference would have been made. I'd imagine Okafor starts, Bijol will likely replace Struijk even though he's outplayed Rodon twice this season so far.

No blame on Farke yesterday as that game was lost in preseason by the board and the player acquisition team, I'd have started Okafor for James (who's either out of his depth or "not right" and played Willy in his natural position, he will get crosses in from the right that he can't from the left as he has to turn back inside.

[Tyzy]

Every player on that pitch yesterday looked out of their depth,and If he'd play all the new signings it wouldn't have made any difference to the result.All the players weve signed are cheap as chips nobody's imo,ok for the Championship not the PL.

[SG90]

The only manager that's changed his style to work in the PL was Nuno with Wolves. All the others have continued on like they're in the Championship still. Farke hasn't shown any tactical nous beyond having better players than the opposition, and the way he approached today, suggests that remains so. You make yourself hard to beat by defending well and operating a bit more defensively. We don't have the players to play like Barcelona, so we need to adapt. Farke will go the same way as Russell Martin imo. If we lose 1-0, 2-0 due to their superior players, fine. But we didn't, we gifted it to them and offered nothing, it was embarrassing to watch how poor we were, especially defensively. And it's not like we had a team of u18s or frees. We've spent big sums on some of these players, ie £50m on Aaronson and James combined.